Fall Energy

Hello, my friends,

Fall is a reminder of how everything is a form of energy and energy is always in the process of transforming. Sometimes these changes happen very slowly and sometimes they seem so sudden, however, the flow and transition of energy is constantly taking place.

Now that it is fall going forward to winter, it’s a good idea to protect and nourish the lung and kidney energy. The skin is related to this also, so a little olive oil in foods or on the skin is good! Pay more attention to the kidney energy because winter is kidney energy and we need to focus on restoring the kidney energy, the vitality, so that when spring comes we have enough energy to grow and to function well. Drink plenty of fluids, especially warm fluids such as warm water or tea. In the Five Element Theory, water is the element of winter.

Autumn is the season of change and transformation, our lives can be more peaceful and harmonious if we could always remember to take our deep breath into the Dantian (the center and reservoir of our life energy that is located in the lower belly) no matter what happens in our lives and in the world.  We can't change the circumstances of our lives, but we can change our minds, attitudes, and spirits to make our future better.

Also, now that Fall is in full swing, take time to focus on your breathing throughout your day and take some steps to protect your delicate lungs from dryness and sudden cold air. This dry cold air makes for a perfect environment for viruses to take hold. This is why so many people get colds this time of year.

In the morning, you really need to stay warm, which is also good for your spine and back. Keep the back warm and well protected, and this includes the shoulders as well. This bit of warmth helps to protect and heal the lungs. Even just walking around the house, staying warm is important because that part of the body is very sensitive to the temperature and directly connected to the lung energy. You can also massage around the last vertebrae at the base of your neck, which is C7. Massaging the shoulders helps prevent congestion in the lungs and prevents cold in the body.

When you feel tightness in shoulders, or back or feel a little chill in those areas, be sure to keep those areas warm. Use a dry towel and rub the back – hold one end in each hand – throw it over your back and just rub your back to generate some heat and warmth.

Another aspect of living in harmony with the season is in choosing warmer foods to nourish the lungs, skin and large intestine. Since your body is more susceptible to cold dry wind during this time, it’s important to add warm nourishing moisturizing foods to your diet every day. Some simple signs such as dry and/or cracked lips, dry skin, dry cough, dry stools and constipation, dry mouth and scalp and a sore throat are many ways your body is telling you it’s time to add more warm liquids and foods that hydrate and nourish you.

Our bodies are in a rhythm that mirrors Mother Nature. Being in Autumn, everything is getting dryer and dryer, so we need even more water to nourish our lungs and skin!

Love and Healthy Qi,

Tom

Transforming Springtime Emotions

Transforming Springtime Emotions

There is an old Chinese saying, “A seed planted today won’t be an oak tree tomorrow.” Those are wise words and especially important to remember this time of year.

You need to remind yourself of this because spring energy wants to push you forward and that can make you too anxious.

Emotionally, in March, springtime is really coming so the liver energy wants to come out but it cannot fully come out yet so it is always fighting. As a result, emotionally, that can create anxiety, frustration, or even anger.'

So you need to watch out for those emotions and things that might trigger your anxiety or anger.
Just allow things to happen in their natural rhythm and learn to be patient. Taking deep breaths is very helpful this time of year.

Everyday, when you get up, take 3 slow, gentle, really deep breaths to help calm down your emotions.

Do this often throughout each day. Sometimes you get so angry, so frustrated, you want to explode but you don’t want to do that. As a result, that negative energy becomes trapped within you. It takes so much positive energy away from you.

All these little times this happens it just keeps collecting and building inside you, taking more and more energy out of you and when summer comes you tired. You don’t want this to happen so here’s what you can do:
When you do feel anxious or frustrated or angry you can transform that energy into wisdom energy, into something soothing and good for your body. Any time you are nervous or anxious or frustrated, take long, slow, gentle, deep breaths. Put a smile on your face and focus on your heart.

At this time in meditation, it is better to focus more on the middle dantien (heart area). This helps to calm the energy down and soothe and build the energy in the lymph system and digestion system.
People tend to eat more in the spring because the energy of growth is coming. By focusing on your middle dantien it also aids your digestion and calms your energy.

At least 5 minutes every day take time to calm down, smile, feel peaceful and just focus on your middle dantien. Visualize the sun energy in your middle dantien and try to get some sunshine on your body. Even if the sun is just coming through the window that is fine and it will make you feel good and help with your visualization.

Your body follows the laws of nature. By focusing on your middle dantien you can help to turn that upsetting emotion into something soothing for the body. As a result, when spring comes more fully and turns to summer you are going to have more energy and be stronger because you have turned that acidic energy of anger and anxiety into basic energy, which builds your body.

So, letting go of frustration or anger by breathing slowly and deeply and focusing on your middle dantien will help transform that energy. Instead of depleting your energy, you build your energy and strengthen your digestive system, your gland system, your immune system, and your lymph system, which are all directly connected to the middle dantien.

2013 Year of the Serpent

It's a new year, and time for my predictions and advice that I have received from my Chinese masters.

Before we look at what lies ahead for a new year, it's always wise to reflect on the past. 2012 was the Year of the Dragon which was characterized by strong energy and powerful forces-symbolic of the Dragon-that when marshaled in the right direction can result in positive change. For instance, Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi was not only released from house arrest but won a Parliament seat in the military junta-controlled Myanmar and facilitated the lifting of economic sanctions against her country-something that was unfathomable just two years ago.

However, the year also witnessed powerful forces of nature from the devastation left by Hurricane Sandy, the wild fires that ravaged New Mexico and Colorado to the tornadoes that ripped through the South and the Midwest. There were also plenty of man-made tragedies, including the lost lives from the civil war in Syria, the horrific shooting in a cinema in Colorado, and the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut. I think most people would agree with me that they are happy that the Year of the Dragon has finally come to pass.

