[BLOG] Feel and Hear the World of Song: Late Summer & the Element of Earth

Ellen Franklin, PhD & Donna Carey, LAc

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Come with me into the fields of gold

there is plenty, plenty, the harvest is bold

too much for one alone, I would die in its richness

it would consume me

the season is peaking, seeds are full blown

come, let’s realize what we’ve always known

Excerpt from Appearings (variations on a pastoral) – Donna Carey

Listening to Earth

We know the power of sound to heal, but do we feel the world of song? Does too much noise, chatter, misinformation, wars, political unrest, and global climate disasters stoke fears that prevent us from hearing the Earth’s music? The rushing streams, bird song, wind in the trees, crickets, and critters are singing. Can you hear the call of animals in the night? Last night in the distance, it was the howl of coyotes; in the morning, they ran across the trail we were walking. Bird calls in the early morning included the Robin, White Winged Dove, Mourning Dove, Lesser Goldfinch, House Finch, Say Phoebe, and American Crow. Even living closer to the city now, we walk each morning in Willow Creek Park along the Bosque, and in the evening, through our community adjacent to the park. This reflection invites us to reconnect with Earth’s seasonal song as a source of balance, nourishment, and healing practice.

If you can’t get out into the natural world, listen to the sounds of the planets, sound a bowl, tuning fork, or gong, and pause to truly take in their song. We are in a unique position to reacquaint those around us with the rich songs of the Earth, something that abounds as we enter the season of Late Summer (in the Northern hemisphere).

Late Summer and the Earth Element

Debra Kaatz identifies Late Summer with stability, understanding, and the nourishment of Mother Earth’s bounty that will carry us through the long winter months. Our hearts are open and able to transform, digest, and transport whatever information comes at us. Rather than blocking the worries and concerns—and we are, without question, surrounded by them—how might we identify what we need, sort through it, and give what is most needed to others?

“When we are out of balance, we seek the sympathy of others or reject the care that is offered. When we are in balance, we can give what is needed without sacrificing ourselves…We know when to care and listen and how to help both ourselves and others from a place of inner peace and harmony. When the earth within us is secure, we can nourish others and ourselves with gentleness, patience, love, joy, and calm restfulness (Kaatz, 2005).”

As August winds down, students go back to school, and we seek out the amazingly rich produce offerings at local farmers markets we are entering into the season of the Earth element. This is a time to focus on how we might invoke a healthy Spleen, which represents a powerful, compassionate understanding for others and the ability to manifest spirit-infused intelligence, creativity and understanding, to midwife a new and better harvest for all. Combined with a healthy Hun we are able to access our spiritual path, so that our soul is able to expand and grow with kindness and compassion.

Practices for Balance

As you stand tall, reflect on how to move beyond anxiety, stress, and trauma, to transcend, unwind and release self limiting counter-productive behaviors. Choose tools that you would use for your own self-care, Ohm, New Moon, Sedna, Chiron, Hygeia, Nibiru, Venus. What tools call to you, what would you direct outward to your communities and the Earth?

As you hold strong to center with your heart fully open, direct healing out to those most in need, to the collective, and then out to the planet. Lift your thoughts, and healing sounds to the microcosmic orbit of the planet with love, compassion, humility, and wisdom directed to the collective. By first engaging in our own self-care, to manage personal stress and anxiety we are better able to follow our souls’ journey, to be renewed, and present for self, family, clients, community and the collective.

A Harvest Blessing

We are powerful beyond measure when we accept love as the highest gift to both give and receive. In this season of Late Summer, seek out what is good and nourishing. Mother Earth guides us to store away what we need to carry us through winter, to turn the soil, compost what we no longer need, and prepare for what comes. Let go of what does not serve you, listen to the songs of your inner landscape, and take a moment to acknowledge all that is good. The song of the Earth is there for you: breathe in the song, acknowledge it, and give thanks. May your harvests be bountiful, seeds for new beginnings plentiful, and may we each be blessed with the ability to identify what is most needed for our own health, the health of our family, our community, and the planet Earth.