Fire into Earth - starting a new phase

September 2020.

Now the summer has shifted into late summer. I can feel it in the coolness of the days, even though the sun shines brightly outside.

In the five elements theory, summer is Fire and late summer is Earth. Fire is connected to the meridians of Heart and Small Intestine. They are the responsibles for blood and bodily fluid (like the lymphatic system) flow. The heart ensures this precious liquid is moving constantly in the right way through the body, the small intestines filtering nutrients into this. Emotionally, heart is linked to feelings and feelings, physiologically, are linked to hormonal releases that make physical changes in us via this fluid system of vessels rather than ki (the energetic channels). Summer is the time for connections, joy, journeys, delights, new love! It is a visceral time. The Heart is at the heart of this. Heart's elemental partner, Small Intestine, plays the part of assimulating this new information, being discerning, stabilising the mental functions. Unbalanced Fire can lead to emotional overload: tensions, arguments and overwhelming desires or unchecked displays of superego. Fire needs to be tended and the 'virtue' of Fire is Ritual, which I find a very interesting idea - something to explore in another blog.

Okay, not every summer is perfect, but I find it very easy to get pleasure when the sun is shining and inspite of staycation times, I've enjoyed myself and connected emotionally with old friends, socialising and enjoying outings.

The warmth of summer and Fire now feeds the following element Earth, which is the time of harvest, eating and being sincere! (It's other 'virtue' is being creative). It is linked to the meridians of Stomach and Spleen. Emotionally, it is about bonding and binding new relationships, being kind, nourishing and nurturing others and oneself. When strong, the Stomach has all the best qualities of Mother - unconditional love, accepting, fulfilling all needs, enjoying the pleasures in people, nature, things. When it is unbalanced, it can allow fussiness, anxiety, dissatisfaction, overindulgence, oversensitivity and worry to come in. The Spleen also has two sides - it allows creativity and clear thinking, and ability to see possibilities and transform. But, overwhelmed or weak, it can lead to overthinking, being stuck, being too much in the head and not in the body.

So as I start a new academic year, I feel the need to strengthen the energy of Earth in me to allay the worries and focus on being creative and sincere. This new way of designing 'blended learning' courses requires a clear head and I find myself easily getting stuck. I'm ready to give my son support, give my students support. With my shiatsu practice, I sense it is time to begin treating again with sincerity and being creative in PPE arrangements, to make my clinic safe and comfortable. I look forward to seeing old faces (behind masks ;-) and returning to the simple but fundamental power of touch.