Creating Balance in Mind-Body-Spirit with Autumn's Energy

Now that the Equinox has come and gone, nature is settling in and starting to prepare for winter. This phase of Autumn is called hán lù (寒露) or "cold dew", chilly enough so that dew forms in the morning, but not cold enough yet for frost. People are more active than ever due to the comfortable temperatures, enjoying the industrious back-to-school, harvest-time feeling. It's a brisk energy, keeping the squirrels and chipmunks busy as can be, storing up acorns and stealing all the pears from your pear tree.

To harmonize with Nature, how can we best make use of this Fall energy? According to Five Element Theory, the energy of Fall is associated with the Lung and Large Intestine organs. This energy is about creating balance -- balance in life and health, keeping what is valuable and letting go of what is no longer useful. What can you let go of this year to make room for new opportunities? Even something as simple as throwing away old clothes or books that you never use can literally and energetically create room for you to receive more new gifts in life.

Fall's energy is also about a deep acceptance that death is a part of the cycle of life, that it is in fact necessary for Nature's balance. Renewal and growth come from plants and animals that die and decompose into fertile soil during autumn, supporting the next generation of life. In this way, Nature can renew itself again and again, making room for ever-new creativity and exciting expansion. Seeing yourself and your loved ones as part of this beautiful cycle can truly help one move forward, let go, and go on, accepting life as an ever-changing gift.