Spring At Last

I've been waiting for this - literally counting the days - and suddenly the timing of the Vernal Equinox is upon us. And yet Spring seems to hesitate - moving back and forth between late Winter and early Spring as though it is undecided.

The birds have been appearing here and there - the first song of the cardinal for the season but not a regular visitor yet. The faithful mockingbird with his loud call is ever present - claiming his territory for his nest with his mate for another season. The cardinal and mockingbirds seem to have chased away the blue jays the last few years. And the flicker (a kind of woodpecker) is usually here. Every now and then a lapwing will appear. But this year many of the trees have been cut down so we shall see who comes now.

The days yes are slowly getting longer and the sun is stronger and brighter - a welcome relief from a cold Winter. They say it is the coldest Winter in ten years and I am inclined to agree. Even my Winter blooming Mediterranean heather did not bloom this year until March whereas in past years it bloomed above the snow covered ground all season long. No crocus even, no signs of possible daffodils. The only daffodils present are the ones on my Tiffany wall hanging in the living room - full of color and beauty.

So here we are approaching Spring. This blog is meant to be more about natural living and being in rhythm with the seasons and nature. Originally I included a great deal of Chinese medicine, but those detailed accounts can be found in the earlier posts from the years passed. I do make mention, but really it's about being in tune with the natural world around us. A joy to get out and walk and do work in the garden - although there's still a bit of a chill in the air.

And yes, Spring is the time for cleansing. All the toxins that have gathered in the Winter - being indoors and somewhat inactive - will start coming out. Our diet switches to more vegetables and fruits and salads rather than the heavier warming diet of the Winter. The liver of course is part of how we detox, and is one of the organs for Spring, as well as the gall bladder. The element of Wood goes with Spring as well, making me think of the trees that are getting ready to bloom.

The taste that goes with Spring is sour, which makes me think of vinegar, tangy and cleansing, and useful in salads. The color of course is green - for everything turns green now with new growth - and we too must follow suit for new beginnings. The climate is the Wind and certainly so far March has been a very windy month. But even the Wind has cleansing qualities - blowing the impurities and pollution away and leading to clear skies.

And of course no matter what the season it is the transitions that can be stressful on us both physically and psychologically. So as always we need to be kind to ourselves. I am looking forward to the coming days of walks along the ocean on the south shore and journeys to the Catskills to walk on the trails and visiting family and friends.

I hope that you all can do the things that make you feel well. Enjoy this time of new growth!

Maery

                                                    Waiting for Spring

  

Winter Solstice

Autumnal Equinox September 2024 

   The seasons are so short between Late Summer and Autumn. And of course via our expectations and parameters, we designate a specific date of September 22nd. Yet it doesn't really work like that. You don't go to sleep on September 21st and wake up on September 22nd and say oh yes it's officially feeling like the first day of Autumn, with a specific temperature set by a clock. Although the amassing of everything pumpkin is a sign, but that is man made.

   For not everything happens all at once. Even the tides, except for a few places around the globe, are gradual. Not even the tide comes in all at once. And when the temperatures outside change it happens by degree by degree. And so we must align ourselves to these changes as they happen. Yet some of them are subtle.

   But the more preparation the better. There is of course the sign of the days getting shorter and temperatures a little cooler here and there. And on some levels we must sense it. For even the birds know when it is time to migrate to warmer climates and leave Summer behind.

   So Autumn is a time of reflection and preparation for things to come. Reflecting on the past or at least the last few months where Summer reigned supreme, hoping we accomplished all we set out to do on those summery days and nights. A sense of the bittersweet.

   And to prepare, start with foods that are somewhat more heating. The root vegetables - the heavier soups and stews if that is what you eat.

   Well you can also see preparation for the Autumn in the small animals - the chipmunks, squirrels, gathering food for the Winter and storing it away in little cubby holes. Even bears (although not here!) start to eat more and build more layers of fat to see them through their Winter hibernation.

   So that is partly the purpose of this blog to remind and to educate so that one is aligned and can live a healthy life. Being out in nature is part it no matter what the season, although many times the Winter can curtail us. But the again there skiing, snow shoeing, skating and sleigh riding.

   Autumn is the harvest, bringing things to fruition. We gather all the fresh vegetables and fruits and grains for the Winter. It is recommended to do some cleansing before introducing some of the warmer foods, to rid the body of toxins.

Autumn skies on the Ocean at Montauk

   The element that goes with Autumn is Metal, which represents the mineral ores and salts of the Earth. Metal is to do with communications and creativity. The organs associated with Autumn are lungs and large intestine. The sound with Metal is the expression of weeping, or crying, and grief, yet it reminds us to let go of the past. The sense organ for Metal is the nose and of course the associated sense is that of smell. The flavor in this element is spicy - found in aromatic cheeses like Brie, as well as peppers, mustard and other spices. The climate is dryness, but too much dryness can injure this element, as well as too much dampness. One could go on forever thinking about the elements and their seasons, for it is such a vast subject and just the bare minimum here.

