Earth Element - a time of change
The long, endless days of summer are winding down and we find ourselves transitioning into the season of the Earth element- the season of harvest. It’s time to take stock of the celebration and abundance of summer and let that nourish our bodies and mind.
Earth is family and friends. It is the fabric of life that we create and nurture with integrity.
The Earth Phase is GROUNDING ENERGY in the cycle of phases, or the Five Element Theory. It’s our centre.
It’s not too late to join us for a beautiful weekend away nurturing ourselves, we will be focused on stability and anchoring our energy.
Earth is associated with the digestive system; stomach (middle of the body), and spleen and is related to the sense of taste, especially sweet flavours.
Earth represents the direction, Centre, and is the central balance of the other elements and can lend qualities to all 12 meridians as well.
Seasonally, the energy associated with Earth can be seen before Autumn. It is also the season between all seasons and has a strong link to every meridian. The rich and abundant Summer and Earth Element energies change from being at the most outward to contracting and moving inward and downward. The days get shorter and cooler as the sun does not rise as high in the sky. It is the season of change.
Are you grounded and stable? Earth is the time to nurture yourself to allow space for the next season
High Summer is the season regarded as central to balance and the place where energy becomes downward in movement, a change of seasons. It is the symbol of stability and being properly anchored.
Let’s have a quick look at the Natural Element Health theory of high summer and my recommended tips to help you enjoy this gorgeous season. These tips will remind you of the balance that we need to strive toward in our own lives. Gaining balance means you can achieve optimal health.
🌏 High Summer, the season between seasons, relates to the organs: spleen and stomach.
🌏 Earth can mean damp, something that is wet and heavy.
🌏 Earth is the element of transformation time, abundance, nourishment, fertility, and the mother-to-child relationship. .
🌏 An emotion associated with Earth is joy.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, high summer is associated with the Spleen and with Earth.
Earth is associated with the digestive system; stomach (middle of the body), and spleen and is related to the sense of taste, especially sweet flavours.
Earth represents the direction, Centre, and is the central balance of the other elements and can lend qualities to all 12 meridians as well.
Seasonally, the energy associated with Earth can be seen before Autumn. It is also the season between all seasons and has a strong link to every meridian. The rich and abundant Summer and Earth Element energies change from being at the most outward to contracting and moving inward and downward. The days get shorter and cooler as the sun does not rise as high in the sky.
It is the season of change. we are part of nature, we too experience that same energetic movement of fire. It shows up as the emotion of Joy and the ability to express deep feelings of love, warmth, spontaneity, passion, and compassion. It’s our ability to feel connected to other people and our world.
The Spleen and Stomach meridian systems belong to the Earth element, and they play a very important role in our overall health and well-being. So much so that in 1180 CE, famous Chinese physician Li Dong Yuan founded the Earth School because he believed that the aetiology of most diseases was a result of injury to the digestive system. According to this school of thought, the Spleen and Stomach are at the centre of one’s health. The Earth School teachings remain relevant in today, especially in light of the recent research on the relationship between gut health and immunity.
My recommended High Summer Tips are:
1. 🎃 Warm it up. The earth element thrives on a nourishing diet, and nutritional therapy related to the Spleen is key for maintaining good and balanced health. Cold raw food creates dampness in the spleen, which interferes with its role in the transportation and transformation of nutrients and energy, and its ability to produce qi and blood. This leads to a variety of health imbalances. Maintaining warmth in the Earth’s centre of the body is very important.
2. 🍠 Say yes to sweet. Sweet flavours, in small amounts, favour the Spleen and Stomach (sadly, we are not talking about ice cream and lollies). Sweet foods that strengthen the Earth element include whole grains, like millet, rice, and root vegetables, such as yams, sweet potatoes, and carrots. Enjoy the sweet fruits and veggies that are in season and available in the late summer harvest.
3. 🥣 Don’t skip breakfast. According to the Chinese Medicine clock, the Stomach has optimal digestive capacity between 7-9am. Your meal should be substantial and fortifying. A good breakfast strengthens the stomach and spleen qi and yang for the day. Optimal breakfast foods are energetically warming foods, prepared with warm cooking methods that stimulate the body and do not spread dampness. A favourite in Chinese Medicine food therapy is breakfast congee, a highly nourishing and healing way to start the day.
4. 💛 The colour of the Earth is yellow. The Su Wen Chapter 10 states that, “yellow corresponds to the Spleen”. Eating foods that are yellow and orange are especially supportive for Spleen health. Examples include squash, sweet potato, yams, corn, papaya, and carrots.
5. ✼ Find your centre. The Earth element is about stability, nurturance, caregiving, and bounty. Seek activities that keep you centred and grounded; focus on what nourishes and fulfils you and those you care about. With autumn just around the corner, the season of "letting go", we will soon think about the things we have too much of and begin the process of releasing, clearing, and simplifying.
6. 📚 Be mindful of what you mentally ingest. As our focus turns to the health of our Spleen and Stomach organ systems and their relationship to the "Yi"- our mind and intellect- we need to be mindful about what we MENTALLY ingest, as well. This is a perfect time of year to think about our relationship with social media and the news and to create boundaries around screen time.
7. 🎶 And finally- sing like no one’s listening! Every element has an associated sound, through which it expresses itself. The sound of the Earth element is "singing". Whether your stage is the shower, the car, or a stage, get those vocal cords warmed up and sing your heart out! 1. Dance 🤗
Put your favourite music on and dance, if you can walk you can dance so let your body move! You can even sing along if you want.
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Thanks for reading and let me know your thoughts on my High Summer Self-Care Tips and most importantly how you went with some of the activities in the comments below. Post your pics and comments and tag me @naturalelementhealth, I’m on Instagram and Facebook.
Lisa 🌷