How many seasons are there?
That’s right, five!
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) there is a hidden season between Summer and Autumn. It is thought of as ‘Doyo’ – the time of transition.
In the West we would just call it ‘late Summer’, but Doyo has very specific qualities and a special feel about it. It is a time of abundance, gratitude, nurturing, caring and taking stock of our lives. It is a time of Earth energy. In Yin-Yang theory, Summer, characterised by long, hot days of energetic activity, is the ultimate Yang. So, late Summer is that period of transition, away from Yang towards the Yin of Autumn, the season of darker days, storms and cold winds.
Earth energy is about digestion, a process where we first separate the useful from the not-useful. Then we make use of the useful and let go of the not-useful. This is true whether we are digesting something physically or mentally. We extract those things that will nurture and sustain us and let go of everything else. In late Summer we can see this happening in nature: leaves start to turn yellow and brown as the trees conserve what is useful and prepare to let go of what is not.
One thing that we associate with late Summer is harvest time, a time of great abundance. The centuries-old tradition of Harvest Festival is a time of both abundance and gratitude. I remember, as a child, attending many a Harvest Festival church service. We were urged to give thanks for the recent harvest that had provided us with an abundance of food; enough to see us through the harshness of the coming Winter. We would also take time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves, with whom we could share our abundance.
Modern life, however, often disconnects us from this thoughtful time. The majority of people nowadays, myself included, will not attend a Harvest Festival church service. The supermarkets have plenty of food on their shelves all year round; you can go into a shop and buy a pineapple or a kiwi late on a cold November night. So, it's easy to pass through the late Summer, or Doyo, without sensing its special qualities and making the most of this unique season. That’s why it’s important to consciously appreciate Doyo for all the positive feelings, and especially the mental and physical health benefits, that awareness of this special season brings.
4 tips to help you align your life with the Doyo of late Summer…
· Enjoy the abundance of fresh fruits and vegetables. Appreciate their special qualities. Carrots are crisp, cucumbers cool, tomatoes luscious, peaches sweet. Look at the pumpkin, sunflower and sesame seeds and reflect on the fact that, stored within each are all the ingredients needed to produce and sustain new life.
· Think about how you can nourish others. In this season when nature gives up her bounty, we can focus on giving and meeting the needs of others. You could start small by giving a kind word, a courtesy, a thoughtful act. Actively engaging in helping others will help your mental and spiritual health also.
· Be conscious of the harvest of your life. Think about yourself, your relationships, family, friends, and your work. What parts of your life are bearing fruit? Where is the harvest rich? How often do you take time to appreciate all that is abundant in your life?
· Make ready for the letting go process in autumn. Keeping your harvest in mind, ask what is outgrown or unneeded. What distracts you from living your life in line with your true values? What might you wish to let go of, in yourself or in your life?
I hope that these ruminations help you appreciate and make the most of the late Summer ‘Doyo’ season, and help you to positively transition from yang to yin in your physical, mental and spiritual life.
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