Unless you’ve delved a bit into feng shui, you may see it more as an interior design art. While it does involve interior design in modern homes and offices, there are spiritual and philosophical ideas behind the practice. But there is probably lots more about this unique art that you may not know. Want to test your knowledge? Check out these cool and fascinating facts about feng shui.
You’re Probably Pronouncing It Wrong
Feng shui is pronounced “fung shway” and comes from two Chinese words: “feng,” which means wind, and “shui,” which translates as water. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, this term first appeared in English around 1797.
Feng shui has taken a while to spread into Western cultures. Some of the first English-language books on the subject date to the early 1970s. Many of these were academic texts — hardly anything like the “feng shui for dummies” type manuals you see today. The first book that’s even close to a feng shui manual was published in 1984: “Feng Shui: Ancient Wisdom for the Most Beneficial Way to Place and Arrange Furniture, Rooms and Buildings” by Sarah Rossbach.
Feng Shui Came From a Poem
While feng shui has major roots in Taoist philosophy, architect Anjie Cho mentions that the concept comes from an ancient Chinese poem. It comes from the Book of Burial, a text by Chinese historian Guo Pu written during the third or fourth century C.E. You can read the full text at Feng Shui Gate, but one excerpt details how qi works with wind and water:
The Classic says: Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.
The ancients collected it to prevent its dissipation, and guided it to assure its retention.
Thus it was called fengshui.
Why Curved Lines Are a Big Deal
If you’ve ever seen a house that uses feng shui principles, you may have noticed lots of curving, flowing lines and shapes. Cho explains why in a Mind Body Green piece by Sarah Regan. Cho mentions a belief from Chinese folklore that evil spirits can only move in straight lines. That’s why meandering paths and flowing border edges are key components of traditional Chinese gardens. You’ll find these elements in the feng shui gardens of Western homes as well.
Curved lines are also ideal in feng shui for another reason: They promote the flow of qi. Appropriately, Blue Lotus Feng Shui nicknames qi as “virtual water.” That life energy should move in a balanced way — not so slow so it gets stagnant, and not so fast that it rushes. Think of it this way: Standing water can gather disease-causing bacteria plus mold and pests such as mosquitoes and rats. And a tsunami hitting landfall at around 40 miles an hour can generate 1,700 pounds of force.
Feng Shui Uses Five Elements, Not Four
You likely know about the four elements — fire, earth, air, and water. These come from classical Greek thought, and we see them reflected in philosophies and arts like Western astrology. But feng shui uses five elements, collectively called “Wuxing”: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. They’re more like elemental states that can nurture or inhibit each other in creative and destructive cycles. They also represent different aspects of qi, the energy that flows through everything and everyone in our universe.
Feng shui has exploded in popularity over the last few decades. While you don’t need a degree in Chinese cultural studies to understand its basics, delving deep into the subject can yield some surprising knowledge. It also shows how much can get lost in translation. Simplifying concepts can help transmit them across languages and cultures, but there’s often much more below the surface.
One of the major milestones in a married couple’s life is finding a new place to call home together. Whether you’re ready to tie the knot with your partner or you’ve just recently wed, you’ll find that buying a house is a more complex process than buying a car or completing a gift registry. You’re in search of a place that you can lay your head to rest as well as start a family of your own. Here’s what Canadian couples should know about finding that perfect home.
Securing a Down Payment For your Home
Many Canadians will need to finance the purchase of a home with a mortgage from a bank or lender. These lenders expect you to provide a down payment to show that you have some skin in the game. Per the Canadian government, your down payment is a percentage of the property price as follows:
If the house is $1,000,000 or more, then the down payment is 20%.
For homes between $500,000 and $1,000,000, you’re expected to put 5% down for the first $500,000 and 10% down for any amount in excess.
For properties over $1,000,000, you’ll have to pony up at least 20%.
Keep in mind that 5% of a residence worth $500,000 is $25,000. Saving money for a down payment is a significant undertaking, especially for a young couple.
Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Unless you can afford to buy a house with cash, you’ll need a home loan. Before you start falling in love with various properties, get a pre-approval from a lender so you can know which properties will be covered by a mortgage. Getting pre-approved also locks in the interest rate for a loan for up to 120 days. Changes in interest rates can significantly impact your monthly loan repayment, so it’s important not to go into the house hunt blind. Keep in mind that what you can actually afford and the amount a lender is offering can be vastly different. Not all lenders are the same, so you should shop around for the best rates.
