Green Man

 

Hidden harvest moons

No moon to see yet!
Wind rustling the long grasses
Happy gathering

               *

Drinking lemon tea
Dark night and a hidden moon
But still purity!

The town in the country: autumn

Tranquility of one's conduct

The three months of Autumn are called the period of tranquillity of one’s conduct.

The atmosphere of Heaven is quick and the atmosphere of the Earth is clear.

People should retire early at night and rise early in the morning with the crowing of the rooster.

They should have their minds at peace in order to lessen the punishment of Autumn.

Soul and spirit should be gathered together in order to make the breath of Autumn tranquil; and to keep their lungs pure they should not give vent to their desires.

All this is in harmony with the atmosphere of Autumn and all this is the method for the protection of one’s harvest.

From The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine, translated by Ilza Veith (Berkeley, 1966).