March 21st, 2014. "Spring equinox ", the 4th small Spring season arrives

    In 2014, the season of "Spring equinox" arrives on March 21st  12:57 am (0:57, around midnight) China time zone (+8). That is 12:57 pm Eastern Time (-5 with day light saving) on March 20th.

    Celestial longitude: 0 degree. For most of the seasonal information please read this article. 

March 6th, 2014. "Insects awaken", the 3rd small Spring season arrives

  In 2014, the season of "Insects awaken" arrives on March 6th  12:02 am China time zone (+8). That is 11:02 am Eastern Time (-5) on March 5th.

    Celestial longitude: 345 degree. For most of the seasonal information please read this article. 

Energy pattern(Wu Yun Liu Qi 五運六氣) analysis for 2014 according to "Huangdi Neijing" and how to act accordingly

    As the global weather pattern has been surprising since earlier this year, many, include myself, is curious about what the energy pattern of 2014 will be. For readers who are new to this topic, please have a quick read on my 2012 article on the same topic that explains the concept (please only read the general information part as, obviously, the detail is different year to year).

    Again, this is not a weather forecast, and depends on where you live the description in this article may not apply (as the ancient document geographically is based on central mainland China).Like in the US since the beginning of 2014, when northeast area is beating Antarctic in cold and snow, west coast is having the opposite high and dry records. After all, the rule of thumb is that we should use ancient wisdom holistically and flexibly.

    So here we start:

Year: Earth damp (excessive)
First half: Young fire			Second half: Metal Dry
Tree wind; Water cold (1/20-3/21)	Young fire; Tree wind (3/21-5/21)	Old fire; Young fire (5/21-7/23)	Earth damp; Earth damp (7/23-9/23)	Metal dry; Old fire (9/23-11/22)	Water cold; Metal dry (11/22-1/20/15)

    2014’s main energy force is excessive earth energy (dampness), it indicates a rainy weather pattern. It can be long drizzle, or heavy storm. When dampness is over in human body it will affect the spleen-stomach system first, and main symptoms are poor digestion, bloated belly and water retention. The “Yellow Emperor’s Inner Cannon” describes the symptoms as “Illness is generally caused by water-fire fights in the middle-qi. Heat related illness shows in upper section; cold related illness shows in lower section; cold and heat battles in the middle; people starts to have symptoms like cough and pant, bleed, red eyes, canthus ulcer, stomach cold, heart pain, lower back pain, bloated belly, dry pharynx, and swollen.”

    The first half of the year is ruled by “young fire” energy and the second half of the year is ruled by “metal dry” energy. Combine with the main “earth damp” energy, there will be many humid and damp days.

    First section ( 1/20 – 3/21) “初之氣地氣遷、燥將去、寒乃始、蟄複藏水乃冰，霜複降，風乃至，陽氣鬱。民反周密，關節禁固，腰椎痛，炎暑將起，中外瘡瘍。”
Main energy: Tree wind
Guest energy: Water cold
After a warm winter, temperature drops quickly. The Yang energy that was “leaked” during the warm winter starts to come inward, and because the external cold shuts the outer body (skin) quickly at the same time, people starts to have symptoms caused by internal heat and external cold, such as joint pain and lower back (spinal) pain. Near the end there will be skin breakout or sores.
Solution: Keep the external body warm and keep and internal body cool. Avoid lamb and chicken, eat more green vegetable and more bitter food and drinks. Use spices with strong aroma such as cilantro, pepper and mint.
Suggested taste (flavor): bitter, salty, spicy.

    Second section (3/21 – 5/21) “二之氣陽氣布，風乃行，春氣以正，萬物應榮，寒氣時至，民乃和。其病淋，目瞑目赤，氣郁於上而熱。”

Main energy: Young fire
Guest energy: Tree wind

The temperature will rise very quickly, warm wind brings the blossom. Occasionally there will be “reversed spring cold” and it will not affect our outdoor activities. Symptoms may include dark and painful urine, dry and red eyes that are also sensitive to light. These are signs of uprising internal fire.

Solution: similar to last section, keep the internal energy cool.

Suggested taste (flavor): spicy, sour, sweet.

    Third section (5/21 – 7/23) “三之氣天政布，大火行，庶類蕃鮮，寒氣時至。民病氣厥心痛，寒熱更作，咳喘目赤。”

Main energy: Old fire

Guest energy: young fire

Two fire energy added to the young fire energy from the first half of the year, this will be an extra hot section. But like everything else, when heat reaches its extreme cold will come back, so heavy storm will show and some cold energy will return. Symptoms include difficulty of breathing, cold hands and feet, chest pain and even heart pain. Some may show symptoms similar to malaria (feeling cold and hot back and forth while being sick), coughing and red eyes. Three fire energy combination is rare, this extreme heat will harm the heart system.

Solution: Protecting the heart system (both physical and metaphysical) is the key. Keep your mind and mood stable and mild is as important as keep your actual physical heart healthy. Many Chinese herbal prescriptions are designed for this kind of condition but without access to them, keep medication for emergency heart condition handy.

Suggested taste (flavor): salty, sweet, sour.

    Fourth section (7/23-9/23) “    四之氣溽暑至，大雨時行，寒熱互至。民病寒熱，嗌幹、黃癉、鼽衄、飲發。”

Main energy: Earth damp

Guest energy: Earth damp

After three fire, now we will have three damp (combined with the year’s excessive damp energy), and this is the section when the main energy force will show. There may be flood and mudslide. Symptoms include heatstroke (hyperthermia), dry throat, aurigo (icterus) and nose bleed.

Solution: lower the dampness level inside and outside the body. Use a dehumidifier, eat lite, less soupy food, and avoid being too full.

Suggested taste (flavor): sweet, bitter.

    Fifth section (9/23 – 11/22) “五之氣畏火臨，暑反至，陽乃化，萬物乃生，乃長榮，民乃康。其病溫。”

Main energy: Metal dry

Guest energy: Old fire

The second half of the year is also ruled by Metal dry energy, so we can guess that this section will be dry and hot. So the symptoms will also be dry-heat related, such as fever, dry cough, and dry hard skin.

Solution: Eat seasonal fruits, drink some oolong tea or/and chrysanthemum tea.  

Suggested taste (flavor): salty sweet, sour.

    Sixth section (11/22/2014 – 1/20/2015) “終之氣燥令行，餘火內格，腫於上，咳喘，甚則血溢。寒氣數舉，則霿霧翳, 病生皮腠，內舍於脅，下連少腹而作寒中，地將易也。”

Main energy: Water cold

Guest energy: Metal dry

Again, with the Metal dry energy in the second half of the year, this will be a dry winter. Symptoms include internal heat, foggy vision, cold belly, asthma, cough and pant, and even hemoptysis (coughing blood).

Solution: Eat less or no dry and hot food include any deep fried, grilled and barbecued food.

Suggested taste (flavor): sour, spicy, bitter.