A Time of Transition

So many of us think of September as an ending. Summer comes to a close, and many of us feel we have to mourn the freedom and joy that come with the warmer months. I think of September instead as a time of transition. We return to more structured routines, whether at school or work, while still having longer evenings and warmer afternoons to revel in. The shift inward begins, but we aren’t yet solidly in the rhythms of autumn.

Chinese medicine pays close attention to these transitional times, as they can be especially prone to feelings of imbalance and uncertainty. Establishing an internal sense of harmony during this period can lay the groundwork for a greater sense of ease as we move into the next phase of the year. Some of the most basic ways to establish that sense of harmony are things we already know: stick to a consistent sleep schedule, eat meals that feel nourishing without weighing you down, and allow space for unstructured play, where the nervous system can regulate without feeling too quickly jolted into a rigid routine.

I like to take this time not only to prepare for the calm of autumn and winter, but also to reflect on what I want to bring with me from summer. This year, I got to take a trip up to Maine and saw the Dambo Trolls at the Coastal Maine Botanical Garden. These are massive sculptures made from reclaimed wood. The trolls are often playful or peaceful, built directly into their wooded environment. The result is that as you wander through the woods, you stumble upon these fantastical creatures playing joyfully in the forest.

​You can’t help but pause in awe of their grandeur, their expressions, and the sheer skill it must take to design and build one of these pieces, let alone the over 1,000 of them that exist around the world. I left feeling not only inspired to look for joy in unexpected places, but also to create with unexpected resources. It is this jovial heart and creative spirit that I hope to carry forward into the final months of the year.

To help ease the body through the change of seasons, a common classical Chinese herbal formula is Gui Zhi Tang (cinnamon twig decoction). Traditionally, this formula is used to help regulate the relationship between the internal and external aspects of the body and is associated with addressing patterns of wind and cold. It can be a wonderful formula to think about during times of transition, when the body is adapting to changing conditions.
The traditional formula consists of five herbs: cinnamon twig, fresh ginger root, white peony root, Chinese date (jujube), and licorice root. Some of these herbs can be harder to find in typical grocery stores, though you should be able to find many of them at a local Asian market. Here, I’ll include a Gui Zhi Tang-inspired tea recipe using ingredients you may already have at home.
Gui Zhi Tang-Inspired Tea
Bring 2 cups of water to a boil.
Add:

• 1–2 cinnamon sticks
  
• 4–5 slices of fresh ginger
  
• 1 licorice tea bag (or 1 tablespoon licorice root)
  

Simmer for 10–12 minutes. This should yield a strong cup of tea.
Add 1–2 teaspoons of honey, to taste.
As you move through these next few weeks, I encourage you to consider: Where do you find balance during periods of change?

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