“Eliminate the unnecessary
so that the necessary may speak.”
~ Hans Hofmann
Bealtaine Blessings! Welcome to the season of Summer!
The arrival of the Snake month turns up the heat as we now enter the season of Fire. In an already fiery year, within a fiery 20 year cycle called Period 9, this could prove to be a dramatic season as fire becomes extreme during the next few months. The wisdom of the I Ching tells us that when an energy reaches its peak it must then change toward its opposite, like a pendulum which begins to swing in the opposite direction. Luckily, as this is a Water Snake month we may find some ease as we transition into the fiery season as water is the Useful Element this year.
Any element that is in excess needs its opposite to become more balanced and harmonized. The antidote to too much fire is water. In a year whose chart contains no water, a cooling counterbalance will be of great import for the entire year and especially critical during the summer months ahead. Introducing cooling, calming and soothing activities like ample deep sleep, meditation, forest bathing, flowing or gentle yoga, or similar martial arts practices like Tai Chi or Qi Gong would be particularly helpful in these times.
Generally, in Chinese metaphysics, when we give advice on introducing an element into one’s experience for greater balance it usually does not mean adding it literally. However, in the summer of this Fire Horse year, adding literal water would be really beneficial. There could be no better summer activity than swimming in a pool or heading to the seaside for dip in the ocean to bring some cooling relaxation and respite from the intensity of the season.
The elemental imbalance forecasted for this year will also affect the environment as increasing fire may bring a greater number of wild fires and drought. Finding ways to conserve water or use rain barrels for watering gardens would be a great plan as water scarcity in an ever warming climate will be more prevalent.
The nature of fire is catalyze change, often by burning away the old, in order for something new to have the opportunity to grow in its place. The archetype of the of the Snake that governs this month is also associated with the Southerly direction of the season of Summer in the Celtic shamanic tradition. The Snake represents both healing and growth, and most importantly the ability to shed what has been outgrown. The invitation of this month is to embrace fire as a catalyst for change and to shed whatever is holding you back.
The I Ching hexagram for this month #43, called Eliminating, also speaks of shedding in order to move forward. In this hexagram the Lake trigram is positioned above the Heaven trigram, like a rain cloud that has been storing up an abundance of moisture. The five yang lines of this hexagram are building strength and momentum and the only thing holding them back is the lone broken line at the top. This broken line represents a negative factor which is holding back the momentum and therefore must be eliminated. The message of the hexagram is to identify the things in one’s life that have a negative influence or are a hindrance to success and progress and eliminate them. This hexagram also advises the elimination of hesitation. This is an ideal month to release and shed any unproductive and unsupportive thing that is holding you back with resolute action. What could you eliminate this month to further your own progress? Identify it and release it!
“One does not accumulate but eliminate. It is not daily increase but daily decrease. The height of cultivation always runs to simplicity.” ~ Bruce Lee