Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

夏至 Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

By now you’ve certainly noticed the rising temperatures and humidity outside. This transition into the hottest days of summer can sometimes mean irritability and discomfort.

夏至 Xià Zhì, translated as Summer Solstice (Summer’s Extreme), is the 10th solar term and this year begins on June 21st continuing through July 6th. It starts when the Sun reaches the celestial longitude of 90° and ends when it reaches the longitude of 105°.

The first day of 夏至 Xià Zhì has the most hours of sunlight during the year, and according to Chinese Medicine it is also considered the culmination of Yang energy.

Just like all things in the Universe, this is balanced with the rebirth and transition into Yin energy.

Outside temperatures continue rising, however, the hottest days of summer are still a few solar terms away, so hang in there! 夏至 Xià Zhì also sees large amounts of rainfall and thunderstorms.

Let’s look at the meaning of 夏至 Xià Zhì:

夏 Xià: summer
至Zhì: extreme

The 3 pentads for 夏至 Xià Zhì are:

1st pentad – deer antlers begin to fall
2nd pentad – cicada heard singing frequently
3rd pentad – medicinal herb ban xia (crow-dipper) flourishes

Summer Solstice Traditions

夏至 Xià Zhì was one of the first solar terms recognized and celebrated by the ancient Chinese. As one of the initial 4 major 节气 Jie Qi (solar terms) established, 夏至 Xià Zhì extends back as early as the Shang Dynasty (1766 – 1046 B.C.).

The Summer Solstice solar term gained popularity during the Han Dynasty (202 B.C. – 220 A.D.) and was an important annual festival called 夏至节 Xià Zhì Jié, or Summer Solstice Festival. It even became a national holiday and day of rest. People devoted their time to family and celebrated the harvest of whole grains, such as wheat and barley.

In ancient times during 夏至 Xià Zhì, females exchanged fans and sachets with each other. They were used to cool the body down and filled with herbs for driving mosquitoes away while also smelling fragrant.

Ancient Chinese Wisdom

風俗通義 Ying Shao, a Chinese politician, writer, and historian of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25 – 220 A.D.) wrote the manuscript Fengsutong, or Comprehensive Meaning of Customs around 195 A.D. One of the famous stories told was about a man named Du Xuan.

Du was in attendance at a banquet on the day of the Summer Solstice. While sitting at the dining table he mistook the shadow of a crossbow in his cup for a snake. Surprisingly he drank the contents of the cup out of fear!

When the banquet was over, Du felt pain in both his chest and stomach. He continued experiencing these symptoms even after consulting a number of highly skilled physicians until he realized that the snake in his cup was a shadow from a red crossbow on the wall. The moment he realized what had really happened, Du fully recovered.

Du Xuan’s story is now a part of Chinese folklore and is used to remind each other of the consequences of suspicion and fear.

The Lotus Flower

The majestic lotus flower comes into full bloom during the Summer Solstice. This unique flower represents purity, spiritual awakenings and rebirth, holding a special cultural significance in China. The lotus is a sacred symbol of divine perfection and is not only beautiful, but also carries great medicinal value. Each part of the plant has been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine for thousands of years.

I love the lotus because while growing from mud, it is unstained – Zhou Dunyi, a Confucian scholar

For the heart of lotus seed would not die
A thousand springs later
it shall bloom and thrive.

-poem inspired by an archaeological find of a germinated lotus seed buried for longer than 1,000 years!

The Energy of 夏至 Xià Zhì: Summer Solstice

The Chinese Summer corresponds with the Fire element and the taste of bitter. It is recommended to add bitter flavors to your meals during this 夏至 Xià Zhì.

Harmonize with summer so that you do not suffer dis-ease during the fall and winter. As we discussed in our previous blog, the heart organ connects to the tongue and therefore speech. Be aware of the words you choose to speak to invigorate the Heart. Avoid mental hyperactivity and overthinking.

Eat dumplings during the Winter Solstice and eat noodles during the Summer Solstice

– Ancient Chinese Proverb

May you continue to balance and harmonize yourself as we transition into夏至 Xià Zhì. Stay active and enjoy the journey!

Additional Resources

Looking for more information on this time of the year? Try these resources below, and enjoy!

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Jammin’ With Jiao Shi

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Shi Zi Lu Kow Jiao Shi- Crossroads with the Professor – Harmonizing Your Training With The Body Type System™ Series Insights

To close out our series on “Harmonizing Your Training with the Body Type System,” let’s review our key points:

NOS – atural Body Movement; O – riginal – this means to go back to your original way without stress, without form, without any type of preconceived notion; S – implicity – the simpler the movements the more profound.

FOCUS!

GOALS

COURSE

ALIGNMENT

STILLNESS

AWARENESS

ALLOWANCE

Let us have an open discussion to see what the last two months have revealed as you have been practicing these key points from week to week.  I’ll see you all at the Q&A.

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Harmonizing Your Training with The Body Type System™ Insights Part 9

The subject this week is ALLOWANCE.  Many will be reminded of a certain amount of funds that may be alotted weekly in some households to their children.  The body also has a type of system that distributes various products such as hormones, fluids and other nutritive products throughout its system.  This is regulated by what Western Medicine terms as the autonomic nervous system.  This system has two main phases: the sympatheic (Yang) or the parasympathetic (Yin).  As we do our various Harmonizing your Traing exercises, keep in mind that your body is completely AWARE of your physical movements.  It then takes that information and begins to release the differnt manufactured products at its own pace and time.  This ia what is termed as ALLOWANCE.

Remember, after you finish your Harmonizing Your Training routine, do not focus on any given results.  ALLOW your body restore its function and be amazed.  The keys to healing and restoration are already in you – waiting for permission to be released.

