Living in Tune with the Seasons
By Marianne Kornaat.
Energy follows a natural ebb and flow of yin and yang throughout the seasons, with yang coming to surface in summer and yin going deep inside the body in winter.
Every person is different so please see these guide lines as general information of how the seasons change and how we can adjust.
As you can read, my dips are not 100% perfect to each season. Life is about balance and this is just a small amount of information for you to ponder on and feel how it feels for you and then hopefully slowly you can become more in tune with the seasons and feel how they affect you!
Autumn
Pungent
White
Autumn is the harvest season. We now need to bring the energy in and move it down with emphasis is on nurturing, supporting and building our organs. It is now important to balance winds and dropping of temperature pushes energy downwards.
Just like the trees, we need to look after our lungs and take extra care of our intestines as these often become deficient in autumn. Dryness prevails and it is time to add moistening foods to the diet; tempeh, soy milk, spinach, barley, pears, apples persimmons, loquat, honey soothes the dry throat, dress warmly at night and moisturiser may be handy for skin.
Hummus
Ingredients
600g canned chickpeas, drained, rinsed
3 garlic cloves, crushed
100ml olive oil
2 tablespoons tahini paste (see note)
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup (60ml) water
Method
Step 1 - Place the chickpeas, garlic, olive oil, tahini paste, cumin and lemon juice in a food processor and process until combined. Add 1/4 cup (60ml) of water and process again until quite smooth.
Step 2 - Place hummus in a bowl and serve with toasted Turkish bread.
Winter
Salty
Black/dark blue
Winter is a season of hibernation, food and family connection is promoted. Stews, soups and small amounts of wine are warming slow cooked foods are best suited to support the yin. The kidneys and bladder need extra care as these organs are sensitive to cold!
Tapenade
Ingredients
2 cups good-quality kalamata olives, pitted
4 anchovies, drained
1/2 small garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 tablespoons capers, drained
2 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1/2 lemon, juiced
Method
Step 1 - Place olives, anchovies, garlic and capers in a small food processor. Process until mixture is almost smooth.
Step 2 - With the motor running slowly add 2 tablespoons oil, in a thin steady stream, until mixture forms a thick, smooth paste (adding oil slowly prevents the tapenade from separating).
Step 3 - Transfer tapenade to a small bowl. Stir in 2 teaspoons lemon juice, or more if desired, season with pepper.
Transfer to a sterilised glass jar or container. Pour remaining 2 teaspoons oil over tapenade to cover surface.
Spring
Sour
Green
Spring is a natural time to eat less and get rid of that extra winter weight. In spring foods that help the energy move and move up, are good to eat to complement the energies of the season. Think about what is available and look how nature responds to spring; young leaves, sprouts and spring onions give an example of the new growth during spring. The qi is moving up and therefore if we eat it, it helps our qi move up too! Spring is the time to take care of our liver.
Avocado Dip
2 large avocados, chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
Spring onions chopped
2 tablespoons lime juice
Method
Step 1- Place avocado in a bowl, using a fork, mash the avocado until almost smooth. Add garlic, spring onions and lime juice. Stir to combine.
Summer
Bitter
Red
Summer is the time for leisure and joy. Yang is abundant! In summer we may need foods to cool the symptoms of summer heat. Foods that especially clear heat; avocado, banana, kiwifruit, peach, pineapple, strawberry, watermelon, alfalfa, barley, celery, mung beans, peppermint, radish and tofu.
Summer is the time to take care of our heart!
Beetroot Dip
Ingredients
1 x 450g can baby beetroot, drained; coarsely chopped
100gr soft goat’s cheese
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon ground cumin
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Arugula leaves (bitter)
Method
Step 1- Combine all ingredients thoroughly in a bowl, taste and season with salt and pepper. Serve in bowl and arrange the arugula leaves around the dip.
Late summer
Earth
Sweet bland and yellow
Late summer is actually the time between the seasons and is a time to help adjust to the changing flow of qi. In ancient times this was a good time for acupuncture, as acupuncture can help a person adjust to the flow of changing qi. Bland and simple foods are recommended during this time.
Egg Dip
Ingredients
6 boiled eggs
Two table spoons egg mayonnaise
Salt & freshly ground black pepper
Method
Step 1- Place the eggs in a bowl, mash with a fork and add the mayonnaise, season with salt and pepper.
Image courtesy of Evgeni Dinev at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
