This is a suggested practice (#7) for the Calendar:
Ritualize Moxa
We're just getting started. If you've made it this far and selected some good observations, rituals, herbs, and movement practices to help you stay aligned with nature's rhythms, you might be ready to try self-treatment with moxibustion. On the calendar, you'll notice the 8 days following each New Moon are shaded in—these are the "New Moon Eight Day Moxa Periods" that support overall health and longevity.
- If you're familiar with Chinese medicine or are a practitioner yourself, this is common sense to you, so simply enjoy that I've marked these 8 days on the calendar for you.
- If this is brand new and you're not ready to burn mugwort on your own skin at this point, feel free to skip ahead.
- If you're intrigued and interested in trying this out, or even making it a ritual this year, read on. You can purchase stick-on moxa on Amazon quite affordably (you can get 100 of them for less than $30). In summer months, do this outside; in winter, open your windows slightly, as the smell can linger in your room. Start with just one day per month (on New Moon or a day or two after), then gradually increase to two days, three days, and eventually up to 8 days after each New Moon. It's quite a commitment! When you're ready, ensure you have your moxa and a well-ventilated space, locate Zu San Li (St36) on your leg, and burn one stick-on moxa on each leg during the day—but not late at night, as it might energize you too much. I'll provide guidance, pictures, and support for all of this throughout the year.
- There are also Heavenly moxa practices for summer months and warming moxa treatments for winter months, which I'll discuss later.