Treasuring the Now of this Fall

Hi!
Autumn is here. 🍁 In Chinese Medicine, Fall is associated with the Metal element, the Lungs and Large Intestine, connection to Spirit, and grief. It is the season of balancing light and dark, as the light fades from the fullness of Summer and we head gently towards the dark of Winter. The quality and timing of the light has shifted, and this affects us profoundly. We can feel the ethereal nature of the Metal energy, influencing our Lung Qi, aligning us with the natural rhythms of letting go, as witnessed in the trees’ letting go of their leaves.

Often there is a feeling of emptiness as we feel into the impermanence of it all. This emptiness is natural and can be a source of inspiration. Our connection to the spiritual realm is most readily available at this time, as the Metal energy provides that clear conduit. The more we can show up and tune into the Now, the more at peace and in alignment we can be. Savoring moments of stillness and quietude as we behold the beauty surrounding us is a great way to honor this Lung/Metal time of year. We can readily assimilate that outer beauty and mystery into our inner world, by intentionally harnessing the Lung energy upon inhalation to radiate that heavenly energy into our core.

Breathing in inspiration, freshness, clarity as we release through the exhale all that is ready to clear.

It is simple yet profound. That emptiness serves as a clean slate so that we can receive the heavenly guidance and inspiration. The empty container is open to receive.

In closing, I have a haiku to offer for this time.

autumnal light sparked

a remembrance, out of time

dropping into now

In appreciation of this time here and now,

Sincerely,
Sally Robinson, L.Ac.

whitepineacupuncture.com

828-545-2288

Falling into Fall 2017

We are (finally!) falling into Fall. The cool, crisp mornings and bright blue autumnal skies and brilliant hues of yellow, orange, and red leaves make us just want to, “aaahhh.”

Breathing in the new freshness and exhaling the old is what our Lungs do all the time. And this season of Autumn is when the Lung Qi really shines! This is the season of Metal, Lungs and Large Intestine, the color white, the emotion grief, and the spicy flavor. The Metal energy is about letting go of what’s no longer serving us. Equally paramount to the letting go process is receiving inspiration and fostering a spiritual connection, bringing richness to our existence.

Have you ever smelled a moonflower?

The heavenly white moonflower blossom offers tremendous inspiration with its enchanting fragrance and night blooming delicate petals! Its name alone invokes the heavens, the abode of the moon. The celestial realm is the domain of Metal. The skies of stars, planets, and the Milky Way reflect brilliance and invite wonder as we contemplate infinite space, and therefore infinite possibilities.

In keeping with tradition, I’ve composed a haiku intending to portray the sentiment of the season and possibly bring a bit of inspiration….

clouds of nostalgia

part to release stars shining

on a chest of hope

It is with love that I wish for you a lovely, rich Autumn. I hope it is a time of letting go and deeply nourishing yourself, most specifically your Spirit as the elemental energies are aligned to naturally encourage the release of grief and loss. The more we can surrender to this movement of emotion, the more open we can be to inspiration and devotion.

Sunflower Seed Spiral! and these nutritious seeds nourish Lung Qi!

With love and inspiration,

Sally Robinson, L.Ac.

White Pine Acupuncture

828-545-2288

whitepineacupuncture.com

Falling into Autumn, 2016

Fall has arrived here in our mountains. This the time of harvest, acorns and apples ripening and falling to the Earth. Abundance and gratitude are ours to embrace as we feel the seasonal shift guiding us towards the quiet, still time of Winter.

In Chinese Medicine, the fall is associated with the Metal element, Lungs and Large Intestine, the color white, the spicy taste, and emotionally grief and letting go. We see the great oaks letting go of their acorns, the fruit trees’ branches getting heavy with fruits before they drop, and the deciduous trees loosening their grip on their leaves. We can draw inspiration from the natural world to also in turn stand firm and exhale, letting go of the old to make room for the new.

Making apple cider!

Poetry and interview to share:

Usually I share some of my own poetry, but I have recently been very inspired by the works of Pablo Neruda. I have selected a couple of small pieces and quotes here that exude the sentiment of Autumn, specifically nostalgia:

“You know how this is: if I look at the crystal moon, at the red branch of the slow autumn at my window, if I touch near the fire the implalpable ash or the wrinkled body of the log, everything carries me to you, as if everything that exists, aromas, light, metals, were little boats that sail toward those isles of yours that wait for me.”

” Who writes your name in letters of smoke among the stars of the south? Oh let me remember you as you were before you existed.”

As you are aware, I am a big supporter of integration of Eastern and Western medicines. I met with a colleague of mine recently, Dr. Grace Evins. She wrote an article about our discussion, and I have posted the link here below. Check it out!

Improve Your Health With Local Herbs

Enjoy the autumnal beauty.

Sincerely,

Sally Robinson, L.Ac.

http://www.whitepineacupuncture.com

whitepine.acupuncture@gmail.com

828-545-2288

Fall 2014 Newsletter

by Mary Beth Huwe

The toasty, fiery heater is on at White Pine these white and misty mornings – a sure sign that we are in the midst of autumn. Here’s what you’ll find in this season’s newsletter:

New WP Web site!
Welcome to the newest Huwe
Fall discount deal
Free consultation
DIY care for lung dryness
Sally’s haiku

I. Our new site is live!
We’re tickled pink, as the saying goes, to announce that our new site is live.

Please visit it at www.whitepineacupuncture.com. From our new site you can schedule an appointment, find info about our rates and services, our clinic’s history, FAQs, practitioner bios, haiku, and more! We’d be grateful if you’d poke around a bit; your clicks will help our site be found by search engines. Please let us know what you like, and what you’d like to see that’s not there. If you come across any typos or broken links, you can contact us. Thanks!

II. Brian Huwe, L.Ac.
We’re happy to welcome another acupuncturist to our team, Brian Huwe. Brian is White Pine’s first-ever male practitioner, and we’re delighted to have him. Brian was a student of science and philosophy, and his love for Chinese medicine is palpable. You can check out his bio (and his photo) on the practitioner page of our new site!

III. Treatment discount

Acupuncturists and herbalists Brian and Mary Beth Huwe have recently joined White Pine, and we’re offering a discount on acupuncture to welcome the Huwes and to encourage patients to experience their treatments.

New patients to White Pine can schedule their first visit to the clinic with Mary Beth or Brian to receive 15% off the treatment cost ($119 instead of $140 for a two-hour appointment.)

For existing White Pine patients, the first acupuncture treatment with Mary Beth or Brian is 15% off ($68 instead of $80.) This appointment will last 1.5 hours.

Please help us spread the word, and share this info with your friends! This offer ends November 30, 2014.

IV. Self-care for fall
In Chinese medical theory, each season has an organ pair associated with it. For autumn, that pair is the lung and large intestine. Autumn is all about letting go, as the dropping acorns and leaves remind us. In terms of organs, the lung and large intestine are the body’s clearest examples of letting go. We can inhale, but we need to exhale so that we can inhale again. The large intestine, of course, is a very concrete demonstrator of releasing that which we no longer need.

The lung suffers from dryness (think of a dry, hacking cough and you’re likely to agree.) Here is Sally’s do-it-yourself recipe for a lung-moistening food, in three easy steps:

1. Cut pears in half
2. Bake with honey
3. Yum!!!!

V. Sally’s haiku

letting go of you
clouds dropped down their emptiness
pining in the mist

Wishing you health and peace,

Sally, Brian, Mary Beth, and Heather