So what can we expect for the Year of the Serpent? Elementally, 2013 consists of Water and Fire. Energetically the Water element is creative, flexible and powerful while the element of Fire is dynamic, passionate and unpredictable. The positive manifestations of these two energies are more optimism, creativity and entrepreneurial growth. On the other hand, Water and Fire are opposing energies and therefore conflicts cannot be avoided. Compared to last year, conflicts in this year will be relatively calmer and more manageable, although there will be tension and mistrust beneath the surface.

Let's examine how the energetic cycles might affect the health in the five areas of your life, mainly physical, emotional, spiritual, moral and financial.
 

Physical Health

The Water Element relates to the kidneys, bladder, adrenal glands, and the hormonal/sexual system. The Fire Element corresponds to the heart, circulation and vascular systems, which are sensitive to stress and blockages. In this year one may experience a higher tendency for conditions involving the heart, blood pressure, circulation, kidney, bladder, hormonal system, fertility, and adrenal glands.

Action Plan:  
Eat more beans like kidney beans, adzuki beans, navy beans and black beans for their phytosterols, which are supportive for hormonal health. Drink cranberry, cherry juice and a little apple cider to keep the kidney and bladder free from bacteria and uric acid. Try adding more spices and herbs into your diet (ground cinnamon, fennel seed, cloves, star anise, white pepper, parsley, ginger, cayenne pepper, turmeric, ground coriander, ginger, cayenne pepper, cloves, turmeric, curry, chili, fenugreek, fennel seed, garlic, cardamom, nutmeg, basil). Avoid eating red meat, dairy, fatty, greasy, deep fried foods, processed and refined carbohydrates, alcohol, and sugar. I also recommend taking fish and flax oil which are high in omega fatty acids that decrease inflammation and are helpful for the heart and circulation. Take care of problems when they are small by being proactive and seeking holistic care. Exercise consistently to keep your heart fit and help you body stay strong.
 

Emotional Health

Water relates to fear while Fire corresponds to excitement, neither of which is healthy in excess. Fear paralyzes and consumes energy and prevents one from taking the necessary steps for healthy emotional growth and maturity. Thrill seeking, while exciting, can result in hyper-stimulation of one's nervous system. Both emotional states create stress that can harm one's heart and over tax the adrenal glands, potentially upsetting both the hormonal and the nervous systems.

Action Plan:  
Meditate daily to lower your cortisol-stress hormone level and increase endorphins that help you relax and experience inner peace. Tai qi and yoga are also helpful. Keep a nightly journal to unload pent up feelings. Talk to a therapist or counselor. Cultivate a state of gratefulness.
 

Spiritual Health

The nature of Water and Fire is movement - Water tends to flow downward while Fire wants to blaze upward. With these two opposing forces colliding, inner conflict may arise between desiring more material things, especially coming out of several years of austere economic conditions, and wanting to simplify for a more satisfying spiritual life. Material and spiritual can co-exists to produce a constructive life when you seek balance.

Action Plan:
The spiritual opportunities for this year are to work on strengthening your will power, which emanates from your Water Element, and opening your heart, increasing acceptance of others, and cultivating compassion - all of which correspond to the Fire Element.

Acceptance of others begins with acceptance of yourself - embrace and love yourself with all of your imperfections, just as a mother loves her child.
 

Moral Health

Your moral values govern how you interact with people and the world around you. This directly affects the health of your relationships, intimate or otherwise. And since the energies of 2013 portend a tendency for conflicts, you would be wise to strive for harmony.  Since the subtle feelings underlying a relationship are often the saboteurs, it is important to identify what they are. The dynamic of Water and Fire, just like feminine and masculine, must be harmonized for a relationship to succeed. Since fear, mistrust and sadness cause one to close up and impede full exchange in a relationship, it's important to recognize these blocks and resolve them. All healthy relationships require patience, understanding and flexibility, which are the hallmarks of the serpent.  

Action Plan:
Write down the blocks in your relationships. Is it fear of being vulnerable and potentially getting hurt? Do you not trust the other person due to your past experiences? Are you being aloof and not fully committing, thus preventing the other person from trusting you? Make a time with the other person to discuss your desire and concerns about your mutual relationship, and work on the blocks together by

practicing behaviors that bring more trust, understanding and forgiveness. Focus on specific behaviors and refrain from judgment and generalizing. Set times to review progress weekly, and revise when necessary. Successful relationships require clear, calm and consistent communication and feedback. Get help from relationship experts when you need it.  
 

Financial Health:

The Fire Element tends to be excitable, dynamic and unpredictable. Thus during years when the Fire Element is present, the stock market is prone to more optimism and rises accordingly. The Water Element, on the other hand, is creative, flexible and powerful. When combined harmoniously with the Fire Element, 2013 is a good year for entrepreneurial activities involving creative fields like entertainment, media, fashion and technology. The housing sector will get a boost as well as industries related to travel, like hotels, restaurants and automobiles. Mining will also rise along with the improving economy, most likely in the latter half of the year. Interest rates will surely begin to tick upward. Finance, banking and insurance will also do better than in the past few years.

Action Plan:
Take an inventory of where you are financially and make a realistic plan of where you want to be in the future. Engage a professional financial advisor, or use the many available resources to help you do it yourself. Set up a budget of savings and expenses and stick to it. Resist temptations with all the optimistic pronouncements in the news, and invest your money with discipline. Review your progress regularly and adjust your strategies according to your goals and future needs. Don't forget to invest in yourself by increasing your knowledge base, upgrading your skills and expanding your network.