Late Summer refers to the additional season that sits between the fullness of summer and the beginning of autumn. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), it is a time to reorganize one’s self before commencing the surrendering and grieving process that begins in the fall.
In TCM theory, there are 5 elements that are a representation of the cycle of life in the natural world and within the human body. Each element relates to the other and controls its various excesses; there is no beginning or end. This cycle is a map of time and the natural rhythm of the universe, through the different phases of the seasons and the elements linked to them.
Late Summer relates most closely to the spleen and stomach organ systems. The spleen and stomach, and their corresponding element, the Earth, enjoy routine and regularity. Late Summer, then, is a good time to streamline your current routine in order to ensure that it works best for you – or to create a new routine entirely. During this transitional time, it is a great idea to get rid of clutter, as well as removing oneself from any situations that no longer interest or nurture you. It is also important to make sure you are not overworking yourself, or overextending yourself in an effort to care for others. If possible, you should avoid excessive worry and over planning, and from structuring your life in a way that might create imbalance. Cultivating trust and patience would be ideal to help create better harmony. The Earth element also symbolizes your human need to be grounded and to firmly establish your roots in a solid base. Whether this is the place you call home, a family or community unit, or your work environment, your environmental or outer-world stability will always help create an inner stability and harmony within you. Things in the ‘outer world’ will, however, always remain changeable, and so cultivating a strong and flexible inner-stability, through daily personal routines and mindfulness practices, is so important.
Extending the need to be grounded to the Earth and your spiritual-self, you should also mindfully work at strengthening your connection with your ‘spiritual truth’. This truth will be different and very personal for everyone, but essentially it means asking yourself: “Am I living with honesty and integrity, doing the things I love?…or…. ‘Am I settling for doing what others want or expect me to do, or am I being limited and blocked by my emotional feelings and fears?” Simply by asking these personal enquiry questions you are acknowledging that you are an individual, divine spirit, and they will help you begin to re-connect with your spiritual truth and potential.
Remember: truth and love are one of the same.
You can also strengthen your spiritual and energetic alliance with the Earth and the wider Cosmos by spending time with and in nature, either by being outdoors in a ‘green’ environment, or by caring for nature’s plants and animals in some way. Earthing or grounding is a wonderful way to reconnect with the earth's energy. The earth beneath your feet provides you with food and water. It gives you a surface to sit, stand, walk, run, swim, climb, play, and build on. It also provides you with something very surprising - electrons. When you touch the ground with your bare feet or body, the electrons flow into you. The earth’s surface has a virtually limitless supply of mobile electrons that gives the ground we walk on (as well as lakes and oceans) a natural negative electric charge. When you touch your body to the ground, it dissipates static electricity and extraneous environmental electrical charges that are on you. At the same time, you receive a charge of energy in the form of free electrons and your body synchronizes with the natural frequencies of the earth. This is called being “grounded.”
When transitioning from summer to fall, there are certain habits to keep in mind. It is good to introduce cooked meals into your diet, and move away from raw fruits, salads, and ice water. Since the spleen prefers to be warm, it is beneficial to stick to room temperature or hot water when transitioning into Late Summer. Foods that support the spleen/stomach and increase qi include lentils, quinoa, oats, root vegetables such as sweet potatoes and squash, and orange peels. Most importantly, you should stick to what is in season – a great excuse to try out that local farmer’s market! In addition to monitoring the types of food you eat, be sure to stay active, get enough sleep, spend time in nature, and meditate; regular acupuncture treatments can also help support and strengthen your immune system.
Whether you love summer or are counting down the days until Labor Day, summer is slowly drawing to a close. As fall approaches, think about the ways you can prepare your body for this change in season. Consider monitoring and modifying your habits to ensure that your body can center itself for the new season ahead.
