The Late Summer – a time of harvest – gathering nourishment and sustenance, an internal storehouse, so that we can smoothly transition through the autumn and winter leading to a flourishing rebirth in spring. We feed our bodies with food, our minds with the sights, sounds, colors, smells all around us, and our spirit with a strong center, rooted in understanding, attentiveness, stability and unconditional love.

As our Stomach receives, chews, and processes food, our mind does as well… have you ever felt like you’re just chewing on the same thoughts? Being grounded in the Earth can reign in a mind that tends to over-chew and actually allow new thoughts… and experiences to come in. When was the last time you just planted your bare feet in the ground?

Each meridian has a two-hour window of time throughout the day where our Qi is flowing the strongest through it. Our Earth meridians, Stomach and Spleen, are from 7-9am and 9-11am. If you want to truly nourish and strengthen the Earth within you, all…ow yourself a mindful breakfast (no TV, email, etc.) between 7-9am. For more info. on the Earth Element: http://www.thezenofhealing.com/earth/

The Earth Element represents the archetype of the Mother, offering unconditional love, attentiveness, and the ability to care-give for self and others. How attentive are YOU being to the needs of those around you… including yourself??

Chinese Medicine and particularly Five Element Acupuncture recognizes a fifth season, that of the Late Summer, which we are in now… belonging to the Earth Element. It’s a transitional time not only between Summer (Fire) and Autumn (Metal), but some texts also put Earth as a transitional element between the other elements as well… giving them ground, stability, and the unconditional love and attentiveness of the Mother. So for those of you worried that summer was over and autu