Yogi byte: late summer and earth energy

The Ancient Classic refers to this phase as “Between Earth and Sky…”
The season of Late Summer is the time of the Earth element. The quote beautifully illustrates this phase as a transition, the central point of the 5 element cycle.
Earth energy governs our stomach and spleen meridians, heralding a time to heal and bring balance to our digestion, improve our blood quality and bring harmony to our natural cycles and rhythms. With Earth energy, we become centered and nourished. During the Earth Phase we feel settled and at home.

The last stage of summer is an extra season, called Late or Indian Summer. Characterised by high humidity, the energy feels dense and slow moving. This is the fullness of summer, lush and ripe, summers abundance of fruits and vegetables are ready for harvest.

Earth being the middle point of the 5 elements, represents a transition time, the still point which brings us to our Center. Energy feels dense and slow moving so the heat of late summer signals a time to slow down. This transition sits as a bridge between the Yang period of summer’s Fire energy and the Yin period of Autumns contractive phase, towards the cooler months ahead. 
Earth element is associated with our stomach (ST) and spleen (SP)  organs, muscles  and energy channels. It also includes pancreas and is related to the mouth, digestion, blood quality, nourishment and the energy at our center.

Earth’s correspondences:
Color = Yellow
Nature = Yin/Yang Balance

Organs = Stomach Spleen
Emotion = pensive or worry
Taste =Sweet
Condition = Damp

Late Summer is a short and languid season and it’s common to struggle with fatigue in response to the heat. Over exertion at this time will trigger low energy, contribute to emotional stress, lack of motivation, boredom and poor nutritional choices. During this transition time its good and natural to slow down and relax. Go easy on yourself. Eat good healthy in season whole foods enjoyed in the company family and friends. 
Be sure to get proper rest, exercise, practice yoga for stress reduction and digestive balance. Eating correctly will lift your energy in late summer.

In our anatomy, Earth is represented by the organs of Stomach and Spleen, together they build and maintain our entire body.
Stomach is where all preparation for our foods absorption begins. 
Our Spleen is responsible for how we absorb nutrients, the important feeding of our blood.
In chinese medicine, the Spleen is not seen as part of our anatomy, its function is viewed as blood filter, in support role of our digestion and nutrient absorption. Spleen’s primary function is the conversion of food into energy and transporting our vital life force, Ki. Excessive worry weakens the transformation of nutrients, increasing our fatigue as a result.

Earth is about nourishment and nurturing, providing nutrients to build blood and muscles, Earth creates energy for our organs to work well, efficiently in good health.

Earth In Balance: we feel healthy, nourished with good digestion and elimination. Our mind is balanced and secure, with a sense of belonging, grounding and connection. We are satisfied and centered.

Earth Out of Balance: our internal cycles are suffer, we feel anxious and worried. We do too much and over strain ourselves. We feel lack of nourishment on all levels. When mind is full of worry, stomach rebels with weakness. Digestive imbalance is revealed with loose stools, ulcers or pain in upper abdomen may be experienced. Other imbalances include menstral disorders and ease of bruising. Emotionally, when Earth is imbalanced, we feel needy for food or attention. Sympathy is hungrily sought after and habits of poor eating or food choices are used as distraction.

Balance For Your Earth Energy
Late Summer provides the potential of “rising strength” within us, the gift of Earth energy. In harmony we access our inner stability, we settle at our center and feel at “home”.
Earth’s nurturing corresponds with “the Mother”; a sense of self-worth and formation of trust in relationships.
Being the time of harvest, late summer we begin to store nutrients as nourishment for the cold months ahead. It’s time to harvest and reflect. 

Mindfully caring for your Earth element health is “an inner harvest ” creating good energy to fulfill yourself and complete projects. 