   Finally, as an aside, today the yellow jackets (wasps) were swarming, as they do when Autumn is approaching and thus ending their lives, although the queens live on. What was unusual was that they decided to swarm around me, in a circumference of about 2 or 3 feet, circling, moving erratically, buzzing in and out and up and down. Flying very close to me but never landing. They were busy buzzing and flying in no set pattern. The most intense part lasted about 15 minutes, and then there were a few who stayed around for another 10 minutes. But for the next hour or so the bees did not leave and continued their frantic dance. Sometimes there would only be one or two bees humming and circling and I just sat there reading my book, always one or two around me. They say bees are attracted to sweet smelling odors, but all I had done was to condition my hair and use shea butter for my skin. I read they either think you are a flower, or that they are trying to figure out what you are, and of course everyone has omens regarding bees. What was not so fun was that after the bees left, came a small swarm of the new lantern flies and they were somewhat more aggressive - flying at me, landing on the arm rests of my chair and on me. I didn't like them because they destroy our trees. So I eventually left the area, curious to see what else happens in nature!

   So as always I wish everyone well, and to be healthy in these transition times.

Best wishes,

Maery

 

Late Summer 2024

   A very unusual Summer, and we are now upon the season of Late Summer. So let me begin this season with the above photograph. Yes it's the ocean, the waters stirred by yet another storm, and rip currents pulling at the beaches and leaving their mark. Tempest tossed and wind blown.

   But it is the skies that appear to have the greatest change. For starting in May of this year, still Spring and not quite Summer, where we have been fortunate enough to see the Aurora Borealis this far south as a result of solar flares and coronal mass ejections and solar winds swirling. In this photograph the sky is covered with a greenish tint I've never seen before. A have a few photographs of green skies over the house as well in a suburban area late at night.

   However, this season, mid August the sky has lit up with the most magnificent hues of pink and magenta, even here locally at our nearby beach. A wonder and a natural phenomenon to behold!

   And so now with mid August we also approach Late Summer, yet another season, as indicated in traditional Chinese Medicine. Here is where we begin to transition, slowing down from the fiery pace of bright light and heat and Summer, as even the Sun begins to fade. Days are already noticeable as a little shorter. The cicadas, although in concert now, don't seem as robust as last year.

   Soon it will be Fall, and this season helps to prepare us. Late Summer corresponds to the element of Earth. Everything is ripened, before the coming harvest, and preparing for the fruit of next year. All in our natural cycles. This short season seems to have qualities of all the seasons, fluctuating between hot and cool and extremes as things shift.

   This element relates to nourishment, so the sense organ for this time is the mouth, the sense associated with this time is taste, while the body fluid is saliva. Here we start to incorporate more grains into our diet to prepare for Fall, then Winter. The organs connected to this time is the spleen and stomach. The spleen distributes the energy obtained from foods. The digestive system reflect the influences of diet, mental activity and emotions, the stomach being one of the most sensitive organs in our bodies. When we are nervous or under stress, do we not get butterflies in our stomachs?

   One key thing during this time of Earth is to stay grounded, and nourish oneself, reflect upon where we have been. It often brings a sense of melancholy and longing, remembering special times we have just experienced over the Spring and Summer. Our diet should include the fruits and vegetables that are in season now, yes incorporating grains slowly and some nuts and seeds as well. All this should be done according to your own needs and comfort and to not over eat or be able to sense when some foods may be too heavy yet.

   The color for this season is yellow, the direction is center, climate moist, the emotion we feel is that of sympathy. The sound is singing, the taste is sweet, like the harvest of honey. Try to enjoy these last days of Summer that can linger into Fall and take good care of yourself.

   Again you can always read past articles on this blog for more tips.

Be well,

Maery

   

 

Summer Solstice

   And then the rains came.....

   And they came and stayed, water in sheets and torrents, soaking the Earth, drowning flowers and plants, causing people to run with umbrella in their daily tasks, hiding inside. It has been a time of unusual weather patterns, not just here but across the country. We are fortunate here in that we have not gotten extremes like tornados ripping through with destructive cleansing.

   Yet at the same time, it is hard to tell when one season onsets and when one ends. And as we approach the Summer Solstice this year, we have had some record heat here and there, yet in between remains the cool chill in the air, having had the heat on as late as the month of May. 

   Of course weather is always changing and unpredictable, but when you have extremes in weather and temperatures and humidity and life threatening damaging storms it is hard for the body to adjust to the changes, which causes a bit of stress on the systems. So which season do you pick to follow your routine in well being and healthy living?

   It seems you have to adapt to whatever is coming and be flexible. Carry the extra sweater and dress lightly or in layers, for by afternoon you could be experiencing a heat wave, or a downpour and hail, or high winds. About 2 or 3 years ago we had 60 mile per hour winds on a regular basis which was close to hurricane force winds.

   I try to abide by the season that seems most dominant, although the seasons seem to be arriving about a month or two late, so I wait and see and sense what seems most appropriate. For Spring was a time of cleansing, yet with the darkness of days inside and rain, it seemed like Winter was lingering. So on the chilly wet days get out the soups and warm beverages and return to cleansing. For Summer we need to deal with intense heat so the cooler foods and beverages apply. Healthy fruit or vegetable smoothies, salads, less of the heavier foods.

