Greetings my precious people!!!
For the first time ever, I decided to take a ‘summer sabbatical’ in the month of June to cultivate some much needed rest, and experience “being” instead of “doing.” Chinese medicine extols the value and virtue of living in accordance with the seasons, and while Summer is the high point of the active yang energetic, we are also in the year of the Yin Water Rabbit, where we are reminded of rest, retreats, and the gifts of cultivating an inner stillness. So a summer sabbatical seemed quite appropriate!!
We tend to think of sabbatical in academic terms, as a school year free from teaching duties that can be devoted to research, travel, and writing. Traditionally, this occurs every seventh year. Because of this scholarly context, we may easily miss what is hiding in plain sight: that sabbatical is related to Sabbath, which refers to the Biblical day of rest, or the seventh day. We trace the origins of both sabbatical and Sabbath to the Greek word sabbaton. Sabbaton itself traces to the Hebrew word shabbāth, meaning “rest.”
We are currently in the midst of Summer, the Great Yang, when the energetics of the Earth are strong and vibrant in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the Chinese astrological cycles, we are also 6 months into the Year of the Yin Water Rabbit, a time of respite between the volatile Year of the Tiger and the upcoming Year of the Dragon. The Qi of Rabbit is characterized by stillness and reflection, filled with gentleness, quiet and peace, and affords us the opportunity to settle into our Selves as we set the foundation for the energetic and transformative Year of the Dragon, where everything you could possibly imagine happens all at once.
Yin Water Rabbit brings us many gifts, as water represents intuition, emotions, senses, ideas and flexibility, so keep watch and pay attention to the sensory hints filled with inner wisdom. Your wise mind, your inner advocate, your higher Self – these inner “Yin” aspects of your Being – will guide you and help you move forward with your plans, ideas, and dreams. This year indeed signifies transformation and a thriving Qi, and all your work of the previous years – those moments and months of clearing the closets, tending the weeds, letting go of ideas, beliefs, projects and relationships – all that practice of discernment allowed you to set down good seeds for cultivating focused growth and expanded awareness. Celebrate your diligence and persistence!!
The Year of the Yin Rabbit represents strong life energy and an expansion of Self, encouraging us to cultivate peace and using breathing techniques, coordinated with movement as in Qigong, are an excellent way to build vital energetics within our body. Yin water is the most yin, and provides a strong spiritual connection that allows us to tune into the wisdom of our Selves and a ‘knowing’ that our connection to the Universe, and to each other, is beyond that which is visible to the eye. But learning how to listen takes a bit of practice – so begin now!! Take a break from the daily chores and tasks that clutter your ‘to-do’ list. Set aside some regular time to be with your Self – a walk outside in nature, 10 minutes of quiet breathing, perhaps some gentle stretching or free writing in a journal, even a 5 minute dance party in your kitchen will suffice!! And remember that acupuncture treatment can help smooth the Qi in the body, and encourage your connection to Self … so call us for a tune-up!
