The fourteenth phase of the Chinese seasonal calendar, Limit of Heat (Chushu), starts at 11:08 PM EDT as the sun crosses 150° Longitude (0° Virgo). Please join the thousands of practitioners worldwide who will usher in this event by practicing the Limit of Heat Empowerment.

Limit of Heat is the second of the six stages of autumn, and by the time we enter the second stage of any season we can begin to discern its defining characteristics appearing at the start or the end of the day. In fact, over the next two weeks it will still be hot while the sun is out, but if you ventured outdoors at dawn or dusk you would notice coolness and darkness chipping away at the warmth and daylight.

During spring and summer, while the power of the sun is waxing, we align with the energies of nature by tending towards the Yang qualities of expansion and extraversion. But at this stage of the seasonal cycle the sun is already waning, and we harmonize with nature by reorienting towards the Yin qualities such as inwardness and groundedness. During Limit of Heat, you are invited to contemplate those neglected aspects of your life that would benefit from self-analysis. But how can we identify those issues in the first place? 

In Chinese medicine autumn is the season associated with the Earth element which governs the stomach. And as you shall soon see, your stomach is the leading indicator that will guide you to those aspects of your life that are now worthy of attention. 

Picture yourself on a roller coaster that is zooming upwards. The sky’s the limit! As you reach the summit the roller coaster slows down, stalls… and then, as you begin the downward slide, a sensation forms in the pit of your stomach. If we wanted to express Limit of Heat as a sensation this initial tug felt just as the roller coaster begins its descent would be it. 

Now, recall the feeling of being a high school student on summer break and realizing at about this time of the year that the “lazy and fun days of summer vacation” are ending and that classes will be starting up again soon. Didn’t that realization trigger the same tug in the pit of your stomach that you experienced on the roller coaster as it dipped down? In the language of bodily sensations, the “roller coaster” stomach feeling signals the time to sober up in anticipation of demanding work that lies around the corner. 

Whenever that sensation arises during Limit of Heat pay special attention to it. The universe is pointing out the circumstance tugging at your gut and indicating that the issue requires attention. With respect to that issue, you harmonize with the seasonal cycle through reflection and by letting practical sensibility be your guiding light. 

I invite you to join me and the many others who will be practicing the Limit of Heat Empowerment for the following half of the month. This empowerment practice will boost your energy level and help you harmonize with the nature of this seasonal cycle. (Remember to adjust for the time difference if you live in another time zone.) Limit of Heat continues until White Dew, the third stage of autumn begins. Until then, remain on the lookout for any nuggets of wisdom arising from the pit of your gut.