Ok so ive just finished one of my Shiatsu workshops and its good for me to write this in my own words to remember it all better and i thaught it might be of some use to people. Its all about Autumn which is the Metal element (explaining that is another looooong story). This is as much for me as it is for anyone who wants learn from this.

So Autumn is the time for:

- Acknowledging what you have accomplished over the last year and celebrate it so you can rest over winter, write it all down! you will be surprised. It could be a good idea to do it with someone else cause they may remember things that you have forgotten. A lot of New Zealanders dont celebrate what they have achieved, this is important as it marks the completion of a job or task and lets you move on with new things. Celebrate in a way that you will enjoy, have a drink have party, buy yourself something or whatever just celebrate.

- Completing all the little things like day to day stuff and just cope with day to day life. Complete all those small jobs that you have been meaning to get round to (put up those damn curtains, its getting cold! and do your freakin assignments, and do more shiatsu practice!)
Dont worry about your 5 year plans, let them rest over the Winter ready for new Spring energy. Take the path of least resistance, it will be a lot easier to take on these big plans on with a new fresh spring energy.

- It's ok if you don't feel like being sociable, in fact this is good. It's time to retract inwards and nurture yourself.

- letting go and releasing, especially all hose negative thaughts. You dont need all that rubbish, cause allowing it to build up inside leads to illness in the mind and the body. Letting go leads to being grateful. Being grateful leads to clarity and puts everything into persepctive.

- Remember everything that you are grateful for and write it down. You should also write down in this same list everything that you want. Just pretend that you have it, it makes it seem more real and gets you closer to it. e.g. i am so grateful and happy for those new shoes or that house that i just bought. It may seem lame but who cares just do it anyway.

- Be:
flexible but firm.
Consistent and soft
Even handed and wise

- If your having troubles letting things go, look at the trees and see how easy it is for them to let the leaves dry up and fall away.



Your To Do list for Autumn:

- Air everything out ready for winter

- When things get too much, bring it back to your breathing, in... out... in... out.... it should be regular and even. This reflects the day to day rhythm

- Write down ALL your negative thaughts but DO NOT re read them. Once you have written them down burn it and let them go straight away.

- Write down everything that you are grateful for (it is a good idea to do these last two things at least once a month)

- Write down everything that you have achieved over the last year (enjoy these last three things it can be lots of fun, yes even writing down all the negative stuff).

- Remember your breathing

- Set a day to day rhythm

- Eat good quality white foods, e.g. rice, tofu, cauliflower. Eat lots of pumpkin soup too, its really yummy and nuturing.


So those are things that i can remember at the moment without going into too much detail, there is SO much stuff to learn and its hard to keep it all in your head. baaaaggghhh. I didnt think to do this for Summer (fire element) and the in between seasons (earth element)

So untill Winter, signing out!