Finding a Real Estate Agent For Your Future Home
When buying a house, you’ll want to have someone on your side, representing your best interests and walking you through the process. A real estate agent is an expert on the purchasing process and brings knowledge of the local area and market analysis tools. He or she has experience in finding homes and often has other resources to help you find a property with the features that are most important to you. Your agent advocates for you and helps negotiate the best price for the house that you want. You can go through the process without an agent, but why would you, especially when many sellers have agents working with them?
Kicking the Tires
Buying a house without having an inspection done is not like buying clothes without trying them on. You cannot do a simple return if you find that the property has major problems, especially things that would have been revealed in an inspection. It’s important to hire an experienced inspector who can check the structure, the electrical and plumbing systems, and more to make sure you’re not getting more (or less) than what you bargained for. An inspector can help create a punch list of items that need to be repaired or addressed before a sale. The issues that come up may also be grounds for negotiating a lower price.
A new home is a big step in your life together as a new or soon-to-be-married couple. In addition to deciding on the features that both of you need and want, you’ll also need to get your finances together to apply for a mortgage and save money for a down payment. A good real estate agent will walk you through all the steps, helping you to find the perfect Canadian castle to call your own.
Feng shui, acupuncture, and other traditional Chinese practices contain concepts from Taoism. This centuries-old philosophy emphasizes flow, harmony, and balance. Everything in our universe contains a fundamental cosmic energy known as qi. Five elemental phases illustrate how nature works, but they also have energies that can interact and combat each other. Chinese philosophy explains how things work when these phases are balanced – and the resulting problems when they’re not.
Creative and Destructive Cycles
The five elemental phases occur in two primary cycles – creative and destructive. The former, known as “shēng,” illustrates how one element can aid in generating another. In this context, “creation” isn’t literal. Rather, it’s an endless cycle of transformation and revelation. Wood fuels fire to create earth, which holds the metal that collects water.
The second primary cycle, “kè,” is somewhat destructive. But “kè” best translates as “restrain” or “overcome.” In this cycle, each element mitigates another one’s effects. Water puts out fire, which can melt metal. With enough force applied, metal can cut wood. When a tree seed germinates, wood erupts from earth by pushing out of the soil. Earth can form solid barriers that block the flow of water.
Chéng: The Cycle of Overwhelming
Wandering Dao describes the nature of both the shēng and kè cycles. The parent-child metaphor best characterizes shēng. Why? Because every element nourishes another and helps it grow. Daoist philosophy sees kè as a grandparent-grandchild relationship. Why? Well, this cycle alternates elements. Instead of water interacting with wood, it interacts with fire. By skipping phases, water dampens fire instead of nourishing wood.
In feng shui and other traditional Chinese practices, applying the kè cycle results in balance. But you can have too much of a good thing, and that’s what happens in an overwhelming elemental cycle. This is called “chéng,” a Chinese verb meaning “to multiply” and written as Hanzi as “乘.”
Excessive restraint is the key feature of the chéng cycle. It progresses in the same way as the kè cycle, except its energies act with brutal force. Fire can vaporize metal at extremely high temperatures – for example, on exoplanets like KELT-9b. This distant gas giant boasts surface temperatures around 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its atmosphere contains several heavy metal gases such as iron, titanium, and chromium. And while metal can cut down trees, this turns into deforestation when taken to extremes.
Insult With Injury: The Wǔ Cycle
Just as kè energies destroy when they exert too much force, they can also be weak with too little effort. When this happens, the second element pushes back against the first. Taoist philosophy calls this “wǔ.” It’s a Chinese verb that means “to insult” and written with the “侮” Hanzi character.
Wǔ energies move in the opposite direction of kè. Fire can evaporate water, which in turn floods or muddies earth. When there’s too much earth, it can bury wood. If a tree withstands a metal cutting implement, its wood can dull the blade. Metals with high thermal conductivity can transfer heat.
Some call wǔ the weakening or counteracting cycle. To understand why, let’s look at an example. A river bisects the land it flows through. That divided land becomes its left and right banks, which hold the river and direct its path. But should that river rise too high, it overflows its banks and floods surrounding communities. Thus, water counteracts earth’s restraints.
A Balanced Approach to Life
Ancient Chinese tradition speaks of elemental phases that operate in cycles of generation and overcoming. So when things fall out of balance, this can cause chaos. The wǔ and chéng elemental phase cycles show how that chaos plays out. Even if you’re not into Taoism, understanding and resolving these imbalances can help create a more harmonious life.
