Filling Station
Filling Station
What do you need to replete as we round the corner to autumn?
When we are depleted we may be so under-resourced that we go into apathetic/scavenger mode. Not having energy for making that soup we bought all the ingredients for and sadly watched them wilt or mold in the fridge which spins us into a shame spiral. Or completely forgetting to hydrate adequately because we are supplementing our energy reserves with caffeine and other stimulants.
Coming out of the Fire season of summer, a time of excessive imbibing, late nights, and luscious activities that delight our senses, it seems we have burnt our candles at both ends. Especially coming out of 18 months of moderated activities and deprivation. I am seeing in friends, loved ones and patients that they are one of two things: Oversaturated or Burnt Out.
Just before the autumn fully sets in we find ourselves in the liminal season of the Earth, known as late summer. When our Earth has not been fertilized and tended with proper ecology and nutrients, it leads to disruption of balance.
If you have been boozing and BBQ’ing you might be more on the oversaturated space and need to squeeze out your sponge, so to speak. Drain off that dampness and take some space from that which weighs you down.
If you are in the dried up, depleted space of existence, you may need to deeply nourish your soil. The 100 degree heat over a long period of time beating down on your being has taken a toll and it may be time to moisturize and shade yourself.
Regardless of which nature metaphor you most resonate with, there is a place of filling that needs to happen for all of us.
What calibration station do you need?
Does that happen in our mind - by avoiding the mind traps of media and melodramatic relationships that siphon our energy and replace it with non-screened-quiet time and mediation? Does that happen in our spirit - by consistently feeding ourselves negative loops and holding onto beliefs that don’t serve us? Can we replace these with intentional time of gratitude, singing, drumming, dancing, qi gong, candle gazing or an enjoyable organ smile practice? Does this fill up need to happen in our body? Does it need strengthening and movement or do you simply need to rest and restore?
Assessing what your needs are is a third of it. Procuring the resources needed is a third of it, and activating to implement is the final third.
These are not static, they may change day-to-day or season-to-season, so as you create your seasonal practices pay sweet attention to what is feeling right for you now, at this moment. The assessment piece can look like self-reflection and you are encouraged to practice radical acceptance, simply noticing your energetic response to stimuli. The stimuli could be the food and drink that you consume, the human interactions you have, your dreams at night, your dreams during the day, the noise around you. How do these things impact you and your energetic or physical body? Positive, warm, and a ‘fuck yes’?! Or is it a negative, cold, and full-bodied ‘hell no’? What does it take you to connect inward to get this memo?
The Advice:
Pick a few, these are not prescriptive. You don’t have to do ALL of these, but these are a few that come to mind that are accessible to you at any time should they be right for you.
UNPLUG. Go a day, a few hours, or a week without your screens. (I dare you :)
Get your butt into nature and sit and stare at the trees, the rocks, or some water.
Slow the ruminating habitual mind.
Schedule downtime.
Schedule connection time.
Pull some tarot, oracle cards or roll an I-Ching reading.
Breathe until you feel your kidneys (located on your mid/low back) grasp the lung qi.
Connect your mind body awareness throughout your day - little check-ins.
Say no to coffee dates and happy hours if its not serving you. ‘No’ is a complete sentence. Your people will understand (and quite possibly need the alone time as well), or go for a walk instead.
Read a real book.
Turn off screens (2hrs) before bed.
Put your phone on airplane mode while you sleep.
Question your patterns, even the ‘healthy’ ones. Switch things up!!
Drive a different way home.
Listen to new music.
Dance.
Laugh on the regular.
Stop glorifying ‘Busy’.
Eat more vegetables! sauteed if you constitution/metabolism desires.
If you feel like a limp noodle, drink water - especially right when you wake up in the morning!
Down-regulate your nervous system by removing the tongue from the roof of your mouth. This great to do throughout the day, put a sticky note on your workstation saying: ‘Where is your tongue’ :)
Foods to support your Earth:
Congee, squash, eggs, pumpkin (not latte’s :) -- yellow foods!
Here is a recipe I have been loving these last few weeks! Spice it up however your palate likes.
Herbal allies in this formula aid in stabilizing the exterior:
Astragalus (Huang Qi): tonifies Wei Qi, boosts white blood cells and strengthens lungs.
Atractylodus (Bai Zhu): tonifies Earth Qi of spleen/stomach and drains any dampness/ accumulation, phlegm.
Siler Root (Fang Feng): clears any ‘wind invasion’, any tentative onset of a cold.
I’ve been taking this formula daily when I leave the house these last 18 months to strengthen myself against external pathogens (viral, bacterial and elemental invasions). It acts as a ‘shield’ and has proven to keep my defensive qi strong - I haven’t gotten sick even when being around sick people. I recommend this for those of you out in the world interfacing with the human incubator, especially for frontline workers, teachers, medical practitioners, and for those traveling.
There are plenty of other herbal allies, so please inquire for a free 20-minute herbal medicine consult so that you are equipped with the energy you need for the coming season! Teas, tinctures, and capsules are available and I am happy to work with those of you on medications to feel your best.
Change of season always brings transitional adaptation so get your seasonal acupuncture. It’s more than just the temperatures that are fluctuating. Wear a scarf on windy days to avoid the nape of the neck getting cold. Doctors and researchers in China have been recommending Yu Ping Feng San/Jade WindScreen plus a modified Yin Qiao San for the prevention stage of Coronavirus. As we can mitigate severity and symptoms therefore minimizing spreading pathogenic debris. Take your Jade Wind Screen to keep your Wei/Defensive Qi strong, check out TincTime’s blend- order online, stop by the office for a pick up, or get a bottle at your next appointment!
All the best to you and yours for this Equinox and all the blessings that it brings! 🙏🏽
✨Shine on Starlights!✨
💚 Natalie