Late Summer “The Doyo”

Welcome to Late summer,  a time of relief from summer's intense heat and brightness. We start the slow transition between the ultimate Yang of Summer to the deep Yin energy of Winter. These next few weeks provide a  nourishing and earthly time of harvest and safety. After the flower blossoms, comes the ripe fruit, and as our energy has blossomed during the Summer, we also need some space to come back home and process all the information we have received and the experiences we have lived through.

In Chinese Medicine, Late Summer is also known as the Doyo Period.  It has it’s own season between Summer and Autumn but it also represents the transition between all 4 seasons which are the eighteen days before the end of each season and the beginning of the next. These seasonal transitions are governed by the Earth Element which has everything to do with how we’re digesting on all levels.  The Doyo period is an opportunity to ease into change and process all the things we’ve absorbed. It’s like a soft landing pad. It buffers the stark differences between seasons. 

So in essence, the “Late Summer” or Doyo period acts as a bridge between transitions that is anchored by the Earth Element. It then becomes important to optimize and strengthen our digestion during these shifts. 

Harvest and Joy

Late Summer is when we step into harvest season. The relationships you’ve nurtured, the places you’ve gone to, and the ideas you’ve had, have all impacted your harvest of today. Allow yourself to fully recognize how far you’ve come. Harvest allows you to openly enjoy the gifts of your work, receive the fruits of your effort, and bask in all the abundance you’ve created for yourself. Be grateful for the situations and the people that have crossed your path during the past year, and see the lessons they have left in your life even if they’re not by your side anymore.

Harvest is also about releasing and creating space for what is right for you and aligned with your personal healing journey. During this time, collect all the abundance the world has offered to you and store it safely for the upcoming yin seasons of the year. Slow down and gather in. Let go of what needs letting go and allow the Earth to compost it for you.

Digestion as Earth

Digestion is an anchor to the present moment. The Doyo Period is a time of digestion and processing. When it is in balance, this time of slowing down and savoring the fruits of our work can be a gift before the yin seasons come.  Out of balance, the Earth element, represented by the stomach and spleen/pancreas, becomes filled with “damp” energy, leading to feelings of heaviness, fatigue, and fogginess. Damp in Chinese Medicine can be thought of as indigestible aspects of our experience, whether it’s a difficult situation that we have a hard time processing, negative thoughts, or food that is difficult to transform into nutrients for our bodies. Damp can also be understood as resistance to change.

The emotions associated with Earth being out of balance are Worry, Anxiety, and Overthinking. The way to transmute these emotions with positive ones is by being gentle, loving and nurturing to ourselves. Actively observe yourself, observe your thoughts come, feel into how it feels in your body, breathe and allow them to pass. Remember that Late Summer is a time of safety, comfort, self-love, and rest.

“Digestion is so important not only for nourishing your mind, body, and spirit but also because it softens the natural cycles of change.”

Earth Element and the Mother Archetype

The Element of Late Summer is Earth. Earth represents the ground that holds us and provides structure. The Earth inside of us helps us contact the Mother Archetype by learning to nourish and care for ourselves. Ask yourself these days what would feel good, what you need right now to support yourself during the process you’re in, what foods are calling you, and what your body needs to feel fully witnessed.

Finding the Mother Archetype within ourselves is a very healing and nourishing inner resource. The Mother Archetype can ease worries and give us perspective when we're feeling lost, or help us feel calm and grounded when there's so much change and unknowns. It is very beautiful to see how our spirit reacts when we give ourselves exactly what we need. A healthy relationship with the Earth Element allows us to feel at home anywhere. Especially if you haven’t had a strong Mother figure in your life, you can do simple acts of love for yourself like feeding yourself whatever feels nourishing right now, savoring your favorite foods, and infusing all your life with small acts of self-care. 

The Mother can also be a great help in moments of grief, acting as a womb of love, a safe vessel where we can allow ourselves to naturally fall in the process of descent, but come back stronger and rested. We can anchor into the Earth Element of the Mother to strengthen our journey through not only seasonal transitions, but also those tender passages through our menstrual cycle phases and the metamorphosis that occurs in between our life cycles from menarche to menopause and beyond. 

This is also a great time to learn the art of receiving. Sometimes we get too used to giving all the time but have a hard time receiving.  Receiving openly means trusting the universe and a higher intelligence to hold you and direct you towards your most aligned dreams. This is also contacting the energy of the World Soul and the Universal Mother.  To learn more about the Doyo Period go read our previous blog post. 

How would it feel if you could look at yourself with the same loving eyes of a mother? 

What would it look like to feel held through transitions seasons, phases, and life cycles?

 Can you be a bit softer with yourself?

Grounding Ritual

3 to 8 minutes

Standing barefoot on a natural surface can help us connect to the Earth element of the Late Summer. Whenever you’re feeling ungrounded, confused, or too airy or firey, try to come back to this exercise. Just spending 2 to 3 minutes breathing deeply, focusing on your breath, and holding your intentions can help you see and feel a very different perspective and experience of where you are standing in life. 

Visualize roots coming out of your feet, and feel like you’re a part of the Earth. Feel all the nutrients and minerals that live in the soil that are abundant and ready to hold you. See how your roots go deep into the ground until they touch the warm and nourishing core of the Earth. Help yourself ground by continuing to breathe deeply. Fill your body with the wisdom of this land. Start to visualize how this energy climbs through your body to the top of your head and then expands like branches into the world. Allow the sun or moonlight to drench and rain light on your soul, then stay here breathing deeply and see how it feels to be connected to both Heaven and Earth. 

The Humble Porridge: Congee

Did you know that food and drink make up about 70% of your postnatal qi (life force)? Late Summer is a great time to invest in self-care activities. For example, cooking can be a very loving act of self-care. Try to intentionally set some time to prepare your meals. Today we wanted to share an easy-to-prepare nourishing Congee Recipe. Congee is a Chinese rice porridge that is considered comfort food but is so gentle and nourishing that it is appropriate for even the most young and ill. It will help to soften and open up your stomach, anchor in your digestion and feel more connected to the mothering Earth element. 

You’ll need: 

• Jasmine rice 

• Vegetable broth

• Dried shiitake mushrooms

• Lemongrass

• Ginger 

Preparation:

Rinse your shiitake mushrooms and then soak them in hot water for about 30 to 45 minutes. Bring 1:9, rice to vegetable broth ratio to a boil. In the meantime, slice your shiitake mushrooms once they are softened. Add the lemongrass, ginger slices, and mushrooms to the pot. Cover the pot with a lid and bring everything to a boil. Then, reduce the heat to low. Let the congee simmer for 1 hour. Make sure to check the congee and stir occasionally to ensure that it doesn’t boil over. Feel free to add more boiled water if needed. Salt and season to taste and fill yourself with the abundance and enjoy!

Sam and Kris ~ The Way of Yin Team