leaning into late summer
summer 2024, vol.2
Dearest reader,
Welcome to this summer’s second edition of Venus and the Pearl.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there is a fifth season - late summer. Ruled by the Earth element, late summer is a short transitional period at the end of summer and the beginning of the fall where we begin the important energetic and physical preparations for a smooth and healthy seasonal transition into autumn.
Here on Lək̓ʷəŋən territory (also known as Victoria, BC), the weather has clearly shifted as temperature drops and rainy days return. Surprisingly, so many flowers are still in bloom like roses, zinnias, and dahlias, bringing splashes of colour to grey landscapes. I’ve dusted off my winter coat and leather boots, and have begun acclimatizing to the cold weather once again. Summer is never long enough, but this year, there’s something really cozy and almost poetic about the seasonal shift. I can’t really put my finger on it, but I’m leaning in and it feels good.
Personally, I’ve shifted my focus back to writing, content creation, and a continued effort to take better care of my body and mind. Recently, my doctor gave me a clean bill of health after struggling with a chronic issue for over 2 years and, safe to say, I am thrilled. I will share about that soon enough once everything settles in, but what I will say is that when we put in the work, give the body the right ingredients to repair itself, and remove what’s causing harm, amazing progress can happen - sometimes quicker than we ever imagined.
Between now and the end of the year is a potent opportunity to focus on your health (and use up your health benefits), so if you’d like to come in for an acupuncture treatment, cupping, moxibustion, gua sha, or Reiki, book in with me at Spring Wellness in Quadra Village. I also offer online herbal consults and distance Reiki sessions for folks all throughout Canada and the US, bookable here.
I deeply appreciate your readership, and I hope you enjoy this edition of Venus and the Pearl.
Wishing you a cozy, nourished transition into fall,
Andrea Penagos, R.TCM.P., L.Ac.
Registered TCM Practitioner (BC) + Licensed Acupuncturist (California)
Follow me on IG at @andreapenagos.wellness
late summer
Late summer marks a subtle transition from the extroverted spring/summer months to a more quiet, internal, contemplative energy that characterizes the colder seasons. As we enter the fall, we acknowledge the work we’ve put in during the active seasons, and slow down to take stock and harvest the fruits of our labour. As light hours diminish, we find ourselves seeking the warmth and comfort of our homes and families once again to regroup, recalibrate, and replenish.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, the 15 days surrounding each equinox and solstice (7 1/2 days before and after seasonal transitions) also belong to the element of Earth - especially the transition into fall.
Earth is the pivot point between Yin and Yang around which the elements circulate. Graphically, if you were to look at the Chinese Five Element cycle, you would see Wood, Fire, Metal, and Water progressing in a circle with Earth in the centre, connecting them all. Without Earth, there would be neither elements nor seasons, and there would be no life.
Within our bodies, the Earth Element represents the digestive organs, and speaks to the need to nurture ourselves for the healthy continuation of life. Individuals with strong, balanced Earth in their constitutions have strong digestion, good stamina, and clear thinking, and are hard-working, practical, responsible, organized, active, stable, and are able to care for themselves and other. They are creative, have fertile imaginations, and work steadily to manifest their dreams.
If you’re experiencing poor digestion, loose stools, nausea, poor appetite, bloating, fatigue, blood sugar imbalances, or physical and mental stagnation, consider meditating on your Earth element. Other indications of a weak Earth include feeling “stuck”, living in disorder, hoarding, experiencing creative blockages, and having difficulties doing the work to transform ideas into reality.
Earth inspires us to do the daily labour of maintenance to keep our bodies healthy and our dreams thriving. At every seasonal interchange, we get 15 magical days to take stock of our internal garden and do additional watering, weeding, pruning, and seeding to ensure successes in the seasons to come.
late summer journal prompts:
What fruit are you harvesting from your hard work this year?
What aspects of your physical and creative life need watering, weeding, and/or pruning?
What new seeds are you sowing for the following seasons?
How can you nurture your soil so your seeds will grow?
late summer wellness recommendations:
Attune to the late summer and ease your way into autumn with these 5 tips to nourish your Earth element:
1. Choose grounding foods. Foods that nourish Earth and support the digestive system are golden or yellow in colour and mildly sweet like sweet potatoes, yams, potatoes, carrots, cabbage, squash, beans, soy beans, tofu, rice, corn, millet, amaranth, apricots and cantaloupe. Prepare foods simply with a minimum of seasonings and a mild taste, and eat moderately-sized portions.
