Summer - learning about Self

This is my first summer energy report after a three month break from monthly updates. The break was due to my engagement in work with children, among other I organised workshops in Five Senses for children. Following that I had a holiday break during which I gathered my inspirations.

***************************************************************************

It was back in May that we entered the energy of Fire Element and therefore of the Summer, although it is most perceived during the month of July. This is just like the afternoon hours that are hotter than midday itself, so does July feel hotter but the Sun reaches its peak really in June, when the proverbial "Midsummer night's dreams" occur. This Summer Solstice is that part of the year when the Earth has its kind of birthday and we all take part in it and celebrate.

Although the energy in July is over its peak, it is still an equivalent to 1:00pm or 2:00pm time of the day. So, we are still going strong as the day is expanding. This feeling will stay with us until mid August (in the northern hemisphere) when the energy will noticeably change into Late Summer.

Until then, how can we best utilise the everywhere present energy of Summer to build our health and wellbeing?

Spirit Focus: intimacy - through the other I know myself

The Summer's Fire nature makes us more open to other people, to enter into new relationships (even if short-lived) and to socialise more. I wrote about it last year in this blog https://www.dorotao.com/post/the-first-month-of-summer-from-shade-into-the-light. Relating to others ultimately serves us to grow and evolve. Lee Harris wrote: "As you bring someone new into your life, you get to experience the new you". His words echoed in my understanding of the Fire Element. I thought: it sounds so invigorating as the Fire Element which is about being youthful too. Adding the two together, we could say meeting new people keeps us young or at least makes our Soul feel renewed!

Fire Element is associated with the Heart, which is a physical place in our bodies where we connect with our Higher Selves, our Spirit. Summer time is when we are closest to Heaven, to the Light and experience redemption through the natural beauty that is present all around. Just take time to be conscious of that.

Mind Focus: taking pride in your mind

Summer holidays and relaxed hot afternoons are perfect times to read, study and absorb information. The Fire Element expands our relations and our physical mind too! We read to find new words, to name and to express who we are at Heart. Being able to name things expands our living consciousness.

It is a good idea to start writing a journal now, in Summer time. You are more likely to find the inspiration and words to describe and express your feelings. That in turn will help you understand your inner Self.

Body Focus: taking care of your youthfulness

Fire Element represents young adulthood, youthfulness in other words. It is the green apple before it becomes red and sweet on maturity. In that phase of life the body is still growing and multiplying its cells fast. So it happens that for all of us, younger or older, the Fire season of Summer is the time our cells grow and expand more than in any other season. Therefore, it is a good time to nourish ourselves with foods high in active enzymes, i.e. lots of fresh fruits and vegetables. Raw foods are also cooling, so it is aiding us with the summer heat. On the subject of cooling, in excess heat, it is the bitter tasting foods that cool us down, such as: coffee, also chicory coffee (foto below: chicory flower), grapefruit, all chicory leaves, cruciferous veggies, lettuce, cocoa and wine. Nevertheless, it is important to add a lot of water on hot days as bitter tasting foods dry up the body further.

It is time to be active (swimming, walking, cycling, yoga and exercises), to oxygenate the growth of the new cells and build a new body.

This is not to suggest we should become the followers of "youth culture" where only young, perfect and beautiful is valued. One of my favourite writers of our times, Elena Bernabè, writes: "One should have a more intimate relationship with one's symptoms...Take them out to dinner...Consider them secret lovers...and spend a special evening, alone in the company of oneself. (...) To learn to speak its language...the symptom has its own code, it is a dictate of the soul that needs presence, time, trust in life to be able to act in the world, through us."

This is such an explicit and poetic description of how to relate to our bodies, in a heartfelt way. I would suggest we all have such one appointment with our bodies during this summer.

Summer time is also and above all to serve our connection with our Self: whether it is the Body, the Mind or our Spirit. If you find it hard to connect with self, if you simply do not feel at peace, it can be a major block to your health and wellbeing. It may be a sign that you are not benefiting from the surrounding life energy. In such case, you may wish to consider an acupuncture treatment, which has a profound way to reconnect you with the life force.

