Waning Summer, Waxing Fall
A prominent shift is here. I’m sure you’ve felt it. Goldenrod is in bloom, kids are back in school (plan your errands accordingly), the light fades earlier, and there’s the slightest chill in the air to signify the close of a carefree summertime. This feels like the start of a more serious time, where play is less permissible and we’re meant to return to responsibility and routine. Virgo season is in full effect and has me more detail-oriented and fastidious. Go figure. As such, I’m being more intentional about my movements as the seasonal transition brings about different needs. A few in particular I’d like to explore more deeply:
Sleep - Each year like clockwork the shift from summer to fall disrupts my otherwise unproblematic sleep patterns. The change in temperature and routine has me mentally alert despite being physically tired. As a result of a few sleepless nights, I’m left not feeling mentally alert, having body aches, and can experience Heart palpitations the following day. In order to take extra care to maintain regular sleep I keep Rest is Best handy bedside to reduce circular thoughts, journal before bed to release lingering apprehensions, and will maybe do a foot soak or full bath to get a dose of magnesium and aromatherapy with Soothe Epsom Soak. In Traditional Chinese Medicine being mentally wired often correlates to the Heart Organ System and can be considered a disturbed Shen state. For this reason I reintroduce Heart tonics like Reishi and Heart’s Ease which I find dramatically quiet an overactive mind and reduce palpitations, overall helping to feel more centered and settled.
Immune function- This hasn’t impacted me just yet and I’m grateful for my resilient immune system. However each time the kids head back to school (whether you have them or not) and people return to work there tends to be a surge in illnesses. Oftentimes I feel very vulnerable and exposed in the Apothecary setting where folks enter actively sick and/or after having come in contact with someone who was. For that reason I like to make sure I’m keeping deep immune tonics in rotation and consuming nourishing foods to reduce the likelihood that I’ll succumb to whatever may be going around. Some favorites are soups and stews made with bone broth and seasonal produce like figs, apples, and root vegetables. Be Well Tonic has been a go-to added to teas and sparkling water as a preventative means to bolster innate immunity. Additionally, the slightly drier air often yields upper-respiratory complaints where they may not have been present with summer humidity. Personally having a deviated septum and past seasonal allergies my sinuses tend towards becoming inflamed and irritated. I’ve found it helpful to apply balm in the nostrils before bed and on occasion will do a face steam to open the airways for relief. A neti pot hasn’t worked for me due to the deviation in the septum the flow of water doesn’t flow where it’s meant to. That’s my best attempt at not being too graphic about mucus draining down the back of my throat. A lifesaver has also been Allerg-ease which offers me instant relief from excess sneezing and reduced nasal airflow.
Stress “Back to school” time is deeply engrained within me even though I haven’t been in school for years. Each year, a small part of me mourns the end of summer’s warm, lazy days and the start of darker, cooler, more serious autumn. I’ve never been one to anticipate fall layers and all things pumpkin spice. New anxieties to be more productive and fear of being pale indoors overcome me and countless others. That said, I’ve found ways to acclimate to the cooler months and almost fool myself into embracing the shift: Intentional movement and sweat, especially outdoors. Being ok with the right here and right now. Making and creating with my hands. Noticing the subtle changes in the plants, they have so much to say! Dancing in the morning light to start the day.
Digestion- In summertime we tend towards cooling, moistening foods. As the temperature drops and the air becomes drier, we look to encourage deep nourishment and introduce fall produce. These are often warming, grounding foods like root vegetables and aromatic spices along with fruits like pears and apples that are in their prime. Now is also an incredible time to preserve the lingering abundance of summertime whether that be in the form of fermenting, canning, freezing, dehydrating, etc. Incorporating the fullness of summer in the dark winter months ahead is so necessary! Virgo season rules the digestive system and often we see disharmonies with the Gut-Mind connection during this time. In Traditional Chinese medicine, overthinking and worry lead to digestive upset and are associated with the Earth element and late summer into fall time of year. What foods and thoughts are we absorbing and assimilating? Are those being easily digested or ruminating within us? Do we have regular and fully-formed release of said thoughts and/or foods? A go-to for digestive irregularity is of course Tummy Tonic as a regulating bitters blend to ease discomfort associated with digestion. Also preparing meals with carminative (relieving gas) herbs and spices like cardamom, rosemary, cumin, coriander, fennel, ginger, garlic and so many more not only adds incredible flavor but promotes optimal digestion and assimilation of nutrients.
What patterns show up for you during this transitional time of year and how do you ease into the new season?
