There's something magical about September evenings that no other month can quite capture. I feel that familiar wave of peace wash over me. It's time to thank the summer for her bold intensity and welcome the changing leaves, the cool air, and that particular quality of light that only September has to offer.
While everyone else is talking about back to school routines and fall schedules, I find myself drawn to something much older and wiser—the ancient Chinese practice of Yang Sheng (养生), which translates beautifully as "nourishing life."
What Ancient Wisdom Knows About Seasonal Living
For thousands of years, Taoist philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine have understood something that our modern world is just beginning to remember: we are not separate from nature. We are part of its cyclical rhythms, its seasonal wisdom, its natural flow between expansion and contraction, growth and rest.
Yang Sheng isn't just about health—it's about cultivating vitality and longevity by living in complete harmony with the natural world. It recognises that trying to maintain the same energy, habits, and routines throughout the year is not just unsustainable; it goes against the very fabric of how life naturally moves.
The foundation of Yang Sheng teaches us:
- We are cyclical beings living in a cyclical world
- Each season offers different energy that we can align with rather than fight against
- True wellness comes from harmony with natural rhythms, not forcing artificial consistency
- Nourishing life means adapting our practices to honour what each season requires
This is the harvest season, and Yang Sheng wisdom tells us this is a time to gather not just physical abundance, but to harvest the wisdom we've cultivated all year long.
Why Your Ancestors Understood Self-Care Better Than We Do
In ancient Chinese philosophy, the concept of living seasonally wasn't a wellness trend—it was survival wisdom. Our ancestors understood that different seasons demanded different approaches to nourishing life, and they built their entire way of being around these natural transitions.
What we've forgotten (that Yang Sheng remembers):
- Summer's yang energy calls us outward, toward expansion, activity, and external engagement
- Autumn's yin energy naturally draws us inward, toward reflection, preparation, and gathering wisdom
- Fighting seasonal shifts depletes our vital energy instead of replenishing it
- Embracing change as cyclical creates sustainability rather than burnout
When I light my evening candle as September settles around us, I'm not just creating ambiance—I'm practicing an ancient ritual of honouring the transition from one energetic season to another.
The Five Elements and September's Metal Energy
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is associated with the Metal element, which governs our lungs, our ability to let go, and our capacity for both grief and inspiration. September embodies this Metal energy perfectly—it's the season of both release (letting go of summer) and refinement (harvesting what serves us).
September's Metal energy teaches us to:
- Breathe deeply and honor our lungs as the air grows crisp and clean
- Practice letting go of what no longer serves us, just as trees release their leaves
- Cultivate discernment about what to keep and what to release from our year's experiences
How to Practice Yang Sheng This September
Evening Practices: Embracing Yin Energy
As daylight shortens, Yang Sheng wisdom tells us to honor the increasing yin energy by creating rituals that support inward reflection and restoration.
The September Evening Practice:
Light a candle that speaks to autumn's Metal energy—perhaps something with warm spices that help you breathe deeply like The Home Moment Fire Candle, or wood scents that connect you to trees releasing their leaves, like The Home Moment Earth Candle As the flame settles, ask yourself:
What am I ready to release from this year?
What wisdom have I harvested from my experiences?
How can I nourish my life as the season shifts?
This isn't about productivity or achievement. It's about the ancient practice of tuning into what your life force actually needs in this moment, in this season.
The Deeper Medicine of Seasonal Living
Why Yang Sheng Matters More Than Ever
In our always-on, climate-controlled, artificially-lit modern world, we've lost touch with the natural rhythms that once guided human life. Yang Sheng offers us a path back to this ancient wisdom—not by abandoning modern life, but by weaving seasonal awareness back into our daily practices.
The benefits of living seasonally:
- Reduced burnout from trying to maintain unsustainable consistency
- Increased vitality from working with rather than against natural energy patterns
- Deeper self-awareness as you learn to recognise your changing needs
- Greater resilience through understanding that everything has seasons—including difficult times
Finding Your Rhythm Through Ancient Wisdom
When we practice Yang Sheng, we're not just following wellness trends—we're reconnecting with thousands of years of human wisdom about how to thrive in harmony with the natural world. We're remembering that taking care of ourselves isn't about forcing rigid routines, but about developing the sensitivity to know what we need when we need it.
Yang Sheng teaches us that nourishing life means:
- Flowing with change instead of resisting it
- Honouring both effort and rest as necessary parts of any cycle
- Trusting natural rhythms over artificial expectations
- Finding wisdom in transitions rather than seeing them as disruptions
Practical Yang Sheng for Modern Life
Adapting Ancient Wisdom to Contemporary Living
You don't need to completely overhaul your life to practice Yang Sheng. Start with small, seasonal adjustments that honour this ancient wisdom:
September Adjustments:
- Lighting: Use more candles as daylight decreases, honouring the shift toward yin energy
- Food: Begin incorporating warming, nourishing foods that support your body's preparation for cooler months
- Movement: Shift from high-intensity summer activities to more grounding, reflective practices
- Sleep: Honor your body's desire for more rest as nights grow longer
The Timeless Wisdom We're Rediscovering
There's something in us that recognises this wisdom—the understanding that we belong to the rhythms of the earth, that wellness isn't about conquering our nature but about remembering it.
Yang Sheng reminds us that the most profound self-care isn't found in the latest trend or the newest technique. It's found in the ancient practice of paying attention—to the seasons, to our bodies, to the natural world we're part of. It's found in the simple act of lighting a candle as evening falls and asking ourselves: How can I nourish my life today?
This September, as you feel that familiar shift in the air and notice the earlier sunsets calling you inward, consider this your invitation to practice Yang Sheng. Not as something complicated, but as a return to the wisdom your body already knows—that everything has seasons, everything changes, and the art of living well is learning to flow with these natural rhythms rather than fight against them.
How will you nourish your life through this season of change? What ancient wisdom is your body ready to remember?