Book an appointment to connect to self

---

Chicory flower - Summer focus: bitter foods

April - newly found innocence

The month of April is the third month of Spring, according to the ancient classic text of Su Wen. After the Spring awakening and then taking the courageous steps into a new life, we are now awarded with the newly found innocence to rejoice in. Here is how to best flow with the energies of April:

Spirit Focus: recognising the benevolence of the world

Innocence is like a clean sheet of paper on which we can start afresh, having the possibility of creating anything we wish. To be able to recognise and benefit from the energy of innocence, the most important attitute is trust. Imagine the trust of a small child he/she has in his/her parents. The child obtains so much from his/her parents because it totally submits himself/herself into their care.

Being the children of the grand Universe, when we totally trust in our Creator/creative energies, then you and your best interests are taken care of. This is exactly what the energy of this month is about. You must ask, of course, otherwise it may not be possible to provide. Make an innocent request, like a small child would do, believing that the moment you say it the moment it arrives. A child's innocence means it does not have the experience of what it takes to meet her/his request, which makes it more so innocent. The child does not run through the steps and stages of how things come about. It simply asks with an anticipatory excitement of having already received it.

This energy is at peak this month to be lived fully and enjoyed. It is a magic month in that sense. It is a month in which "happy go lucky". This is simply dictated by the Nature around. It is enough to look at the innocence of white blossoms on trees everywhere; to see the newborn springing lambs; to admire the fresh baby green colour of grass and plants. Just for this month imagine that you were born yesterday.

Mind Focus: curious mind is an open mind

Equally, this month it is so much easier for our mental energies to be simple and straighforward. We are capable of uncomplicated, straight to the point, even oversimplified thoughts and thanks to that we can resolve many problems and issues easily.

Whatsmore, the child-like mental energy makes us super curious, our mind is more open to that which is new. We accept differences easily as we want to learn more about the world not yet uncovered.

In fact, we can take advantage of this energy to pick up a new hobby, start a new job or a totally new activity. Our minds are more likely to absorb the new as well, so it is boding well for the study.

Body Focus: your muscle is your limit

Just for this month let yourself of the physical limits as to what your bodies could or should do at a certain age. Although clearly fittness isn't achieved over night, when you see such inspiring examples as a gymnast who is 86 years old and still competing (Johanna Quaas) or a 99 year old dancer (e.g. Shirley Goodman), it appears there is nothing, or hardly nothing, you cannot do with regular practice over time.

Of course, it wouldn't be sensible for anyone to do a headstand without a sufficient preparatory practice beforehand, however, our mental preconceptions about what our bodies can achieve should be totally put aside. Using this Spring lamb's energy and motivation, feel what it is that you would still like to do with your body and get started with your daily practice. Is it dancing you've always wanted to start but had never time for? Is it time to get on your bike (literally)? Is it a half (or full) marathon you've always wanted to complete? Is it a split or a headstand that you would like to work towards? Give yourself a goal this month and you are more likely to achieve it.

In everyday activities and jobs we don't use all of the 600 muscles our bodies are made of, and we only use between 30-60% of our strength. Practicing a sport increases that dramatically making us more physically able and agile.

Diet wise, keep it simple as children do. Make simple combinations but make it exciting! This month is for eating with your eyes more than any other time. So, make it colourful too. Keep the diet "innocent" too with unadulterated, fresh foods, with lots of green and leafy vegetables to stimulate your Liver to dream big.

Some of you may still feel the invasion of a Cold Wind this month and should add warming spices such as cinnamon, cardamom, cloves or ginger to their diet. Keeping warm inside will protect from the external Wind invasion. Others may not be as bothered by the Spring Winds. On the contrary, they may feel the rise in temperature following the Winter and put on a T-shirt. I suggest some Forsythia flower tea for such Spring Heat in the body.

If you are in any doubt as to how your body reacts to the seasonal change and you want to make the most of the energies of April, book yourself for a consultation and treatment by clicking below. I look forward to seeing you soon!

Book an appointment

---

March - the courage to change

“Master, I am afraid of change. How do I welcome him?”

“There is a person who can show you the way. Go to the blacksmith and stop and observe his work!"

