June 5, 2025 - Bearded Grain

Yesterday was the start of a new Seasonal Node. Each of the four seasons can be broken down into six smaller segments, called "Seasonal Nodes" (or "Solar Terms"), which come with specific instructions about what to do (and what not to do) to stay healthy, happy, and harmonized with the natural world.

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Remember 5-6 months ago when I said, "Tonight, summer is born."?

That was Winter Solstice, Dec. 21, 2024, the moment the pendulum of the year switched directions and began to swing away from cold, dormancy, and storage (yin; winter) and back toward warmth, exuberance, and expression (yang; summer).

This is the last Seasonal Node before Summer Solstice (June 21), so...

You know what I might say next Node post.

Or maybe I'll keep it to myself if you promise to remember one thing:

Chinese Medicine always remembers the darkness when there's light.

The days are still getting longer right now, and it's important to get outside now and enjoy them. Because we know what's coming.

The primary name of this Node mostly has to do with its common activity: the planting and ripening of grain (location dependent) while there's plenty of light.

But its sub-names whisper of stillness, darkness, and death to come.

The first 5 days is called "Praying Mantises," an insect born during this season which is active later. It has been a symbol of stillness and mindfulness (China), Autumn (Japan), prayer and reflection (Celtic), and patience (Buddhism). In Ancient Egypt it was the form of a minor god that lead souls of the dead to the underworld.

The second 5 days of the Node is called "Shrikes Begin to Sing." A shrike is a bird that impales its prey before eating it.

They're just whispers.

Meant to remind us it's time to be young.

[Thank you Henry McCann for curating some of this info.]