Articles & Podcasts
Regain & Maintain Your Health
The Tao of Health
New York Times
Health Section
Teahouse Experiences
Conscious Connections
Fall Health Tips
Seasonal health tips for Fall - the 'Metal' season.
An Enlightening Interview With Jack O’Lantern
Our friend Jack O’Lantern stops by BIOM every year around this time, and we asked if he would share with you some of his ideas on how to get the most out of Halloween, and the Harvest celebration.
He agreed to be interviewed, and here’s what he had to say:
Michael: So Jack, why is Halloween so special to you?
Jack O’Lantern: Well this is the time of the year when the waning of the light begins to be very obvious. And as you know, my job is to remind people that looking at the light in themselves is a fun, and necessary, thing to do. That’s why I encourage people to carve me up, put a candle inside me, and enjoy my glow.
Michael: The poets and sages say that there’s “light” inside everyone of us. How does that “light” compare to the light we see coming from you during Halloween?
Jack O’Lantern: I’m glad you asked me that! These days too many people have forgotten about the “light” that’s inside of them. Maybe they think it’s corny, or too religious; or maybe they just forgot that it’s there, I’m not sure. But there’s one thing I do know—and I built my career around this—and that is: There’s no better feeling than feeling your inner light shine through you!
People are always commenting about how beautifully I “glow.” And I tell them: “You can glow too. All you have to do is know that there is a “light” inside of you, and take some time to look at it.” For me, it’s the feeling I get gazing at the Harvest Moon on a cool, clear night.
Michael: But you’re Jack O’Lantern! How can ordinary people hope to be able to glow like you? What can people who live busy lives do to get their inner light to shine through?
Jack O’Lantern: It’s actually quite simple. Like me, you too have openings to let the light come through. All you have to do is intend for it to come through. And when you do, it will pour out of your eyes, and you’ll see what you’re looking for; and other people who are looking for the light will see it coming from you, and you’re likely to meet friends when and where you least expect to. And when you feel “lit up,” the light will come through your mouth in the form of kind and creative words. So there are lots of ways to let your light shine through.
Michael: Since Halloween, and the Harvest season is upon us, is there anything you can suggest for people to do so they can have this “lit up” experience?
Jack O’Lantern: When I was a young pumpkin, learning how to “jack-o-lantern,” my teacher used to have us stand in the moonlight and imagine ourselves, not as ordinary pumpkins, but as the glowing jack-o-lanterns we aspired to be. He taught us to feel ourselves connected to the earth, out of which we came, and then feel the moonlight coming down from above, lighting our stems like candles, and illuminating our bodies with a warm, orangey glow: very similar to some of the Chi Kung exercises you teach at BIOM.
At first I thought that was kind of a strange thing to do; but, you know what? It worked. This simple exercise taught me how to glow on my own, whether anyone lit a candle inside of me or not. You folks reading this should give it a try! After all, if an old gourd like me can be named “Jack,” you can figure out how to glow like a Halloween pumpkin.
If you want to know more about “jack-o-lanterning,” or would like to ask Jack a question, he can be reached at:
Related Links
Staying Healthy In Autumn
Seasons change, and your body and mental outlook change with them in predictable ways. Oriental medicine combines knowledge of seasonal characteristics with your unique health situation to balance your energy (chi) to help you adapt and thrive during the cool, crisp months of autumn.
In this episode of Seasonal Health Tips, Kitty talks about how the Metal element of Autumn affects your health, and how to stay healthy during this season of cooler days and longer nights. (To get the most out of what Kitty has to say, open the 5 Element Theory chart in a new window while listening.)
(Length 07:39, Size 8.8 MB)
The Metal Element
Every season is associated with one of the Five Elements, and for autumn, the element is Metal—the energetic force that governs the health and functionality of your Lungs and Large Intestine.
According to Taoist 5 Element Theory, the Lungs are the primary influence affecting the immune system. So during autumn, it’s important to eat food that builds the overall health of the Lungs to strengthen your immune system now, and in preparation for winter.
Autumn Health Problems
Because the Lungs are most sensitive during autumn, this is a time to focus on preventing or responding to colds, coughs, sore throat, and the like. And for people already predisposed to lung problems, such as bronchitis, pneumonia, and emphysema, autumn is the time to take precautions to minimize your vulnerability as we advance towards winter.
