Qi Node 14: 處暑 Chùshǔ (Heat Ends)
The name tells you everything and nothing all at once. Chùshǔ—“Heat Ends” (处暑)—suggests relief, a cooling off, a return to balance. But in practice? The heat doesn’t always end on cue. The air might still hum with humidity. The sun, still insistent. And the body, caught between wanting to let go of summer and still clinging to its long, light-filled days, doesn’t always know how to respond.
This is the paradox of Chùshǔ: we’ve crossed a seasonal threshold, but the world hasn’t caught up yet.
We’re entering the last phase of Late Summer—a strange, in-between time in Chinese cosmology. It’s not quite Fall, not really Summer. It’s transitional. Earth phase qi is still humming from the transition period between 大暑 Dàshǔ and 立秋 Lìqiū , which means the concerns of the Spleen and Stomach systems—digestion, nourishment, stability—are still impacted by conduct in this period. But quietly, almost imperceptibly, the energy is beginning to sink. The outward push of Summer is yielding to inward motion. The descent has begun.
When the Season Hesitates
What makes Chùshǔ especially interesting (and occasionally frustrating) is the way it resists a clean break. After all, it’s not called “Fall Begins” or “First Frost.” It’s “Heat Ends,” which is more of an intention than a certainty. In many parts of the Northern hemisphere, it’s still pretty hot during this qi node, but remember that qi nodes express shifts in the qi not necessarily in the weather. These shifts portend changes in the future more than an immediately observable change. For Chùshǔ, it’s a transitional moment when the qi in the environment starts to pull downward, but we’re not quite ready to follow it.
This is the season of lingering.
Tomatoes are still on the vine. Kids aren’t back in school yet—or maybe they just started, but summer break energy is still in the air. Vacations taper off. Work resumes. The fire of summer isn’t out, but it’s starting to burn lower. And there’s often a sense of restlessness as we try to find our rhythm again.
Cosmically, Chùshǔ isn’t telling us to stop. It’s asking us to start considering what it means to shift.
We often think of seasonal transitions as clean slates. But more often, they are layered. Old expectations overlap with new intentions. We still feel warm and outwardly focused while being asked to begin preparing for inward movement. It can feel awkward. Confusing. Tiring.
And that’s completely natural.
The Descent Begins
Chinese medicine views this period as a crucial turning point. The yang qi, which has been rising and expanding since early spring, is now preparing to descend. But it doesn’t plummet. It spirals down slowly, recalibrating as it goes.
Chùshǔ marks the beginning of that descent. Which means this is the time to soften your pace, simplify your routines, and prepare your body and mind for a quieter, more introspective season ahead.
All seasonal change is moderated by the Earth phase, but Late Summer in particular has the most direct alignement with the Qi of Earth: represented by the center—physically, emotionally, and energetically. It’s a time to ground. To stabilize. To gather yourself before the winds of Autumn arrive.
And because we are, in many ways, still warm, still moving, still doing, this qi node is also about recognizing when we’ve had enough. Not out of exhaustion or failure—but because seasons are meant to change.
How to Align with Chùshǔ (处暑)
This is not a time for dramatic transformation. It’s a time for attunement—small shifts that help you match pace with the season’s changing rhythm.
1. Ease into Routine
Start rebuilding rhythm. Think regular sleep, consistent meals, and a little structure—not rigid, but supportive. Your Spleen system loves routine. Offer it a bit of predictability after the spontaneity of Summer.
2. Ground Through Food
Earth phase loves food that is simple, warm, and comforting. Late Summer produce—like squash, corn, carrots, and sweet potatoes—supports both digestion and transition. Keep it cooked, lightly spiced, and balanced. Avoid too many cold or greasy foods, which can burden an already tired digestive system.
Try soups with barley, stewed mung beans, or roasted root vegetables. Tea with ginger and orange peel is a lovely seasonal ally.
3. Create Space Gently
This is a good moment to start editing—not purging but letting go of small clutter, unnecessary tasks, or mental noise that has carried over from the peak of Summer. This isn’t the active and forceful cleaning and clearing of Spring but instead the first evaluation of what you’d like to keep and to let go as you prepare for Winter.
4. Observe Instead of React
You might feel a little unsettled right now. That’s part of the transition. Instead of trying to fix it, watch it. Track your moods, cravings, and thoughts. Let the internal landscape shift without needing to define it just yet.
5. Prioritize Rest Before You Feel Exhausted
Just because you're not crashing doesn't mean you're not ready to slow down. Begin to reintroduce rest into your days. Go to bed a little earlier. Take more time in the morning. Schedule less. Rest isn’t just recovery—it’s how we match our pace to nature’s.
Chùshǔ (处暑) is a quiet invitation to begin the journey inward. Not as retreat, but as rhythm. It reminds us that not all endings are final. Some endings arrive gradually, with warmth still in the air and leaves still on the trees. But that doesn’t make the shift any less real.
This is your moment to begin the descent—gracefully, intentionally, and with full presence. Let the heat end slowly. Let yourself linger at the edge. Let the season take its time.
And take yours, too.