Lance's Late Summer Letter 2023
"August rain: the best of the summer gone, and the new fall not yet born. The odd uneven time."
- Sylvia Plath
August 2023
Hi Everyone
Have you started to feel that subtle shift in the air and the sunlight as we ease from Summer into Late Summer? The spirit of Autumn is sneaking in with cooler breezes and shorter days, but we're not quite ready for fall's full embrace.
Late summer, the season upon us, carries a certain warm, sticky sweetness that signals harvest time. The energy of nature around us is brimming with abundance, thanks to all the growth we've witnessed in summer. It's like everything is set up for a communal gathering – seeds, nuts, juicy fruits, and fresh veggies, all ready to be enjoyed and shared.
In the world of Five Element Acupuncture Taoist Theory, this lush and delightful Late Summer energy corresponds to the Earth Element.
Just like the Earth provides stability and nourishment for all life, this season encourages us to ground ourselves, even amid life's twists and turns. Imagine the rich soil that nurtures plants – similarly, we can nurture our well-being through some self-care and introspection. The Earth Element embodies qualities of generosity and abundance, nudging us to recognize and spread the goodness in our lives.
Interestingly, the sense of abundance isn't just tied to material possessions as our culture insists. I had a personal aha moment during a trip to India when I was 18. I visited a village where people had very little in terms of stuff, yet their joy and richness overflowed in their smiles, songs, and dance. This visit left a lasting mark on my younger self, revealing that wealth extends beyond the mere accumulation of money and possessions and that our perception of abundance might not truly reflect genuine richness.
What I found is that the feeling of abundance goes deeper than just stuff; it's about acknowledging the inner treasure we hold and letting it enrich our lives. It's about feeling gratitude.
Here’s a little "Lance practice" to really embody this:
Step 1: Grab a piece of paper and jot down 5 things/people/situations/etc that you grateful for in this moment.
Step 2: No go through each of the 5 gratitudes and answer the following question: How does the gratitude for this make me feel? As you feel the gratitude pay attention to where you are sensing it in your body and the kind of sensations that are present.
note: if you can quite feel the gratitude ask yourself: “What might this feel like if I was able to feel it?”
Let me know how it feels in the comment section below
If you are having a very hard time feeling the abundance and gifts in your life, know that our village is here for you.
For our acupuncture patients who come in seasonally now is the perfect time to come in for your Late Summer session, and align with your true abundance. If you are new to acupuncture, it's a great time to start!
Need support in this right now? Press my favorite Late Summer Acupoint called "Prince's Grandson" - and nourish your inner resources. Here is the link: Spleen 4 - Prince's Grandson - An Acupuncture Point that embodies the richness of who we are
Some Quick Village Wellness Updates
Looking ahead into the Fall - we are ramping up our offerings and classes at Village Wellness.
We are slowly adding more $45 Community Acupuncture sessions on Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Click here for the full schedule
There is more and more interest in our Shamanic Offerings, and our community is growing - This fall we will be offering new classes like Tree Communion Meditation, Ritual Cosmos: Creating your own Shamanic Mesa (Altar), Five Element Nature Reconnection Walks with Lance and Amy, Monthly Entheogenic Integration Circle, 7 Stars Sacred Fire Circle, and more, alongside our private shamanic healing ceremonies.
Planting the seed - As the legal status around the therapeutic use of psychedelic/entheogenic medicines continues to change, we are preparing to have these offerings as part of Village Wellness. At the moment Ketamine Therapy is legal and we are working to bring this to Village Wellness. I am also offering Ceremonial Cannabis Healing Sessions for PA Medical Cannabis Cardholders. If you would be interested in this service feel free to reply to this email and let me know by replying back.
Ok, that's it from me!
May you enjoy the sweet light, and feel abundant in all ways
Lots of love,
Lance ❤️
Village Builder, Five Element Acupuncturist, Shamanic Practitioner
(On behalf of the whole VW team)
P.S. calling all Reiki enthusiasts - join us for our upcoming Monthly Reiki Share and Mentorship with Jennifer!
P.P.S. Don't forget about our FREE daily ongoing groups (see below)! Including Tree Communion Meditation (virtual) with Amy Mermaid and ✨ The Yoga of Loving Awareness ✨ Community Led Gentle Yogic Movement, Breathwork, & Meditation