“The Yin and Yang conditions of the four seasons are the foundation of all phenomena.” (Nei Ching)
We all have stress in our lives. Most of us are busy people with long ‘to do’ lists that are largely unachievable. We can’t eliminate stress but we can learn to find peace within ourselves, by being kind to ourselves and realistic about what we can achieve. We can experience stress on four levels, physical, environmental (jobs and relationships), mental/emotional and spiritual.
One certain thing in life is change and how we adapt to change can both motivate us and help us limit stress. Having control over change is an illusion, we only have to look at the changing seasons to know that changes happen if we’re ready or not. Seasons change gradually and there is a natural inconsistency both in temperature and humidity. We love to say that this month has been dryer or wetter, warmer or colder than last year, we comment on the blossom and bluebells coming out later or earlier than usual as if there is a scientifically controlled climate and this is not just so in the UK. The truth is far more complex than our rational Western minds can grapple with: there is no dualism and opposition in nature.
In traditional Chinese philosophy yin and yang are not opposed but relative to each other. They are two sides of Oneness. Living in accordance with the Order of the Universe means we sweat in the hot months and conserve energy in the cold months, eat cooling foods in the summer and nourishing warm foods in the winter. In the West we have become disconnected from nature’s wisdom and instead strive for an almost mechanical equilibrium in our lives, eating the same foods all year, keeping up the same kind of exercise, keeping our houses, offices, shops and transport at an equal temperature. This of course has only been possible with the easy access to cheap fossil fuels.
Nature can reconnect us to the present moment and free us to trust in an innate balance which is both external and internal and certainly beyond our control. When we observe the seasons and see both the opportunities and limitations on offer we can accept our lives as they are. Life has an ease about it and our well-being restores.
Reference sources: Elizabeth Lipski PhD, CCN, CHN, ‘Digestive Wellness’ and Herman Aihara ‘Acid Alkaline’.