2. Eat mindfully. Take the time to sit with your food and be grateful for the nourishment it is offering you. Acknowledge all the work that’s gone into growing, transporting, and preparing your food so that it’s set in front of you, ready to eat. Chew each mouthful thoroughly, putting your fork down often to savour each bite. Know that this meal and this moment support your life completely.
3. Be demure. Seasonal shifts often bring drastic changes in temperature that leave us vulnerable to colds and flus, so cover your neck, shoulders, ankles, and feet to keep your body warm and protected.
4. Mind your instep. The arch of the foot, specifically the lower border of the metatarsal bone (see photo below), is the location of Spleen 3 - the Earth point on the Earth meridian, a major point used in supporting the digestive system. Massage or moxa this point during the seasonal transition from summer to fall, or at any point during the year to support digestive health, ease abdominal discomforts, and maintain balanced energy levels.
5. Try acupuncture and Chinese herbs. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal formulas offer effective, nourishing support in all states of transition, including seasonal shifts. In relation to nourishing the Earth element, Chinese medicine excels at weak digestion, abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, chronic fatigue and systemic weakness. In addition, acupuncture and herbs increase immunity to prevent catching colds and flus, which are prevalent in the transition between the summer and fall.
References:
Healing with Whole Foods by Paul Pitchford
Five Spirits by Lorie Eve Dechar
Staying Healthy with the Seasons by Elson M. Haas, M.D.
menstrual care tips with tcm
TCM mentions three golden opportunities to radically improve your health: menstruation, birth/postpartum, and menopause, suggesting that the way you care for yourself during these transitions shapes how you will feel in future.
Set yourself up to thrive during your menstrual cycle and beyond with these self-care recommendations:
1. Warm Foods, Soups, and Stews: According to TCM, warmth is key during your period. Opt for comforting, iron-rich foods like beef stew, chicken soup, bone broth, and other hearty, cozy dishes. Avoid raw, cold foods as these can make cramps worse.
2. Healing Herbs: Integrate warming, anti-inflammatory, spasmodic herbs like ginger, turmeric, and cinnamon into foods or teas to ease menstrual discomfort and support overall wellbeing. Chamomile is a classic to soothe cramping while supporting digestion and promoting relaxation.
3. Apply Heat: Use a heating pad, hot water bottle, moxa pack, or moxa stick to ease cramping and boost blood circulation. Bundle up, wear socks, and keep your abdomen covered.
4. Rest & Relaxation: Rest is as vital as nutrition. Give yourself permission to slow down and unwind. Gentle activities like restorative yoga, Qigong, meditation, and breathing exercises can ease tension and relieve pain. Grab a blanket and book (or your latest Netflix guilty pleasure), and get cozy!
5. Visit your Acupuncturist: Chinese medicine modalities like acupuncture, moxibustion, and custom herbal protocols offer pain-relief, comfort, and individualized care during your period. With regular treatment throughout the cycle, TCM helps regulate menstruation, reduce cramps, ease PMS, balance hormones, and increase fertility. Build a holistic care team that honors your body’s needs and supports your wellness goals.
work with me
I offer acupuncture, herbal medicine, cupping, gua sha, moxibustion, and Reiki treatments at Spring Wellness in the Quadra Village neighborhood (Quadra + Kings) on Wednesdays and Fridays from 4pm-8pm. I bill insurance directly for acupuncture and accept policies from insurers like Pacific Blue Cross, Green Shield, Sun Life, Canada Life, Manu Life, and more. I also take ICBC patients.
I treat a range of conditions in my practice including acute injuries, chronic pain, back pain, sciatica, headaches, fatigue, anxiety, depression, digestive disorders, hormonal imbalances, and fertility challenges. I’m bilingual and offer services in Spanish when requested.
Online herbal consults are available for patients in the US & Canada on Thursdays from 11am to 4pm. With herbal consults, you receive a custom herbal protocol along with holistic tools like supplement recommendations, nutritional support, movement protocols, and/or meditations depending on the concern being addressed.
Thank you for your readership, and I’ll see you again soon for the next instalment of Venus and the Pearl.