Characteristics and Meaning
“Seeding Millet” is the time when farmers harvest early grain crops and plant new seeds for those that need to be in before the weather reaches its peak of heat and humidity.Too much dry weather during this time forebodes drought in the coming months, which could pose a challenge for summer crops.
With the change in season, spring blooms start to wither. A traditional ceremony used to be held to bid farewell to the flower gods as they journeyed back to heaven, as well as express wishes that they return again next year.
It is said that the birthdays of Cao Xueqin, writer of the famous Chinese novel “Dream of the Red Chamber,” as well as the main male character in the book, Jia Baoyu, both fall during Seeding Millet.
The key female character, Lin Daiyu, buried dead flowers on the day of Seeding Millet and wrote a famous poem titled “Burying Flowers” on the same day. For Daiyu, the burial was symbolic of sending off a beautiful spring and this beautiful time in life.
Impact on People
It was believed by the ancient Chinese people that Seeding Millet was the peak time for viruses, infections, or inflammation. That’s probably because of the high amount of rain and relatively high temperature at this time of year, which promote the growth of bacteria both inside and outside of our bodies.For this reason, it’s best not to eat the types of food that trigger allergies or weaken the immune system at this time.
Wellness Tips
- Get up early to take advantage of the cooler morning hours and to align yourself with the rising sun. Then, consider lying down at midday for a short nap. An afternoon nap can be very beneficial for the body.
- Go swimming. It’s the perfect exercise for this time of the year, as it moves the body gently and helps with fluid circulation.
- Shower with lukewarm—rather than hot—water to promote blood circulation and thus reduce heat in the body.
- Bathe your feet in warm water, which can help to relax and assist those who are not able to fall asleep on hot nights.
- Embrace the heat, but wipe away the sweat and keep your skin dry. For those who suffer from coldness in the winter, this is an ideal time to push out the hidden problems from the inside to the outside—and from our hearts as well. The increasing heat helps to draw out the remaining coldness from inside our bodies. This is very important for those who often suffer from flu or cold, as the remaining coldness often resides in places within our body where viruses tend to attack or the healthful energy can’t penetrate.
- For those who suffer from an upset stomach, try massaging four inches from the top of the belly button. This helps to relieve pressure on the digestive system.
- Use essential oils of wormwood, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and citronella to repel insects and minimize the impact of bacteria.
Foods to Eat
Drink plenty of fluids, eat plenty of fresh vegetables, and avoid greasy food. This will balance the body and help it to adjust to the coming heat.To replenish fluids and quench your thirst, drink green tea, honeysuckle flower tea, hawthorn berry juice, and plum juice.
Enjoy plenty of endive, arugula, celery, chard, cucumber, eggplant, green beans, kale, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, seafood, and watermelon. Additionally, artichoke, broccoli, tomato, water chestnut, yam, and all bitter vegetables are good to eat to bring balance.
