Earth is the glue that holds everything together.
Before diving into the Questions of Summer, it’s helpful to take a moment to get to know the element of Late Summer: Earth. Through the Earth Element, we are able to be satisfied – to feel as if we have enough, to no longer be hungry. Earth gives us the ability to stand firm and remain grounded in an ever-changing world.
We all have needs. How we go about satisfying our needs and the needs of others depends largely on our Earth Element.
Are we able to acknowledge our needs? Are we able to ask for help without feeling guilty? Can we take our place in the community knowing that “community” means shared responsibilities, shared burdens and shared accomplishments? Can we see that when one hand feeds the other, then we all get fed?
Are we able to receive nourishment from this world, really take it in and break it down so that it can become a part of us and then offer something back in return?
The whole movement of the Earth Element is a never-ending cycle of receiving, digesting and offering back. Physically, Earth is about how we meet our basic needs of home and hearth. Mentally, it’s about thoughtfulness and the ability to perceive and respond to our community’s needs. Spiritually, it’s about our ability to receive nourishment from, and be in communion with, all of existence. If we are able to feel satisfied on all three levels than most likely we owe it to our well functioning Earth Element.
Everything we need to know about the Earth Element can be observed in nature during this time of year. After the joy and excitement of Summer, the season of Earth brings us back around to the fundamentals of caring for the needs of our community as well as tending to our own basic needs.
Take a moment to ask yourself the following:
“Have I learned to take care of myself?”
“Is my chosen work fulfilling?”
“Do I have a good balance of giving and receiving?”
“Am I getting what I need?”
“Do I even know what I need (rather than what I simply want)?”
“How do I nourish myself fully enough to be capable of generosity without self-sacrifice?”
“What am I hungry for?”
Speaking of hunger and nourishment…
Speaking of hunger and nourishment – this the time to be mindful of what you are “ingesting” daily. Pay attention to what you are reading and watching, as well as who you are spending time with. A few more questions to consider:
“Is what I’m taking in nourishing?”
“What brings “sweetness” to my life?”
“And, do I allow myself time to savor the sweetness of life?”
If you’re looking for a moment of solace to contemplate some of these questions and tend to what you need, consider coming in for a treatment. Especially, if you’re feeling like you can’t take another step or need to tune in to the light within.
Adapted from: Shen Garden Acupuncture
Photo by Jan Tancar from Pexels
