CONNECT WITH US!
Halloween is thought to have started in the ancient Celtic civilization around 4000 BC and is celebrated as a period when the veil between worlds is thin. Spirits were welcomed and honored during this time, which marked the conclusion of the harvest season and the start of the darker half of the year. Some spirits, on the other hand, were regarded to be bad and so unwanted. Costumes were worn for protection and to ward off evil spirits. This practice gave rise to the modern-day Halloween practices that we are all familiar in the West.
Many countries have similar celebrations and festivities to honor the spirit world. China has a festival called Teng Chieh, the ‘ghost festival’ which began as a religious ritual nearly 2000 years ago. While it is currently celebrated in July and not October, it’s rooted in the same recognition of life beyond the physical. Lanterns and bonfires are lit to help guide spirits back to their earthly homes and allow the living a chance to honor deceased loved ones. This is a time to leave food, water, and gifts with portraits of family members who have passed.
The Metal element is related to the Fall in Chinese Medicine, and the corresponding emotion is sadness, which is held in the lungs. Grief is a natural aspect of life that we must all face at some point. If grief is suppressed and not adequately processed, it can lead to health problems, particularly lung illness. Taking time to commemorate loved ones who have passed away and allowing emotions to flow can help with disease prevention and health maintenance in the long run. According to Chinese Medicine seasonal energies, the fall is an excellent time to accomplish this. Halloween, a chance to face the dark side of death with a certain amount of playful protection, can be a reminder to put aside the spooky fun for a moment and lovingly honor our deceased friends and relatives.
*Find a picture of a departed loved one, frame it, and display it in an area, with room for a candle and some memory-honoring items.
* You can include some items they owned or passed down.
*Make an ‘offering’ of their favorite things such as food, flowers, or even pictures of things they liked.
*Write a letter of things unsaid or things worthy of being repeated.
* Donate in their honor to a cause they valued.
*Acupressure point to tap into ancestral wisdom and connect with your lineage:
TW 7: MEETING OF THE ANCESTORS:
Location: On the posterior forearm, between the radius and ulna, approx. 3 inches up from the wrist crease, and slightly closer to the pinky side.
On a spiritual level, this is a way to connect with your ancestors. Stimulating this point is like calling a clan meeting with generations passed, to gain their heavenly perspective and get their wise counsel.
Chinese Medicine is rooted in Taoist philosophy which views death as a natural part of life that we all must accept and goes so far as to suggest that life is an illusion while death is an awakening. Regardless of your religious or spiritual beliefs, it can be a healing practice to take time to remember people in our lives who have passed on to the great mystery.
Enjoy all the feelings of the season, the changing smells, colors, and of course the fun of the fall holidays. Don’t forget to make time for some Acupuncture to assist with the emotional energies that naturally arise during this time, which can include grief and sadness. Acupuncture can help open the pathways that allow these emotions to flow in a healthy, supported way. We’re here for you!
