Dear Friends,
image from : .www.cravenspublishing.com
We are now in the midst of Summer in Northern Hemisphere. Should have posted this earlier.
Lets look at some of the characteristics of Summer phase :
- It is the maturing phase (长). Everywhere we see plenty of vegetation at its beautiful peak.
- Heavenly Qi and Earthly Qi interact the most dynamically in this season, producing the best condition for procreation. The whole Universe is full of energy and vitality.
- Sleep late and get up early and enjoy the vitality of the long day.
- Keep your 神气 (shenqi, “mental vitality”) active while allowing exit channels for your vitality/energy and have fun enjoying outdoor activities.
- Keep your composure/cool and avoid anger/agitation.
Above are 5 main pointers for favourable characters/behaviours in Summer. It is the 道 (Dao) of Summer season.
In posting Character of Spring , we see that for the general well-being of health :
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Spring is about 养生 (yangsheng, “promotion of growth”).
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Summer therefore is about 养长 (yangzhang, “promotion of maturity).
If one go against the characteristics of 夏气 (xiaqi, “summer qi”), the Heart-system will be the first to receive the load, followed by a lesser well-being in the Autumn and planting the seeds of potential illnesses in the Winter. The GI tract is also more susceptible in summer phase. Avoid taking very cold drinks and if possible, no cold drinks at all.
We have discussed the summer of 2008 in quite a few postings earlier ( The Coming of 3rd Major Qi Period of 2008, 3rd Major Qi Period : May 21~July 22, 2008, What’s in store for the coming Summer ).
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Given the Strong Fire characteristics fo 2008 and mapping that into the general characters of Summer phase, the conclusion is that one has to tone down those summer expressions to prevent over-drainning of one’s internal energy.
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The Heart energy will resonate more strongly in the summer this year. (It will also lead to more emotional disturbance and lost of calmness).
If you find this Summer is too heaty/unbearable, try :
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fruits like water-mellon and pear are good choices (though water-mellon is a diuretics),
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Chinese green-bean soup (绿豆汤) with 2 pieces of dried mandarin skin, chrysantinum tea (with little sugar), white-radish soup etc.
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swimming in the afternoon.
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Summer heat makes a wondering heart with impulsive emotions. Visit your 内关 (Neiguan) acupoint more often.
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slow down your pace of activities.
As for the weather/environment, as per posting 3rd Major Qi Period : May 21~July 22, 2008, we will witness :
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Strong Wind,
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Strong Heat and
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Strong Precipitation.
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The “sudden-ness” phenomena will reach its peak in this Major Qi Period.
Have fun enjoying the vitality of Summer while guarding against the Strong Fire.
*Green-bean soup * white radish
image from www.healthychineserecipes.com image from /www.nandyala.org
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Filed under: All, Cosmic Forces, Environment, Health
xiaoyao2,
Thanks for the food tips again. I happen to like all those mentioned food, so yeah , will take lots of them. The watermelons in Japan are already out and have already tasted a few. Also cantaloupes and honeydews. Pears will be out around August/Sept. will be making lots of chrysanthemum teas and Japanese green teas and radish soups.
Actually come to think of it, nature has already provided it all….if you live in a temperate country like Japan, fruits and vegetables come out in the right season and right time so that man can eat them and stay healthy! The food complement the season.
I am slowly beginning to understand that and I try to purchase food/fruits of the season …unfortunately this is not so obvious when one is living in a tropical country where the seasons are not clear cut and we tend purchase our food/fruits from the supermarkets which stock the same produce that have been grown in greenhouses year round on their shelves.
The Japanese have a word , 旬 “shun” to describe produce which are at its best at a certain time of the year. Right now, apples and oranges are out (if any they are last year’s produce) and watermelons, cherries, honeydews, cantaloupes, plums are in. Soon the grapes and the peaches will be in (I saw a few peaches at the store today, but no, they are still green and expensive!). Ummmm, yummy!!
A 44 year old colleague of my husband who appeared healthy (at least his last medical check up said so!) up to his last day just died of a sudden heart attack….so much for a strong fire/heat year!
ch,
your observation is spot on, eat those fruits/vegetables of the prevailing season.
if you apply all the discussion we had so fat on the way cosmic energy works, then it will lead naturally to the conclusion of your observation.
remind me to advise you accordingly after summer, that should be around end of Aug this year.
The 3rd Major Qi Period is full blast on Strong Fire/Heat, with the Heart-system receiving the full load.
to be exact, your husband’s colleague is likely to be 44+ year old, born in mid summer.
HK has been pounded by Typhoon “Fengshen” in the last 24 hours, #8 wind intensity has been just lowered to #3. All schools closed and almost all shops were closed till after noon.
“Fengshen” wreaked havoc in the Philippines and claimed some 800 lives when a local ferry was capsized by the typhoon. It continues its journey to coast of Guangdong Province.
Wow, hope the airport is not affected! Any news of wreakage or lives lost yet? There should be minimal damage since HK is majority concrete, unlike Philippines which is mainly rural.
Schools & shops are closed, what about offices? Like Taiwan, they even have Typhoon holidays!
Take care!
xiaoyao2,
Vow, your “reading” on my husband’s dead colleague…I must try to check on his birth date. What would his PCO have been? Did you think it collided with the major cosmic forces?
Come to think of it, just out of curiosity, the Japanese (and also the Chinese?) have what they call ” yakutoshi” 厄年 meaning bad luck years when certain bad things are supposed to happen to you.
Some shrines and temples in Japan make a big business out of “yakuyoke” 厄除けmeaning avoiding or removing the bad luck.
Does these yakutoshi have anything to do with PCO and the cosmic forces of the year?
@ch :
well, guess there might be some similarities as Japanese were influenced by Chinese culture.
I can’t comment about luck.
A person’s PCO will respond to the cosmic forces differently each year (or each Major Qi Period in smaller steps). They will impact on one’s physical and mental health which then influence the mind/behaviours.
But if one regards “Everyday is a Good Day” and refrain from resonating too much to surrounding events (esp the negative ones), then one will likely to have a fairly good handle of one’s well-being. (pls see my comments to ct earlier in posting “Strong Fire of 2008 takes a toll on yet another leader”.)
I would not venture further to say one will have a fairly good handle on one’s destiny, for that’s the dormain of Karma.
p/s : don’t think it is a good idea to check the birth date. It was a bad thing for me to comment on that earlier.
OK, will leave the birthdate issue as it is…agree it is not good to check on such things. Agree that some things are “karma” or the will of God. Not good to know too much…some things are best left alone for only heaven (God) knows.
Just asked about the yaku toshi out of curiosity as I thought it might have something to do with cosmic forces etc…but again, like you said, sometimes human superstition and I cannot rule out even business for the religious institutions do come into play. Thanks.