Last summer days- a time for self-nurturing and self-cultivation
Written & edited by
Simer Dhume
Hello September!
Red flowers in bloom | Photo by David Bartus
September tries it’s best to have us forget summer,” Bernard Williams. The sunny month brings the last of the summer days, all to be savored. In contrast, the first day of September witnessed the remnants of Hurricane Ida, triggering the first ever ‘flash flood emergency’ in New York City. Nonetheless, the weather hassle is temporary as the storm clears just in time for the Labor day weekend.
Summer is nearly over, the past few weeks witnessed hot, muggy weather and heat-breaking thunderstorms in New York. Summer rains bring the much needed relief from the sweltering heat and also, dramatic views, as I witnessed at Boat Basin, Hudson river, New York. The dark, rain clouds approaching from the West of the Hudson, a sight wanting me to stay a bit longer albeit that meant getting drenched in the rain later.
In traditional Chinese medicine late Summer is considered as one of the five major seasons, as stated in the Five Element Consciousness Framework. This ancient theory of interrelationships describes how humans are influenced by many aspects of Nature. We are all energy beings. All life—human, plant, animal, and Universal—are connected in the larger picture.
“Late Summer begins around the third week of August and runs through the Fall Equinox. In August, nature undergoes its last burst of growth before harvest time. The energy of this season corresponds to the nurturing Earth element. The next few weeks are an important time for self-nurturing and self-cultivation. This is a powerful time to fully ripen and transform, using the last of summer’s bountiful energy,” says, Traditional Chinese Medicine World Foundation, in ‘Late Summer: The Season of Nurturing and Transformation.’
It’s time to harmonize our energies, soak in the warm sun that’ll soon be weaker and sporadic in its appearance.
Late Summer is also the best time to travel. The peak of summer is the perfect time to jettison all 9-to-5 obligations, pack your bags and head to your favorite destination. Unfortunately, COVID-19 or Delta variant has scraped travel plans for many due to the rise in cases especially among young children and uninoculated people. It’s wise to stay home or travel only if utmost necessary. However, that doesn’t stop us from experiencing our favorite destinations because all one needs is a book and a comfortable reading nook. “Books are the plane, and the train, and the road. They are the destination, and the journey. They are home,” quotes Anna Quindlen, in How Reading Changed My Life. In these unprecedented times it holds true for many of us.
What book are you reading?
Dive into the world of words and imagination with this list of top 5 Travel and Nature books to make the most of these last of summer days.
The best way to explore a place is to walk. Tucked away in the heart of Himachal Pradesh, India, Bir is a beautiful small town. Green mountains, snow peaks, rice fields, and tiny settlements makes for a priceless experience.
Picture credit- Ila Reddy via tripoto
Today, our guest writer Sugandh Swani pens a beautifully compassionate, late summer poem ‘The Aureate Pool‘ from Bir, India. Tucked away in the heart of Himachal Pradesh, India, Bir is a beautiful small town. Green mountains, snow peaks, rice fields, and tiny settlements makes for a priceless travel experience.
Sugandh Swani is a Public Relations professional and a poet at heart. To know more about her poetic endeavors follow @sugandhswani on instagram and twitter.
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