The days are becoming shorter and the leaves are beginning to turn. The Yang energy of summer is beginning its gradual shift into the Yin of Winter, and we ourselves may begin to turn a bit more inward.
In Chinese medicine the organ associated with fall is the Lung; the color, white; the cardinal direction, west, where we contemplate the setting sun, the fruits of our labor, and the meaning of things. The Lung is considered our most delicate organ, susceptible to wind, cold, dryness and dampness, all of which can contribute to coughs, colds, and allergies.
Shaped like a bell around the heart, the Lung is likened to the element of Metal and expresses, or is weakened by, the emotion of grief. This suggests both the preciousness of our breath and the human need to cry. In the west we find these connections via the Latin root spir, which is found in the words respiration, inspiration, and spirit.
In honor of the season I'm launching a fall series of small group breathwork sessions.
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