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Take a week to support your Stomach energy. We’ll practice Qigong, lighten our diets, and gradually nurture the Earth element.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the beginning of autumn is typically associated with the start of the Metal element’s influence. This transition is generally observed around the time of the autumn equinox, but the invisible shift is already beginning. Within these shifts, the Spleen/Stomach pair also supports the transition, making right now a good time for deep self-nurturing.

Guidelines:

DAY 1: Set Your Intention

In order to receive, you must let go. There are levels of digesting—materialized and non-materialized. Which level do you want to challenge this week?

• Digest/Materialized: Look at your everyday life. What things are you willing to let go of? Everything you release makes room to receive. If you have “stuff” you can’t release, work on it little by little.
• Digest/Non-Materialized: Consider your emotions. If you can let go of angry feelings, you’ll receive love. If you let go of worry, you’ll receive happiness. Is this the area you want to work on?

Take the day to think about this. Letting go is a gradual process, so keep it simple and focused.  Then, make a commitment to follow your instant feeling.

Think about what we are doing, as a group of 150, 200 or more, the energy field is exponentially magnified.  So tap in and enjoy the energy boost.

Day 2 -5: Minimize Energy Drains

Go into Nature as much as you can. Observe what’s happening around you.

Lighten up on your diet: Reduce your daily intake by 20-25% of what you typically eat. Eat only 3 meals a day. Drinking lemon water between meals is fine.

• Limits: No meat, dairy or alcohol (1 glass a day if under a lot of stress)
• Watermelon and Peanuts: Eat watermelon or drink watermelon juice with each meal or as your meal. Include peanuts, too.  
• Chinese Barley and Mung Beans: We love these two foods to help detox the Stomach and Liver. Make a batch and eat some each day.
• Additional Foods: Try to include red dates, cucumbers, bamboo, leafy greens (steamed or lightly sautéed), berries, honey, and mint.

Remember to keep it light but don’t stress over what to eat.  Follow your intuition.

Qigong Practice: Follow this routine the best you can. Try to do a complete practice twice a day.

• Marching: Marching is the foundation for all of our practices. While marching, drop your foot so it is flat on the floor. Once you get the feel of it, place your hands in prayer position and continue to march for 10 minutes. Use your imagination and feel your feet gently dropping deep into the Earth.
• Circle Practice: Stand with your feet hip width apart. Raise your left hand, palm facing outward and thumb extended while pointing to the ground. Slowly make circles going outward. Remember to keep your palm facing outward. Practice for 10 minutes on each side. Feel the oneness in this form.
• Standing Meditation: Hold The Dragon Stands Between Heaven and Earth for 30 minutes while standing to accumulate Qi. Gradually, your mind will become peaceful.

DAYS 5-7: Deepen Your Practice

Check in with yourself: Notice your changes.  Do you feel lighter? Less complicated? Have you noticed your Qigong form becoming smoother, your mind relaxing, your body feeling lighter? That’s the ultimate goal.

Continue with your Qigong practice: Can you increase the amount of time you practice the Circle routine? Try 15–20 minutes per hand. Then practice Marching and end with the standing meditation.

Lighten up even more: Make a mix of coconut water and watermelon juice to refresh the digestive system. If you have a light schedule, consider eating even less for a day or two.  

Remember:

Join me for a short call on Tuesday, August 6th at 12:00 pm EST. I’ll explain the purpose further and answer questions. We’ll do a short practice to review the Qigong forms.

If you already subscribe to the TCM newsletter, you’ll automatically receive a Zoom link to the call. If you’re not subscribed, join here.  A replay will be posted in a subsequent blog post.

Answers Lie Within (Facebook): Post your thoughts, questions, and experiences on this forum. We have lots of Dragon’s Way Qigong® instructors to encourage you throughout the week.

Thanks for joining me!

Elaine—Director, TCM World Foundation