Course Index
Seasons Index
 Fall

Fall

Fall is the season of the harvest. We gather our strength together before winter. It is a time of rich abundance, full of ripe fruits and vegetables. During the Fall we prepare for the long cold dark months of winter. The time has come for turning inward. The nights become longer than the days and we naturally begin to spend more time indoors. Fall is a good time to clear unfinished business as we prepare internally for the change ahead of us.

Do This!

Exercise 74 • Exploring the First Day of Fall

Plan to spend part of your day on or close to September 21st outside. Walk around and observe your environment. Check out the plants, animals, birds and people. Sense the play of the elements at this time. 

  • How do you experience the decrease of fire in your environment
    and body?

  • How is the shortening of the day affecting your mood and sleep patterns?

  • Do you feel more or less energetic?

  • What kind of thoughts or fantasies fill your mind during these early days of fall? 

  • Record Fall experiences:
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FALL BODY SYSTEMS

Lungs:

The lungs connect the outer air with the inner world of the body. The lungs exchange carbon dioxide and oxygen through the pulmonary capillaries, where air and blood meet. There is external respiration through the lungs and internal respiration through the cells. The average person breathes twelve to fifteen times a minute.

Large Intestine: 

The large intestine deals primarily with the elimination of solid wastes from the body. It is about five feet in length and travels around the edge of the abdomen. It is divided into the cecum, the ascending, transverse, descending and sigmoid colon. It absorbs nutrients and contains bacteria that help break down food. It forms, stores and eliminates the feces. Food takes 24 to 36 hours to pass from mouth to anus.

The flexing of the colon is natural in childhood but becomes tempered by the early controls of school, stress, diets high in refined foods, meat and dairy. When the large intestine is congested, the organ loses it's tone causing prolapses. Congestion leads to abdominal discomfort, low and mid back aches. Many back aches are connected to the large intestine. 

The liver and gall bladder are important to the functioning of the Intestines. When we over indulge in fried foods and alcohol our liver suffers and becomes sluggish. This impaired liver functioning slows intestinal functioning. We experience abdominal cramps in the morning, a stiff back and sinus congestion. A diet of natural foods, grains and steamed vegetables will keep the intestines working well. Regular exercise like walking is important.

Immune System: 

Defines me from not me. It destroys harmful "not me's" such as harmful bacteria and viruses. Ayurveda personifies it, calling it Ahamkara, our joy and will to live.
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DREAMBODY IMMUNE SYSTEM 

I include this in Wind season as we are most easily influenced at this time. It is time to prepare ourselves for the challenges of winter. When you move away from the direction of your dreams we find that people tend to get sick easier. Remember you only need to move 1/4 inch in the direction of your dreams to start feeling better. Bernard Jensen use to say, "You have got to feel good, to feel good."

Do This!

Exercise 75 • Stimulating the Immune System with Lighter Dreams

If your life is not up to what you had hoped it would be, then imagine a more optimistic and desirable future for your self! Play with this vision. Meditate on it. Write it down. Draw it. Allow it to permeate your cells. Imagine how you would move if your life was like this dream. Think about some small steps that you might take towards manifesting this life.

  • Record your experience: 

BALANCING THE CONSTITUTIONS

Pacify the constitution disturbed (likely Wind). Wind brings Fire and Water into line. Treat Wind with rest, meditation, warmth and massage.

We treat congestion first if present.

If you are Wind (vata):

Do This!

Exercise 76 • Review Sama\Nirama for Wind (Vata)

Review the section on wind sama\nirama in the Ayurveda section.

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FALL ELEMENTS

In the Chinese system of healing Metal is the element of Fall. This is the element of mental activity. In Ayurveda the element of Fall is Air that represents the mind and communication. 

Air Spirit

"Outside the air bubble (atmosphere) are the dead. Air power can't be accepted until you earn it. Pray all the time. Communicate through the air power. Daybreak is the best time. It makes your mind inquisitive. It makes the difference between living and thriving." Ellen White.

Do This!

Exercise 77 • Corralling Air Power

Go outside when you wake up. Greet the world and ask for forgiveness. Ask the air if we have done anything to offend you. Tell it, we love you, help us to be strong. We thank you. Never use I. Do this daily for a week.

Drink cleansing teas like Red Clover, Dandelion, Yellow Dock, 3 or 4 days a week or you may be disturbed by the power. Talk to your body. Feel the air power going through you. Collect air power.

  • Record your experience:

FALL ENERGY

September 21st (approx.) marks Fall Equinox. At this time the light and the dark are equal. From now on the dark time will be increasing and the light decreasing. Many indigenous cultures celebrate the equinoxes and solstices, acknowledging the shift in energy as we go through waxing, peaking and waning of the light. I marvel at the magic of this planet spinning perfectly through space and gently shifting on its axis, creating the seasons. 

In Fall the Yin cycle begins. Yin energy is similar to Water. In the northern climates it is cold, wet, dark, heavy (falls to the earth) and inward (keeps many of us inside or makes us more introspective). Beware of Yin monsters. Yin monsters live in the water 

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and are very seductive. They may have you passively crying in your soup before you realize it. We need to strengthen our Yin and sometimes that means slowing down, turning inward and dealing with some of our internal demons. Following this natural ebb and flow of the seasons makes our life easier and more rewarding.

FALL PLANT WALK

Do This! 

Exercise 78 • Observing the Plants in the Fall

Go out and observe the local plants in the Fall. Notice how they respond to the energy
of Fall.

FALL HERBS

In the fall we need herbs that reduce excess wind. These are the carminatives, nervines, demulcents and laxatives. The oil from Borage, Flax and Evening Primrose are excellent at this time. Ginger can be added to soups and teas. Valerian is an excellent earthy nervine for any wind types that need help feeling grounded and need help sleeping. Marshmallow is very nourishing , moistening and soothing to the body. Castor oil is good for troubles with constipation. 

FALL DIET

The diet for Fall is building and toning. We need more fat and proteins now. Vegetarians would benefit from eating more whole grains and steamed vegetables. Remember to include beans, some dairy products and eggs (highest quality you can find). There are many other ways for vegetarians to increase their protein intake such as soy, nuts and seeds. Essential minerals may be obtained from sea vegetables such as Nori, Kombu, Wakame, Hijiki, Dulse, Bladderack, Sea lettuce and many others. Meat eaters may want to increase their portion of poultry and fish.
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Course Index
Seasons Index
 Fall