“What can a blacksmith teach me?”

“The art of transformation. He uses fire to shape metals. He shapes them according to his will. He is the father of creation. Like the blacksmith, you too can shape your life, give your days the shape you want. You are the father of change. How can you be afraid of your creation?”

“I'm afraid of the change that comes from outside…”

“If you are afraid of fire, you burn yourself. If you learn to dominate it, you become the creator of wonderful masterpieces. Just like the blacksmith who with his millenary art manages to melt metal and bind it to give life to a new object, you too grasp the change that comes from outside, burn it with your inner fire and bring out new life, new ideas, new thoughts.”

“I'm not sure I can…”

“Your problem is not the fear of change but of the fire that is inside you. It's burning a lot, at very high temperatures, because it wants to accomplish its assignment. But you are turning it off. With fear, worry, fatigue. Don't be afraid of seeing new parts of you born: the blacksmith is an artist and what he creates is only a work of art."

Elena Bernabè

Spirit Focus: grasp the change

From the Classical Chinese Medical point of view, the above story talks about three Elements: Fire, Water and Wood. The Fire and Water elements are the heat and cold used by an iron maker to melt and solidify but his hammer is a vector of creation, that is the Wood element - the element of Spring. Whereas the Fire and Water elements are the basis for any existence, they also maintain each other in equilibrium by their interplay. The Wood element is the courage with which the iron maker raises his hammer and decides on his next move in accordance with his vision of what he intends to create.

The passion of Fire although essential for creating, is not enough without an act of doing. Spring is just about that: taking the steps, raise your hammer and change the shape according to your vision. Those who burn inside but do not apply the hammer (here meaning: direction, decisions, moving ahead, etc) will produce certain psycho-somatic symptoms, especially so in Spring.

Mind Focus: resistance is in the mind

The Nature does not resists that which is inevitable. The realisation of self is a natural result of us being born and alive. Not accomplishing our destiny (called Ming by cinese) is when the disease sets in. The only obstacle on your way is your mind, precisely the resistances you have created in your mind.

What are your beliefs about not doing, having or being who you burn inside to be? There isn't a better month in a year than March to challenge what you think about yourself and the world. The winds of change blowing in Spring will help you be more creative and flexible with your thoughts.

The resistance is also in our daily habits, daily actions we take to go about accomplishing tasks. We are still at the beginning of Spring feeling so much potential ahead. It is a perfect time to address all your self-sabotaging behaviours, be it health-wise, relationship-wise or work-wise.

Body Focus: Marching like the Liver

There are two seasons in the year when the energy helps us to detox: the Autumn and the Spring. In Autumn we let go to create space. In Spring the release happens as the byproduct of the propelling force which must move ahead and leaves behind the unnecessary. It is thanks to Liver, known as the General of our body.

Liver is so strongly energised in Spring that even slightest support you give it, will help it cleanse your body of the Winter accumulations. If you followed my February advice to start gently on detox (https://www.dorotao.com/post/february-sprouting-time), this month you can boldly get into it.

Continue, if you have not done it yet, withdrawing heavier foods from your diet (check out my February blog) and add lighter foods instead. This month add daily one of these seasonal liver "friendly" vegetables:

- chicories

- artichokes

- red beets (root and leaves)

- radishes

- wild greens (dandelion leaves, nettle leaves, foraging greens).

As a supplement, I have prepared and used daily a hydro-alcoholic extract of Milk Thistle seeds. If there is one Liver herb I would use this month it is Milk Thistle. Apart from its known function in western herbalism of protecting and tonifying the Liver; in Chinese herbal medicine it moves the stagnation of Qi and Blood - aiding that propelling force of Liver to move ahead. Additionally, it helps removing the toxins out of the body via urine and intestines.

Exercise wise, this month you are bound to feel like doing much more than just gentle stretches suggested the past month. Do get out and walk to stretch your ligaments and include some exercises to strengthen your muscles. Otherwise, how are you going to sustain this month's work of forging the iron?

If there are any symptoms that arise at this season or get worse in Spring, do contact me for a thorough personal diagnosis.

Contact for diagnosis

---

Spring Creation