The seasonal connection to sound baths and Chinese medicine
SUMMER
Summer commences as we approach the longest day, the pinnacle of that great fiery object in the sky, the sun … its energy and everything it stands for is at its maximum.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Fire element is linked with the summer season and in particular the sun which is dominated by fire 🔥. There are 4 acupuncture channels that are associated with this element including the heart. It represents joy, expansion, warmth, and the height of Yang energy. Balancing the Fire element involves maintaining a healthy heart and circulatory system, as well as fostering emotional warmth and joy. The heart is considered the seat of the spirit, also known as the “Shen”.
A sound bath, at this particular time can help balance this element and everything associated with it.
All the elements are present within us. The current season brings us into contact in a more dynamic way with that particular element, of coarse summer is ……...🔥 🔥 🔥 FIRE 🔥 🔥 🔥
What happens to your qi (energy) during summer?
It a strange to think that your energy has started taking an ”inward” direction towards your center as summer starts. This is because your body moves with the natural cycles of the earth, our home plane, and its connection with the surrounding planets, in this case the sun. The moment we pass the summer solstice the days start to shorten and with that our energy directs inward. That’s not to say we won’t enjoy summer and all the benefits of the longer days, warmth and growth experienced during this season. Just noting this shift can be enough to prevent your qi (energy) from getting stuck, as it often can at the change of season.
What happens in the acupuncture channels and why is it relevant to a sound bath?
The acupuncture channels carry energy or “Qi” . Qi is your life force and is inseparable from the blood. If you’ve heard of yin and yang then here it is ….in this instance Qi is Yang and blood is yin and you can’t have one without the other.
As Qi flows through our body it carries the blood with it and if Qi gets stuck then it’s inevitable the blood will too. As blood is a fluid and fluids carry sound, the sound bath vibration can reach your life force “Qi“ via the blood as they are intrinsically linked. The vibration of sound can enable the stuck Qi to flow again by vibrating it free. The result is relief or relaxation as everything starts to run more smoothly again. Tension creates stuck Qi, often the result of stress, some of which is hard to avoid….this is where your sound bath can work it’s magic for you!
Autumn
Metal
The metal element is closely linked with autumn, when nature lets go of the old to make way for the new. This is a hint for us, too — to let go of things we don’t need. Feeling sad or grieving is part of this element, showing us it’s okay to feel loss because it helps us find balance again.
When it comes to our bodies, the metal element is connected to the lungs and the large intestine. Think of it like breathing in the good air and letting go of what we don’t need. This balance of taking in and letting go of what no longer serves us is what keeps us healthy and feeling well.
Meditation can aid in strengthening the metal element, as it often focuses on the breath and by default..the lung. The large intestine allows us to shed waste and keep us healthy. These two organs complete the metal element, their energy channels can allow us to tap into and influence this extraordinary element.
What happens to your qi / energy in autumn?
Your energy is continuing to move deeper inside your body and is not so much on the surface now. If you recall we discussed that from the summer solstice our energy had actually started to direct inward…it’s something that many people have difficulty recognising, as there is all of summer to come from that point. This can be a source of anguish as when we pass the autumn equinox and we notice the days are getting shorter, we suddenly feel the depth of how far our own energy has traveled inward, while we were engaged with summer and directing our attention outwards. If you acknowledge that inward turn at the summer solstice, then when you reach the autumn equinox it seems to be less of a leap to mentally catch up to where your energy is. This is where some of us get unwell, at the change of season, as we kind of got left behind with where our own personal energy was heading. Remembering that we are connected to nature and everything that makes nature work, will help keep your energy at its optimum. The sound and vibrational effects of a sound bath can help keep you in touch with this process.