The transition time between the seasons are powerful times. This period between summer and fall is particularly dynamic and beautiful. The light is different, the leaves are changing, there is a chill in the air. Personally, the way I feel in my body starts changing. I start thinking about making soup, reading my growing stack of books, turning inward and cuddling up on the couch in the evening, taking walks as the trees start to release their leaves.

During these powerful seasonal transitions, if we align with the shift and listen to our bodies, we can move into the new season with ease and vitality. At the beginning of autumn, if we keep operating like we are still in summer and won’t move into alignment with the changes happening around us, our system may become vulnerable to get sick or fatigued. This is essentially the cause of the ‘flu season’.

East Asian Medicine and other indigenous sciences maintain that we are intricately connected to our environment. And all aspects of ourself are woven together in a meaningful web. Nothing happens out of context. These are dynamic and complex medicines that matches the complexity of our reality. Therefore all healing needs to take into consideration both the connections within us and the context around us. And not only healing, but to stay vibrant and vital means to stay in appropriate relationship with our environment or our context. That is why paying attention to how we feel when the seasons change is important. When we listen to what is going on around us and what is being stirred within us, the shifts that we need to make become clear. It is no mystery that I start thinking about making soup and cuddling up on the couch. Because the weather is cooling, my body will require more warming foods, and the energy of Fall is inward so I want to snuggle up with a good book and a cup of tea.

Affiliations/Relationships of Fall

Organ - LUNG

Element - Metal

Positive Emotions - Courage

Negative Emotions - Sadness, grief, sorrow

Companion Organ - Large Intestine

Sensory Organ - Nose

Life Aspect - Orderly flow, sense of self-worth

Color - White

Season - Fall

Direction - West

“The Lung is the master of Qi, the receiver of energy. The respiratory function effects all the rhythms of the Body-Mind. The Lung is in charge of inhalation and exhalation, and, in more general terms, the flux of coming in and going out.”

5 ways to improve your transition to Fall.

These suggestions are better than a flu shot (for non-immunocompromised bodies). The life aspect of Fall includes our sense of self-worth. Turning our attention inward and taking action based on self love, increases our essential experience of our own worth.

Breathe

Practice conscious/aware, deep nasal breathing for at least 5-10 minutes per day. I love to do this outside in the morning and in the evening. Take the time to feel your breath breathing you. Do not force anything. Take long relaxed delicious breaths. Inhale. Feel the air nourishing your lungs. Exhale. Feel the release of all that no longer serves you.

Let Go

Let go of some clutter in your life - things that no longer serve you. Whether it is a few items that you are no longer using, people that are sucking your energy, a habitual pattern that effects you in a negative way, or thoughts that keep repeating and take you nowhere. Make a list, even if it is just on thing that you want to let go of, write down what it is and why it needs to go, and then do it. Just like the trees are letting go of their leaves, the energy of Fall is supporting you in this endeavor.

Wear a Scarf

This may seem trivial. But this is the season of wind, and wind can penetrate the body and make us sick. A main entry point for wind is the occiput or nape of the neck. Exposure of this zone and going outside with wet hair will make you more vulnerable to catching a cold. The remedy is simple and effective. Wear a scarf as the weather changes and dry your hair before leaving the house.

Hydrate and Moisturize

Fall is a not only a time of wind, but it is a time of dryness. Even in the pacific northwest, the quality of the air both inside and outside dries out. The increase in cold keeps the air breathe from holding as much moisture. The heating systems we have in our homes add to this dryness. So stay hydrated. Keep drinking water throughout the day. I recommend room temp or warm water. Add a little lemon and sea salt to help your body metabolize the fluids. Keep your skin moisturized. Use lotions and oils that do not contain chemicals. I only put things on my skin that I would eat. Like sesame or coconut oil. Jojoba oil is not edible but it is a natural element that absorbs easily. Our healthy skin is a protective organ.

Increase Sleep

We are ruled by the seasons and the cycles of the moon and sun, whether we are aware of it or not. As the days get shorter and the nights longer, it is beneficial to increase our amount of sleep in response to these changes. This leads to more ease in your life - more vitality and a greater sense of well-being. Sleep is Brilliant Medicine. If you have difficulty sleeping, please come see me.