The days are growing shorter, the air is turning crisper, and the trees are shedding their final leaves: here we are in the last days of autumn, on the very threshold of winter — a winter which, in Chinese medicine, does not begin at the solstice in late December as is often thought, but much earlier, from the very first days of November. So we are already entering it, very gradually, and this end of the season still belongs to the Lung and the Metal element: a time to gather in what we have harvested, to quietly bring to a close what needs to be concluded, before moving into winter and its deep resting period.
The Su Wen sums up this shift in a phrase that has gone down in history: ‘The yin and yang of the four seasons are the root of all things (…) which is why the wise man nurtures yang in spring and summer, and nurtures yin in autumn and winter, in order to follow this root.’
— Huangdi Neijing, Su Wen, Chapter 2
Tip of the month:
Before winter sets in, lighten the load wherever possible and finish what’s left over rather than starting anything new. When it comes to meals, opt for simple, warm dishes: chestnuts, leeks, carrots, squash, cooked pears and a little honey – in soups and stews rather than raw or cold. And as the days get shorter, go to bed a bit earlier and make the most of the daylight for a short walk.
A note on Bach flower remedies:
Aspen (Aspen), described by Dr Bach as being for vague and unexplained fears; that diffuse feeling that something is about to go wrong, without knowing why or where it comes from. This may resonate with these shortening days and the twilight that is gradually setting in, although, let us remember, the Bach Centre always selects a flower based on the person’s emotional state, rather than the season.
Do look after yourselves as autumn draws to a close.