According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, Late Summer/Early Autumn transition is the time of the Earth Element, time to ground. It is a time that coincides with the peak of the harvest, when the Earth is at its full growth.
For us, it is a signal to slow down and come home to ourselves. To come back to the quiet places of inner stillness, and to rest fully in those places – even for a brief moment – so that we can be more available for clear, inspired action whenever and wherever it is needed.
This is what our families and communities needs most in this times, our capacity to move out of love and care rather than fear, and anxiety. In our practice we can connect to that part of ourselves which is beyond the mind, and is untouched, unchanging and always ok.
A balanced Earth Element supports a feeling of contentment of being full, as well our capacity to adapt and be at ease wherever we are. We all have Earth element within us and around us, BELOW us and we can tune in and call upon it.
In this time of uncertainty and vulnerability fear and intense emotions can spread fast. Yoga poses, pranayama, meditation, visualizations can help cultivate contentment and fullness that comes from the inside.
One way to feel more content is to look around and see what we have, inviting the mind to remember something that we are grateful for, increasing our ability to take nourishment on all levels body, mind and spirit.
Here are two very short practices in slowing down, which can be done just about anywhere, anytime:
· Simple breath awareness: Take a pause from whatever you are doing. With eyes open or closed, bring your awareness to your naturally-occurring breath. Notice your belly moving as you breathe. Practice the following for three full breaths: “Breathing in, I know I am breathing in. Breathing out, I know I am breathing out.” Observe any shifts in your energy or attention.
· Box Breathing:
1. Close your eyes. Breathe in through your nose while counting to four slowly. ...
2. Hold your breath inside while counting slowly to four. Try not to clamp your mouth or nose shut. ...
3. Begin to slowly exhale for 4 seconds.
4. Repeat steps 1 to 3 at least three times.
What are your tools for slowing down, and arriving more fully into relaxed presence? Take note of what helps you to feel more present, calm and peaceful, so that you can recall these tools more easily when needed.
Prayer
“May I build/birth a strong emotional body that can digest all experience, may I see all feelings as nothing but energy, may I digest my stories and realize my energy as pure power, may I wake-up from the dream that the content of thought define or describe me and thereby realize the truth of who I am. “ Christopher Wallis