1. Yoga in Late Summer: 
In the season of late summer, Earth Yoga practices create balance and harmony in body and mind.
Our practice targets our digestive organs (ST, SP) aiming to correct organ function for overall good health. Poses stabilise and regulate our blood sugar levels and the flow of healthy oxygenated blood throughout our system. Wonderful overall health is promoted. 
Yoga in late summer leaves us feeling renewed with rejuvenated energy and a sense of stability when we come to our Center.
Earth Yoga poses feature round shapes that mimic the spherical form of earth. These poses target our stomach and spleen meridians, heightening our ability to nourish ourselves, cleanse our blood and optimize its flow throughout body mind complex with “sweetness” of practice,
Over-exertion, in yoga and all exercise will result in feeling depleted in Late Summer. Yoga in Earth phase has gentle flowing sequences, free of force, promoting a natural soft lush feeling of our body.
Gentle twists will assist our digestion, boost mood and energy, improve circulation and oxygen levels. Earth sequences conclude with calming and regulating effects of restorative poses to facilitate harmonising earth with a deep sense of rest to the body. We access “sweetness of life”.
Dampness of energy may reveal an imbalance in our Earth energy and lack of movement will contribute further to this. Be mindful of overexertion in your practice and yoga will improve flow of blood to release damp stagnation and improve overall energy levels.
Kidneys are the foundation of our bodies energy in the body, the marvelous source and storehouse of Chi. Fear constrains our Kidney energy, creating dysfunction and draining our energy reserves. The Kidneys sit in the back body, so uplifting back body bending poses can activate and tonify Kidney energy, accessing our Water energy helps us cool down. 

2. Eating in Late Summer:
Orange and Yellow are the colors connected with season of Late Summer when natural sweetness abounds. In season now and good to include in apricots, melons, oranges, bananas, dates, sweet potato, pumpkin, brown onions, avocado, sweet corn, polenta, cous cous, medium grain brown rice, sweet rice and chip peas. Avoid excessive spice and salt now, keeping flavours moderate.
This season is associated with sweetness, balancing the bitterness of Summer before the pungency of Autumn. Artificially sweetened, sugary and refined foods can aggravate imbalance in pancreas and spleen, irritate our stomach creating excessive acidity and “dampness”, all of which makes us feel more tired, unwell, damp and anxious. Combination of excess cold and artificial sweet in carbonated drinks, diet drinks, energy drinks and ice creams put stress on our digestive organs and contribute to Earth imbalance.
Eat fresh, nourishing foods in season. Avoid overeating In hot, humid weather which over taxes the system and drains energy. Eating lightly cooked foods and soups are easier on our digestive system. Sour or pungent flavors to help disperse dampness and regulate digestion. 

3. Suggestions for living in harmony with Earth Element
Recognise and enjoy the abundance of fruits and fresh vegetables, aware of natures sweetness.
Contemplate that within each harvest lie the seeds of the next.
Be thoughtful of how you can nourish yourself and others.
Nature is bountiful and generous,  reflect on the gift of giving, attending to the needs of others. 
A  ” gift ” may be a word, a courtesy, a thoughtfulness, a smile….
Be conscious of the harvest of your life.

4. Mindful Awareness
Take some time alone to quietly center yourself and become still.
Bring to mind your relationships; family, intimate, friends, community and work. What parts of your life are bearing fruit? Where is the harvest rich? Where do you find it stunted?
How nourished do you feel by life?
Are you satisfied or do you crave experiences, nourishment, sweetness in life?

Earth thrives on healthy routines and rhythms. This settles our nervous system, stabilizes our blood sugar levels and promotes harmony with a healthy balance of work, recreation and social life. 
Participation in our wellness is essential for health of body, mind and spirit, be active in this creative endeavor.

Earth is where we are grounded, 
Earth is where we renew, and from Earth we bloom into fullness with life. 
All stems from the Earth, may Late Summer be your time of harvest.

Words and concept by Gwynne Jones. Copyright February 2012

May all beings be happy and free
Om Mane Padme Hum
ओं मणिपद्मे हूं   ༀམཎིཔདྨེཧཱུྃ།