You’ve probably noticed I mentioned a few times about seasons and their corresponding organs. This comes from Traditional Medicine principles, which can also be found in Ayurveda to some extent. The overall concept is the fact that our internal balance, our internal microcosm, reflects the external microcosm ruled by the yin and yang concepts and made out of the 5 elements. Since our constitution is made of a balance of these elements, when we have a condition, chronic or temporary, it means there is an elemental imbalance, which can be caused by external changes, external stresses, shock, or something as simple as the change of season. As human beings connected to nature, it is therefore our responsibility to live in tune with its seasons, not just from a food point of view, I think most of us are well informed about the importance of eating seasonal vegetables (although still eating cherry tomatoes in winter somehow!). Beyond dietary changes and change in cooking styles, it is about tuning into the season, adapting your pace of life to its rhythms, going with it’s cycle, understanding how it throws you off balance, anticipating this risk and finding the remedies that will support you through these changes. If there is an emotional imbalance, it could be a result of such change (seasonal, life change, loss,…). In traditional Chinese medicine, an emotion is usually associated to an organ, a season, and finding out the the root of the problem (in which case the latter would be the branch), could help resolve it, or at least support the healing process, internally. In today’s modern life, in the typical fast paced life in big cities, we’ve lost touch with the seasons and push our bodies through the same level of activity throughout the year, regardless of these changes. How many of us have gotten to Christmas Day ill from a series of weeks of drinking Monday to Sunday, lining up Xmas parties and drinks, working long hours, sleeping poorly, surviving on a diet of chocolate and Xmas sandwiches and working HIIT classes when we have a chance. This life of W ork, travel, social events, exercise, little time spent in nature, living a very yang pace of life in general, catches up with us, burns our Jing, our life essence. Maybe some of us more intuitive or more sensitive to seasonal changes and have had to adjust already, due to more fragile constitutions, or maybe recent changes in everyday life have forced us to slow down and spend more time in nature. And for those allowed outdoors maybe it is a blessing in disguise. In any case it’s a trial and error process, living and learning. So, follow the next few posts to find out which emotion corresponds to which season and organ and some practical tips to support your health through these changes.