Summer Falls into Autumn

RITUAL: Gratitude Journaling | SOLAR TERM: Li Qiu | SEASON: Fall

August 8 - August 22

The thirteenth solar term of the Chinese calendar is called Li Qiu. Li Qiu, meaning, “the beginning of autumn”, is the first solar term of Fall. It’s said that when the first yellow leaf flutters in the wind and falls gracefully to land on the ground, it’s a sign that Summer is over and tells of the coming of Autumn.

In ancient folklore it’s believed that if it rains on the first day of Fall, the harvest will be good. The weather is still hot but the animals start making their preparations for colder weather. Plants grow to maturity and ripen ready to be harvested. And animals begin gathering and storing food away for Winter.

After two consecutive yang energy seasons, Spring and Summer, with the beginning of Fall, the yin energy phase of the year begins. According to ancient Chinese medicine, the Fall and Winter seasons nourish the yin chi. Li Qiu marks the beginning of a time when eating more hearty and nourishing, comfort foods is recommended. You can start the transition from cold, raw foods to warmer, cooked foods during the Autumn months.

It’s also good to begin focusing on nourishing your inner self. Nurturing your emotional and mental wellbeing. Thinking about what brings you comfort and joy.

As the year begins to wind down, you can begin to slow down as well. Turn your attention inward, cultivating the inner world that will sustain you through the more introspective months of Fall and Winter. Think about what you can do indoors during the coming colder months when you’ll be inside more.

Like the leaf that turns autumnal colors and releases its strong grip on life, it’s time to begin allowing the changing climate to prepare you to let go too. Unburden yourself of all the things you’ve been holding on to so tightly. Let there be a void, creating the space for what you’re intending to welcome next into your life.

While many Westerners think it’s too early to start decorating for Fall in August, in Asian cultures, Li Qiu signifies the end of the Summer season and initiates the commencement of Autumn. For the cosy types, Fall is their favorite season. They can’t wait for sweater weather, their first sip of a steaming pumpkin spice latte and curling up with a good book in front of a cheery fire.

Fall is represented by the Metal element. The Metal element is associated with the heart and head, mouth and chest, lungs and colon. It’s also associated with a variety of emotions including, gratitude and hope, as well as, grief and sadness, exquisite joy and awe-inspiring courage, as well as, guilt and shame.

Gratitude

So, before “summer collapses into fall”, do some gratitude journaling. Take pause to appreciate the Summer you enjoyed. Say, “thank you”, and express gratitude for all that Summer has provided. Feel grateful in advance for all that is yet to manifest in your life to be savored and enjoyed.

Hope

The positive emotion associated with Hard Metal is hope. Think about what you hope might bring you comfort and joy this Fall. Contemplate and consider how you’d like to spend the coming months of Fall. What activities would you like to plan? What hobbies would you like to learn or take up? What courageous act would you like to take a risk for the reward?

Comfort

Since this element is associated with Hard Metal grief and Soft Metal melancholy, it’s important to find ways to ease your sadness and discomfort. You may need be comforted by others. Have friends who will check in on you. And provide emotional support as you move through the stages of grief or the melancholy that can come on with gloomy weather. But you’ll also need ways to comfort yourself as you process your emotions and move up the scale to love and then joy and healing.

Joy

The positive emotion associated with Soft Metal is joy. Make a list of things that bring you joy. Make sure to include things you like to do by yourself, as well as, having fun with friends. Then, design a life that features all the joyful things. And add joy to your daily and weekly schedule so you can have a joy-filled life!

Share in the comments below how you plan to enJOY the Fall season!

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Dara Eden is the author of HER Rituals for the Divine Feminine, a periodical guide created in December of 2021. The 8 Elements, her life’s work, provides guidance about how to honor the essential needs and highest values of your personal feng shui element. Inspired by an Internet challenge designed for men, she created 365WISE, a daily self-care practice that supports women in honoring their needs and listening to their inner wisdom.

In HER Rituals, she offers insights, ideas and intuitive guidance about ways to honor your needs, values and unique expression of the divine feminine.

HER Rituals is a Womb Wisdom KeepHER’s guide to cyclical rituals for sovereign women. It provides insightful information, inspirational ideas and intuitive guidance on daily and seasonal rituals you can practice as a form of self-care. Read about ancient wisdom and philosophical principles, holistic approaches and traditional skills, slow work and intentional living, embodiment practices and immersive experiences.