As the
second full moon of August waxes towards the first new moon of
September here in the mountain there has been a definite shift
towards autumn that can be felt in the cool mornings and earlier
evenings, and can be seen in the first yellow leaves beginning to
fall from the trees. The fullness of summer has passed, and though
there will hopefully still be many sunny days to come, the energetic
quality of the season has changed into a deeper, slower rhythm. I can
feel it as a call to sit longer in my meditation, and a craving for
soups simmered in my crockpot. I feel less desire to rush, or to fill
every minute of my day, but instead am relishing the space in between
activity when I can just pause and relax with a good book or simply
sit on the porch and listen to the wind in the trees. The intensity
of summer is passing and with it the increased subtlety of autumn is
being revealed.
According
to Ayurveda the season of fall to early winter is ruled by the
elements of Air and Ether, which means the qualities of dryness,
subtlety, movement & spaciousness are most dominant. Each
season has its inherent wisdom and offers us teachings if we are
sensitive enough to receive them. As we become more attuned to
the rhythms of nature we will find that we naturally begin to shift
our diet and our activities to reflect the changes in season, and
these changes will allow us to synchronize with the new season so
that we can avoid imbalances. Common autumn imbalances are colds and
flus, achy joints, dry skin, constipation, nervousness, and anxiety.
However
when we are in balance autumn becomes a time when we are most
naturally drawn inwards and the mind becomes clear, capable of making
decisions from a place of enhanced intuition and insight. It is the
time of year when our minds most want to be nourished with knowledge
and inspiration as well so it seems no coincidence to me that this is
the season that we go “back to school”, as the mind is naturally
more curious at this time of year. Which means this can also be a
great time of year to undertake a new course of study or attend to
creative projects. The higher levels of physical activity that are so
natural during the long days of summer seem too frenetic now and we
will naturally feel less desire to rush around. In fact rushing and
overfilling our calendar during this season can lead to a mind that
feels ungrounded and a body that is tense and tight. As much as
is possible try to avoid doing more than you need to each day and
instead used the increased quality of focus that this season brings
to become more efficient and organized in your actions so that there
is some space for stillness in your day and your movements are not
frenzied. Autumn is the key time during the cycle of the year
to create and establish healthy routines and rituals, and it is the
time where we will become the most imbalanced if our rhythm is
erratic and so placing your attention on creating these healthy
rhythms can be one of the best ways to utilize your energy at this
time of year.
As far
as our diet goes the best foods to eat this time of year are foods
that are naturally sweet, salty or sour. These are the tastes that
will build tissue, allowing us to feel insulated against winters
chill, moisten tissue to combat the dryness of this season, and
stimulate digestion, which can be weak as we shift from summer to
fall. Examples of naturally sweet foods that are harvested this time
of year are root vegetables, stewed apples, and grains. The sour
taste can be found in naturally fermented foods, which will help,
build healthy intestinal flora and lemons, which are cleansing and
warming as well. The salty flavor is naturally found in seaweeds,
which can be added to autumn stews to increase mineral uptake and
ground the mind. In general eating more cooked foods and foods
that have a high water content like soups and stews is a good idea
this time of year and you will probably find you have less interest
in salads and ice cold drinks.
Autumn
is also a very good time to do a simple cleanse to remove any excess
heat from the tissues of the body, and the mind. Examples of this
would be sticking to vegetable broths, fresh vegetable juices, stewed
fruits, and herbal teas for a few days while cutting out excess
activity and mental stimulation. Or doing a
classical Kitchari cleanse if you feel a need for deeper
nourishment and grounding. The simplicity of cleansing is key for
body and mind and I have found that making a habit of cleansing in
spring and fall is one of the easiest ways for me to nourish my
health and keep my immunity high.
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