Attunement

Seasonal Attunement

Daoist practice involves attentiveness to the changing contours of seasonal and cosmological cycles. On the most basic level, one attunes one's life to the prevailing season. This begins with understanding the energetic characteristics of spring, summer, autumn, and winter. Cosmologically speaking, the most easily observable and recognizable patterns involve the seasons and the sun and moon cycles. Following the seasonal cycles means becoming attentive to and resonating with their energetic qualities. Spring is associated with birth (sheng 生) and an outward energetic direction. Summer is associated with development (chang 長) and an upward energetic direction. Autumn is associated with harvesting (shou 收) and an inward energetic direction. Winter is associated with storing (cang 藏) and a downward energetic direction. Agriculturally speaking, and note that the Daoist tradition frequently emphasizes "internal cultivation" (neixiu 內修), spring is the time to plant seeds, summer to allow maturation, autumn to harvest, and winter to store. Similarly, the phases of the sun and moon occupy a central place in Daoist practice that is attentive to astro-geomantic influences. For instance, one becomes aware of and connected with the lunar cycles. In particular, the new and full moon are important energetic times in Daoist cultivation and ritual. Both moments have a refined and highly beneficial frequency. When these "effulgences" or "luminosities" are infused and circulated through the body, a more cosmological being develops.

Daoists also observe the so-called twenty-four seasonal periods (ershisi jie 二十四節) and Eight Nodes (bajie 八節). Since the traditional Chinese calendar is based on lunar cycles, one may access the Tongshu 通書, the Chinese almanac, for the specific dates that occur within the annual variations. These periods may be given an approximate date based on the Gregorian (Western) calendar. "Asterisks" (*) indicate the Eight Nodes.

*Lichun 立春 Spring begins February 5

Yushui 雨水 Rain water February 19

Jingzhi 驚蟄 Excited insects March 5

*Chunfen 春分 Vernal equinox March 20

Qingming 清明 Clear brightness April 5

Guyu 榖雨 Grain rain April 20

*Lixia 立夏 Summer begins May 5

Xiaoman 小滿 Slight fullness May 21

Mangzhong 芒種 Bearded grain June 6

*Xiazhi 夏至 Summer solstice June 21

Xiaoshu 小暑 Slight heat July 7

Dashu 大暑 Great heat July 23

*Liqiu 立秋 Autumn begins August 7

Chushu 處暑 Limit of heat August 23

Bailu 白露 White dew September 8

*Qiufen 秋分 Autumnal equinox September 23

Hanlu 寒露 Cold dew October 8

Shuangjiang 霜降 Frost descends October 23

*Lidong 立冬 Winter begins November 7

Xiaoxue 小雪 Light snow November 22

Daxue 大雪 Heavy snow December 7

*Dongzhi 冬至 Winter solstice December 21

Xiaohan 小寒 Slight cold January 6

Dahan 大寒 Severe cold January 21

While there are particular, observable qualities to each of these periods, and while each refers to an important time in a traditional agricultural cycle, the Eight Nodes receive particular emphasis in Daoist practice. The Eight Nodes refer to the beginning of the four seasons, the solstices, and the equinoxes. The energetic qualities of each of these cosmological moments is especially pronounced and influential. It should also be remembered that in Daoist practice there is a correspondence between external and internal cycles, including stages of life and daily energetic cycles.