The Sweet Science of Neijing
Nature Forecasting and Why You’re Currently Getting the Crap Beaten Out of You
A quick update on the universe for everybody questioning where summer went, and why at the moment you might feel like you’re on the wrong end of a 1-2-3 combo.
1. JAB
We’re well into the fifth phase of Liuqi. You remember Liuqi right? If not, here’s a refresher.
In 2022, the fifth phase of Liuqi is from September 23rd to November 22nd. The normal seasonal host time is Yangming (Metal, Dryness), otherwise known as autumn. A nice time to chill, get all nostalgic and contemplative, and enjoy the calm after-summer vibe on a patio over a nice glass of wine. Until a guest shows up and totally changes the vibe.
The official guest of this fifth period is Taiyang. What does that mean? I present chapter 71 of the Neijing, Suwen.
五之气: 阳乃去，寒乃来，雨降，气门乃闭，刚木早凋，民避寒邪，君子周密。
The fifth Qi: Yang leaves, and so the cold comes and rain falls. The Qi gates [sweat pores] close, and hard trees wither early. People should avoid the external pathological cold. The noble person will stay in a [safely] confined space.
Here’s what the chart looks like.
So now we have Taiyang showing up and bringing with it a lot of miserable cold and wet weather. Personally, I prefer when guests bring wine. It seems that this autumn is going to feel less ‘chill out’ and more ‘chilly’. Thanks, Taiyang!
2. CROSS
When it rains, it pours.
There are eight yearly winds discussed in the Neijing, each with unique characteristics and each adding its own special quality to things (including us). Never heard of them? The Eight Winds are actually a very fundamental aspect of nature’s yearly patterns, as indicated here in the very first chapter of the Neijing, Suwen.
其次有圣人者，处天地之和，从八风之理 。
The sages lived in harmony with Tian and Di and followed the patterns of the eight winds.
There you have it. If the sages were all about these winds, then that’s enough street cred for me. Not enough for you? How about this, from Neijing, Suwen, Chapter 79.
孟春始至，黄帝燕坐，临观八极，正八风之气。
At the first arrival of the first month of spring, Huang Di sat leisurely, observing the eight extremes and proper Qi of the eight winds.
Looks like Huang Di himself thought there was something to these winds, so much so that he sat around contemplating them in his free time!
Here’s a little peak at all Eight Winds and their corresponding directions. Some of them have great names.
A full discussion of the Eight Winds isn’t within the scope of this article, but at least we’ve established that they deserve some attention. Let’s see what they’re currently up to.
Neijing, Lingshu, Chapter 77:
风从西方来，名曰刚风，其伤人也，内舍于肺，外在于皮肤，其气主为燥。
Wind that comes from the west is called ‘hard wind’. It harms people, internally it settles in the lung, externally in the skin. Its Qi is responsible for dryness.
So far this sounds normal for autumn, but just you wait, there’s more.
因视风所从来而占之，风从其所居之乡来为实风， 主生，长养万物；从其冲后来为虚风，伤人者也， 主杀，主害者。谨候虚风而避之。
And so observe which direction the wind comes from. When the wind comes from it’s proper orientation, it is an invigorating wind. It is responsible for generation, and the ongoing nourishment of all things. When it comes from the opposite direction, it is a deficient wind. It injures people. It is responsible for killing, and it is responsible for causing harm. Watch carefully for deficient winds and avoid them.
These Eight Winds don’t just all show up at the same time and duke it out like a big WWE free-for-all. They blow at specific times, and theoretically, from specific directions. Western ‘hard wind’ abounds during the solar terms of Qiufen, Hanlu, and Shuangjiang (September 23rd - November 7th). So, the big question is: Is this wind currently expressing itself as an invigorating or deficient one?
I’ll cut to the chase, noticing a lot of respiratory infections in the clinic? Asthma cases? Skin issues flaring up?
3. HOOK
Oh, the moon. How I love-hate the moon. If you missed it, here’s a little of the backstory behind our romance.
October 9th, 2022 happens to be a full moon. Maybe not a Full Buck Super Moon (a full moon on steroids), but a full moon none the less, and that means….
I. N. S. O. M. N. I. A.
In case you forgot, Neijing, Suwen, Chapter 26 states the following.
月郭满，则血气实，肌肉坚
When the moon is full, blood and Qi are abundant, muscles and flesh are strong.
No need for coffee to stay awake tonight, it’s going to be a long night, jacked up on moon-juice. Not looking forward to the moon-induced hangover tomorrow morning.
The 10 Count
There you have it, cold, wet, sniffly, itchy, and wide awake all night long to make sure you enjoy it.
Rematch?
If you find these Neijing nature forecasts useful, I have good news for you! Starting the new year, as part of an upcoming paid subscriber plan, I will be putting out a monthly Neijing Nature Forecast Report (witty title pending). The plan will include other goodies, like downloadable charts, clinical insights, videos, and discounts to upcoming courses and workshops. Like a boxing teacher once told me, good defence is, well, having good defence! The Neijing does it’s best to arm us with good defence in the form of clinically applicable nature forecasts. No more getting caught with your pants down.
But for now, stay warm, avoid the wind, and keep an interesting book by your bedside to pass the night away. Unless of course you happen to have werewolf blood in your veins like me. (It’s true, one day I’ll tell you about my crazy great-uncle and his run-in with a werewolf in the mountains of Abruzzo, Italy). In which case, best just chain yourself to the bed. Or, what the heck, go with it. In which case, it’s TCB time! Grab your guitar, spin some vinyl, and dance while the magic colours take you away! (Anybody who gets this reference, wins. Also, you’re old.)
Disclaimer: This article is a product of a nearly-full-moon induced hangover.
And special thanks to Jill who also stays up late and definitely really enjoys editing my articles.