Avoid Drafts and Breezes. Temperatures are dropping, evenings are getting cooler, and in some places breezes are picking up as seasonal winds begin to blow. During this time, you need to be mindful of breezes that make you feel chilly. To avoid getting sick, keep your neck, wrists, and ankles from being exposed to wind and drafts. This is a likely way for an illness to start.
Be Aware of Dryness. During autumn, slowly increasing wind and cold begins to create dryness in the air, which affects your skin and Lungs. The effects of the natural tendency toward dryness in autumn are magnified as you begin to turn on the heat—at home, at work, and in the car—to take the chill out of the air.
Your skin and Lungs don’t like dryness, so it’s important to drink enough fluids to make sure they don’t get dried out.
Eat Less Spicy Food. Because the Lungs are especially sensitive during the autumn months, it’s a good idea to minimize the amount of spicy food you eat, to avoid irritating them. As a result, your Lungs will be less vulnerable to pathogens.
Autumn Health Tips
It’s important to pay attention to how you feel. As soon as you feel a “cold” coming on, it’s time to take preventive action by enjoying one of these nourishing, natural home brews.
Scallion Broth
This simple broth will help you sweat lightly, and is an excellent remedy for preventing and getting rid of colds:
- Take one scallion, and chop it up.
- Boil in water for 5 to 10 minutes. (Keep the lid on the pot to prevent vapor from escaping.)
- Flavor with tamari.
- Sip it slowly, bundle up, then lie down, or go to sleep.
Ginger Tea
If scallion broth doesn’t suit your culinary fancy, try ginger tea:
- Put a couple of slices of fresh ginger in one and one-half cups of water.
- Boil for 5 to 10 minutes. (Time it based on how strong you like your ginger tea.)
- Keep the lid on the pot to prevent vapor from escaping.
- Add a little honey and lemon.
- Sip it slowly, bundle up, then lie down, or go to sleep.
Scallion broth is the more effective of the two remedies, but if for some reason it doesn’t appeal to you, ginger tea is a good alternative
Balance is Key
Strive to balance your diet so that it includes some vegetables, some fruit, some grain, and a handful of moderately spicy foods.
Get Help If You Need It
If you experience any lung-related, or other symptoms that don’t clear up quickly, call BIOM for an appointment to get a prescribed formula of medical herbs to help alleviate your symptoms and address the problem—before it becomes more advanced.
Autumn Beach Retreat
It’s Autumn at BIOM, as giant maples let loose their leaves into spiraling October breezes and swirling November winds, landing at their their feet in mounds of Winter mulch. This is our signal that it’s time to throttle back and start shifting our focus inward, like the trees: centering, concentrating, and rooting the growth we experienced throughout the Spring and Summer. Time for the BIOM Autumn Retreat.
“Tai Chi by the Sea” was the theme of our Autumn Beach Retreat. We came together on a Long Beach along Washington’s beautiful and inspiring Pacific coast. For three days and nights we encamped in comfortably quaint surf side cottages, a short stroll to the ocean’s edge, where we danced the dance of Tai Chi, conducted by waves of surf, wind, and sunshine.
Later we retreated back into the cottage for some Chi Kung, conversation, Insight Journaling, and some much needed ‘downtime.’ In balance, we cultivated camaraderie and enjoyed the feeling of Self reliance.
Staying Healthy in Autumn
In this episode of Seasonal Health Tips, Kitty talks about how the Metal element of Autumn affects your health, and how to stay healthy during this season of cooler days and longer nights.
A BIOM seasonal getaway is a ‘treat’ that lasts from season to season. Because by practicing what you learn and experience at a BIOM retreat you can continue to ‘re-treat’ yourself at home, until the next seasonal getaway comes around.
So plan to treat yourself to BIOM’s upcoming Winter Retreat, where we’ll be focusing on: The Way In ...
And as always ...
Wishing you health and well being,
Kitty and Michael
Contact Kitty to find out how you can participate in a BIOM retreat: email ~ (206) 842-6936
Related Links
Seasonal Retreats at BIOM
Autumn Beach Retreat (Haiku Photos)
Seasonal Health Tips - The 5 Element Way