   The good news is that more time can be spent outside with exercise and sports or just enjoying the day outdoors in nature. Walking continues to be an all around activity, if you can, with many health benefits, including cardio, brain, just about everything.

   I also found that after such long periods of time with dark skies and rain for days that the sunlight can be a bit of a shock. Make sure to wear your sunglasses to protect your eyes, and sunscreen to protect your skin.

   In the traditional Chinese Medicine, Summer is the time of maturation and growth, which we also see evident in the plants and flowers. Summer is governed by the element of Fire, like the Sun which is so bright now, and the organs connected with this season is the heart and small intestines. Summer is considered masculine in nature, the high point of the day being 12 noon. During this season it is important to stay hydrated, and to not get too overheated. It is a good reminder for our heart health - in eating healthy foods including fruits and vegetables, of which there is plenty this time of year. Why not get your annual checkup to make sure your blood pressure and heart are still healthy. For the small intestines it is to do with digestion and nutrition, so eat well and lightly, to nourish and cleanse and balance. It's always a balancing act in all the seasons.

   the tongue and speech are the sense organ for Summer - find how well you can communicate with others and be aware of your sense of taste. The tissue associated with Summer is blood vessels, so again check your heart health. The taste for Summer is bitter - for this balances out the Fire believe it or not. Examples are Green Tea, cranberries, endive, arugula, celery, unsweetened cocoa powder, olives to name a few. The sound of Summer is laughter, which is good to hear and experience. For the emotions associated with Summer there is both joy and sorrow so you must choose which one you want to have.

   You can always look back to previous articles for tips on the seasons. I wish you well in this and every season. Live your life and celebrate it.

Maery

The Approach of Spring                           

Mountain Bluebird

   I say the approach of Spring, for it seems to take its time in onsetting, shifting back and forth between the end of Winter, and a few warm days here and there, the Sun growing ever stronger. Already sunset is about an hour later here, much welcomed after a long, dark Winter.

   Right now there is a steady rain, an inch and a half projected, but it is the wind that really captures my attention. March is like that - the wind seems endless - but it's all a part of the balancing act between seasons, as well as cleansing.

   For in Chinese Medicine Spring is actually a time of cleansing. The climate for Spring and the element of Wood that goes with Spring is the Wind. It cleans out the debris of Winter, and yet too much wind can be harmful. We have been protecting ourselves from the cold, but now we must also face the wind.

   Along with the element of Wood, the liver and gall bladder are associated with Spring, again a time of cleansing. The toxins locked in during the Winter will now be released, cleansed and then a new start that is associated with Spring.

   We start to wake up after hibernating indoors, and get more active. The color green goes with both Wood and Spring, signifying new life.

   The emotion associated with Wood is anger, but too much anger or repressed anger is not healthy and can damage the liver.

   No matter what season we are in, we need to find the balances. There is nothing like a long walk in nature to restore balances and cleanse as well. Try to find more time outdoors if you can.

   Above is our visiting Mountain Bluebird - who came here from out West. Sometimes this species will wander to the East Coast, but it is rare. Here we are Spring and Summer habitat for the Eastern Bluebird.

   This little bird has been here for the Winter on our south shore, in a park on the Great South Bay, with the ocean beyond. She loves to perch on the tops of cedar trees and juniper bushes, or fence posts.

   The beautiful colors, once she spreads her wings are magnificent and remind me of the birds returning from the South. Hummingbirds are already enroute North. This year I hope to put out red Trumpet Vines and Hummingbird feeders, as they have been seen in our area.

   Today is a soaking rain, no sunshine, but keep reminding myself of the Spring days to come!

The Winter Solstice

The Hazy Sun of Winter

   The Winter Solstice is approaching. Already the darkness in early evening seems darker, all consuming. We retreat more indoors, slowing down, taking stock of the last year, and wondering where do we go to next. We are more inward, as the Fall fades into Winter and we have yet another time of transition for our health and well being.

   Winter is related to the element of Water, and so the organs associated with Winter are the bladder and kidneys. Although the kidneys are nourished by a colder climate, extreme coldness can be damaging or difficult, so it is important to keep warm. Warm soups and stews, layers of clothing, and a fireplace or place of warmth are ideal in Winter.

   The emotion which correlates to Winter is fear, while the senses affected are to due to with ears. Be careful to keep your head and ears warm, especially in cold winds, as the ears are more sensitive this time of year. The taste associated with Winter is salt - but remember to keep salt at a reasonable level, otherwise high blood pressure can result. The colors of winter are blue and black, which also remind us of water. 

   Despite the colder weather approaching, I still try to walk as much as possible, being outdoors, and getting some sunshine, even though the sun seems more hazy. Dressing warmly helps, as well as finding areas that are somewhat protected from the wind, for the wind makes things feel even colder. I have walked, in mid winter, in the mountains, with the trails covered with snow, and lots of ice everywhere. There is a quietness and stillness in the air. But on those walks they tend to be shorter and I retreat to the warmth indoors.

   And slowly, as we get through January here, the sun starts to set later in increments, as it makes its return. While indoors I get ready for plans for the Spring, when everything starts anew. Cycles, cycles, endless cycles of life.