Welcome to the 9th Seasonal Node: 芒種，“Bearded Grain”
Welcome to the Month of the Horse and the micro-season of Mangzhong 芒種 “Grain in Beard,” from June 5th - 21st. This 2-week Jieqi period commences with the second month of Summer in the agricultural calendar, and leads right up to the Summer Solstice. The name of this 2-week period, “Grain in Beard,” refers to the maturation and ripening of grains in the field, which is a cause for celebration for the coming harvest, but also a time to continue to patiently wait for the things to continue to ripen through the summer. This tension between celebration and patience is a theme for the entire time period we are entering.
This is the time of Peak Yang Energy as we approach the longest day of the year. Energy is abundant in the environment and also in ourselves! Paradoxically, however, this is a time to conserve our energy and be mindful about what we commit ourselves to. Think of all the abundant Yang Energy arriving in this season like getting a paycheck - it is great to have a big deposit in your bank account! But better than spending it all at once is saving some to last us through the colder months of autumn and winter when a big surge of Yang is unavailable.
The Confucian classic “the Book of Rites” outlines how to strike the appropriate balance of restraint during this time of increased energy and warmth. In that text, the seasonal node we are in is described as a time to “tune ritual instruments” in preparation for a great Solstice celebration to pray for rain and a rich harvest. This indicates that celebration and festivities are on the way, but now is a time to get ourselves prepared for the full swing of summer.
This is a time (if you haven’t already), to get out your summer clothes, wash outdoor furniture or prep your outdoor gear to be ready for being outside more in the summer, or any other activity with a similar goal of setting us up for an easy transition into the hot summer months.
The “Material Manifestations” of this time period are three events in nature that symbolize the energy and appropriate activity for this time of year.
螳蜋生 - Praying Mantises are Born
Praying Mantises emerge from their cocoons and sit, poised and still, waiting for prey. This symbolizes the abundance of powerful energy at this time, but also stillness, calm and restraint to not get carried away.
鵙始鳴 - Shrikes Begin to Call
Shrikes are raptors known for impaling their prey on trees. Their arrival also signals a time of intensity and power but also caution, as their calls are an alarm for other animals to lay low and wait for danger to pass.
反舌無聲 - Mockingbirds stop singing
Literally called “Reverse Tongues”, Mockingbirds are symbolic of idle chatter and gossip, signalling this is a moment for restraint and quiet.
All of these together create an image of a time of great intensity, where the possibility of danger is high, and so the wise thing to do is rest, take care of domestic tasks and wait for the moment to really cut loose (it’s coming soon!). Additional advice for this time period is to open up the windows and even doors of the house, to be lenient with discipline and not engage in feuds or conflicts needlessly. The reason why so much caution is urged here is that, with Yang energy being so intense, things can easily go off kilter if pushed too much in one direction: relationships, personal health, etc. So taking care to be moderate preserves the delicate balance of these things in our lives so that, when the time comes to party and socialize, we’ll be in good health and good relations to share the summer season joyfully with the people close to us. I think we can all agree, that’s something to look forward to, and worth waiting for.
Written by Paul Arellano