Taoist Elements and the Seasons http://www.energyarts.com Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:36:18 +0100 FeedCreator 1.7.2 http://www.energyarts.com/images/M_images/matthew-brewer-blog.jpg http://www.energyarts.com Taoist Elements and the Seasons http://www.energyarts.com/Blogs/Taoist-Elements-Seasons/Spring.html The Dao of Sprouting 生之道 The three months of spring are called putting forth and displaying.Heaven and Earth all sprout.The ten thousand things become lushAt night to bed, early to rise. Briskly walk around the courtyard.Let your hair down and relax the body in order to make that which is of the heart/mind sprout.Sprout but do not kill. Give but do not take. Reward but do not punish.This is the Spring compliance of qi(and) the cultivation of the Dao of sprouting.To oppose these principles injures the liver.(Consequently) Summer will bring cold changes,(and) there will be little to offer one's growth.(Neijing Chapter 2) Wed, 21 Apr 2010 13:29:34 +0100 http://www.energyarts.com/Blogs/Taoist-Elements-Seasons/Winter-The-Dao-of-Storage.html 冬 Winter The Dao of Storage 藏之道 The three months of winter are called closing and storing.Water freezes earth cracks. Do not disturb the yang at all.Early to bed, late to rise. (One) must await the daylight.Make that which is of the heart/mind as though hidden,as though concealed, as though (one) has a secret intention, already obtained. Leave the cold, seek warmth. Do not leak theskin (sweat). Urgently hold onto the chi. This is the winter compliance of chiand the cultivation of the Dao of storage. To oppose these principles injures the kidneys. (Consequently) spring will bring paralysis and fainting(and) there will be little to offer one's sprouting.(Nei Jing Chapter 2) Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:24:29 +0100 http://www.energyarts.com/Blogs/Taoist-Elements-Seasons/Autumn-Metal-Element.html 收之道 Autumn The Dao of GatheringThe three months of autumn are called containment and balance. Heavenly qi is quick, earthly qi is bright. Early to bed, early to rise: all participate with the rooster. Make that which is of the heart-mind peaceful and tranquil in order to weaken the punishment of autumn. Gather and collect the spirit and the qi. Make the autumn qi balanced. Do not direct that which is of the heart-mind outwards. Make the lung qi pure. This is the autumnal compliance of qi and the cultivation of the Dao of gathering. To oppose these principles injures the lungs. (Consequently) winter will bring diarrhoea (and) there will be little to offer one’s storehouse. (Nei Jing Chapter 2) Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:46:57 +0100 http://www.energyarts.com/Blogs/Taoist-Elements-Seasons/Long-Summer-Earth-Element.html 長 夏 Long SummerThe fifth season is late summer or Indian summer. The Chinese call it Long Summer (chang xia). Its element is earth. The Chinese element 'earth' 土 (tu) holds the same place as the Hindu element ‘akasa’ or space. It is that which holds and contains everything. It is the bedrock which allows everything else to be. It’s primary function is integration. By holding everything it allows all of the apparently separate things of existence to recognise their non-difference. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 16:21:26 +0100 http://www.energyarts.com/Blogs/Taoist-Elements-Seasons/Summer-Fire-Element.html 長之道The Dao of LengtheningThe period of three months of summer are called luxuriant flowering. The chi of Heaven and Earth mingle. The ten thousand things bloom and bear fruit. At dark to bed, early to rise. Do not tire of the sun. Keep that which is of the heart/mind from anger. Allow the finest things to flower fully. Allow the chi to leak (sweat). Act as though you love the outside. This is the summer compliance of chi (and) the cultivation of the Dao of lengthening. To oppose these principles injures the heart. (Consequently) Autumn will bring intermittent fevers (and) there will be little to offer one's gathering, and the Winter solstice will bring grave disease. (Nei Jing Chapter 2) Fri, 29 May 2009 15:28:17 +0100