The winds of seasonal change are blowing. There is plenty of orange going around from falling leaves out here in the East to carved pumpkins and mums on doorsteps. In color therapy orange is the hue of cheerfulness. Therefore I expect to be greeted with sunny dispositions; instead I hear a few mumbled words and observe allergic eyes, sluggish gaits and stuffy noses.
Fall compels you to take stock of your home, garden, school curriculum and work. You note what is depleted and what areas require innovation. While change is stimulating, it can be stressful because for awhile you live in ambiguity to see if things will work out. Instead of rigorously following the tracks you have carefully mapped out, try not to lose track of living in the moment. Nature is a great teacher. Let nature take you on a walk to be present to what is meaningful in life: alive and alert.
To power up:
* Fall back on the things that bring you simple pleasures like laughter, massage, well-prepared hearty food, music, art, good friends which include people and pets.
* Don’t fall down, fall up! Become a work in progress. And if others ask you questions that make you feel small and unimportant, tell them that you are still under construction.
* Rake the leaves, fall on the pile and show your true colors. Even if you have been hurt in the past, the more you open your heart and reveal your inner child, the lighter and happier you will feel.
* Build an identity totem pole on your desk – it could be horizontal. What small objects fortify your spirit? On my desk I have a photo of a bee on a rose, a smooth river rock and an aloe plant.
* Find physical exercises which energize your mind. If you have to develop a difficult project at work, walk uphill to mirror your climb to the summit. If you cannot release a sad situation, then play catch with a friend using a basketball or for greater intensity, a weighted medicine ball. Imagine twhen you throw the ball off your chest, you let go of the negativity. When you catch the ball, you catch the abundance of life.
Regarding those fall allergies, keep yourself in balance to minimize the little stressors that cause that tipping point. If you don’t feel better, consult your doctor for medication.
PHOTO (cc): Flickr / aurelio.asian
Very interesting and helpful article. I noticed when I was in the country this weekend, that although the oranges, reds and yellows were glorious – and I thought of the chakras – I actually found so much of it a bit exhausting. I find the green of the heart chakra during Spring and Summer much more restful and energizing. Great article and great ideas. Thank you