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Jiao Shi (Professor) Kamal

Harmonizing Your Training with The Body Type System™ Insights Part 8

This week I would like to focus on the concept of AWARENESS. When one is AWARE of things, you have a general sense of being able to be in touch. First you will notice it with your five senses.

The next phase of awareness is beyond your five senses, which I hope that all of you will experience over time. As you begin to cultivate your sense of awareness, be mindful not to become obsessive.

So what do I mean by that?

To be AWARE of something means that you are acknowledging that an event occurred. Examples are respiration, your heart beat, your eyes blinking, etc. To be obsessive means that you are checking your pulse rate, and you are constantly looking at yourself for different types of problems that don’t exist in reality. You have to learn the difference between false AWARENESS, and true AWARENESS. As you develop these particular skills, it will be easier to apply all of the other highlights that we have discussed from week to week.

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Jiao Shi (Professor) Kamal

Event Horizons Dr. Falkov with Dr. Kamal Polite- Tongue Diagnosis Chinese Medicine

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Polite was featured as a guest on Dr. Robin Falkov’s show Event Horizons speaking on Tongue Diagnosis and Chinese Medicine.

Tongue Diagnosis as a method of scanning the body’s functional processes in real time dates back to a written history of 3rd century B.C. and has enjoyed a constant development over the ages. Books such as The Huangdi Neijing Su Wen (3 B.C.) and further compilations such as Shanghan Lun (220 A.D.) and Aoshi Shanghan Jinjing Lu (1341 A.D.), outline descriptions of various tongues based on color, shape, size, texture, fluid distribution, and coating, just to name a few. These are aspects that a practitioner looks for when analyzing a patient for function or dysfunction.

So, why the tongue? We always have to go back to the basics, which are descriptions of Yang and Yin. How can a practitioner see the inside of the body (Yin) from the outside of the body (Yang)? We have certain precepts in Chinese Medicine – like the different channels such as the Heart and San Jiao which are the fire element – that are connected to the tongue. By looking at the tongue without doing any type of radical surgery, you can see in real time the functionality of the organ’s presentation.

How do we do this in modern day? We use other types of scanning devices to see the inside of the body in current time to make diagnosis from a Westernized origin. Realize that in 3rd century B.C., they had an organic device to see the body! We can liken the tongue now to such instruments such as C.T., X-Ray, MRI, Thermography, etc. What is great about tongue diagnosis from a convenience standpoint is that you are carrying all of those devices within you – the patient is the very tool needed to help us help you. Below, are pictures from the ancient times until present, to help you see how the development of tongue diagnosis has progressed over this millennia.

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View her website here: http://www.freedomslips.com/hosts/event-horizons.htm

Harmonizing Your Training with The Body Type System™ Insights Part 7

This week I would like to focus on the concept of STILLNESS. Believe it or not, STILLNESS provides many different benefits to the body’s ability to manifest longevity. Take a look at the Sequoia Trees in the Western U.S. Even though these trees seem completely still they are in steady constant motion.

With this ability, these trees last for centuries and continue to live on even when they fall over. Relating this to your training is critical.

When you are doing the Harmonizing Your Training™ regime, remember to begin in STILLNESS and end in STILLNESS. You will be surprised how your body switches from the yang phase (Sympathetic) to the Yin Phase (Parasympathetic).  It is in the yin phase when body rests, refines, and restores itself – even while you are conscious. This is why many of these ancient exercises are known as moving meditation.

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Jiao Shi (Professor) Kamal

Event Horizons Dr. Falkov with Dr. Kamal Polite- Herbaceuticals

We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Polite was featured as a guest on Dr. Robin Falkov’s show Event Horizons.  Topics discussed were Traditional Chinese Medicine, Herbaceuticals, acupuncture, nutrition, the Body Type SystemTM, and more!  View her website here: http://www.freedomslips.com/hosts/event-horizons.htm

Harmonizing Your Training with The Body Type System™ Insights Part 6

This week i would like to do a review of this vessel we call the Body.  The Body has 206 bones, over 650 Muscles, and Billions of neurons connected to the Central Nervous System.   It also has different types of cells such as white blood cells, red blood cells, stem cells and Merkel cells.  You can use Western terms such as previously stated, or Eastern terms like Qi, blood, meridians collaterals etc.  But, have you ever wondered how the body integrates all of these functions and cells into one cohesive unit?

Answer:  ALIGNMENT

Please pay close attention to the picture we chose for this particular blog series.  The image shows a very common stance in Tai Ji Quan – it all has to do with proper alignment or in other words, POSTURE.   As you review from week to week the videos in your respective subscriptions, one thing I want you to keep in mind is your POSTURE.  It will align your bones, your muscles, your joints and ligaments.  It will facilitate the production of your cells and blood flow.  So remember, the POSTURE you use while doing these Body Type System™ exercises will assist you in the restoration of original function.

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Jiao Shi (Professor) Kamal

Harmonizing Your Training with The Body Type System™ Insights Part 5

This week I want to speak about maintaining your COURSE on this Body Type System™ journey .

Many ask how do I maintain the results I have currently achieved, but then continue to strive for my ultimate destination?  First I would like to respond by saying – now that you have set your goals you must remember to maintain your course.  What is your COURSE?  It is the natural flow to your destination.

Remember, your destination is based on the goals you have set. In other words, head for the light at the end of the tunnel – or the sound that will lead you out of a dark cave.  Step by step, let nature take its course. Your body knows the way like a trained horse who knows its way home.  You are the rider who is steering it in the direction you want to proceed.

Until next time, enjoy the journey!

Jiao Shi (Professor) Kamal