Preliminary data indicate grooms may be at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19, as men tend to have poorer health habits compared to women.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be more fatal to men. CNN reported on March 24 that males make up 70% of those who died from coronavirus complications in Italy and 54% of total COVID-19 deaths in South Korea. Yet even without a global virus outbreak, taking care of oneself should be a top priority, especially for men who seem to have poorer health habits compared to women. While grooms are figuring out what to do next about their upcoming weddings, practicing healthy habits can ensure that they’re around to say “I do.”
Why More Men Are Dying From COVID-19
Medical professionals are trying to determine why more men have succumbed to COVID-19. Scientists haven’t determined any concrete causes, according toThe Guardian, but they have some theories that may fit the facts. Unhealthy behaviors seem to be the key to higher death rates: More men smoke, drink, and don’t practice healthy habits such as handwashing. Men are less likely to seek medical attention when they are ill. MDLinx reveals that they’re diagnosed at higher rates with serious health conditions:
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic heart failure
Lung cancer
Grooms and General Risk Factors
British Columbia’s Centre for Disease Control explains that people with chronic illnesses are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 complications. However, they also face a generally greater risk of dying earlier. That contributes to Canadian men’s lower life expectancies: 79 years versus 83 years for Canadian women. Harvard Health mentions that more men are employed in high-risk occupations such as construction, the military, and firefighting. Canadian men are three times more likely to successfully commit suicide, less likely to have significant social connections, and less likely to seek mental health treatment.
Staying Healthy and Beating the Odds
Understanding your risk factors is important. But don’t worry: This article won’t turn into a lecture or sound like a 1950s educational film. What grooms can do, however, is focus on potential ways to maintain or improve their health. Harvard Health suggests choosing one goal to tackle first rather than trying to make a ton of lifestyle changes at once, so pick something attainable right now. Simple steps are a great way to begin your journey, and many helpful resources are available to get you started:
If you use tobacco, take steps to quit. Several provinces and territories offer free accessible support for going nicotine-free.
People who drink alcohol should do so in moderation. If you’re concerned about addiction, check out this treatment guide from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction.
The Canadian government offers a food guide snapshot, plus some tips on how to shop and eat better.
New to exercise? Sports medicine expert Andrew Lavender provides several suggestions to get started as a beginner.
The Loop lists several national and provincial mental health resources.
If you’re dealing with food insecurity due to COVID-19, try Food Banks Canada’s food bank search. Each provincial and territorial government operates social assistance and welfare programs. Also, California-based Dignity Health supplies several tips for eating well if you lack regular access to fresh, healthy food.
Your Journey, Your Choices, Your Health
Life is precious. Besides your quality of life and goals, there are friends and loved ones who care and would love to see you stick around for a long time. Grooms also have a wedding to look forward to, whether or not COVID-19 has delayed their plans. Remember that change won’t happen overnight: This isn’t a race to see how quickly you can accomplish your goals. Nobody’s expecting you to become musclebound or become a whiz at CrossFit. If your first benchmark is eating one piece of fruit each day, that’s fine. The bottom line: Take care of yourself. The world needs you.
The humble coffee bean has a surprising religious history that weaves together many fascinating tails and origin stories.
Would you call your morning cup of coffee a mystical experience? In our quest to power up for the day, we probably don’t think about coffee’s origins. Yet this humble bean has a surprising religious history. It’s a fascinating and complex tale that began in Africa many centuries ago.
Coffee’s Ethiopian Origins
Coffee cultivation takes place in over 80 countries today, most of them located in tropical regions. One popular legend claims that an Ethiopian goat herder discovered the plant after noticing strange behavior out of his goats. After finding a green shrub decked with bright cherry-colored berries, he picked some of the fruit and brought it to a local monastery. The caffeine enabled the monks to stay awake, and the rest was history.
Except that it wasn’t really history.
Journalist Livia Gershon explains that the coffee plant did first grow wild in Ethiopia. However, the local tribespeople discovered it first. Thanks to its energizing properties, the bean was used as a sacrament in communal ceremonies. Hunters also imbibed it to stay alert and stave off hunger while seeking their prey. It eventually made its way to other parts of Africa, where other cultures found more uses for it. Some brewed a drink from the vivid red berries, while others roasted them in fat or chewed them without any prep. The Haya people of Tanzania even traded the beans as currency.
Java and Midnight Meditations
Just in case you thought the Ethiopian goat herder would get all the credit, there are two other myths about coffee’s origins. The Spruce‘s Lindsey Goodwin mentions one story in which a Sufi mystic finds and chews the berries during his journey through Ethiopia. Another tale claims that an exiled sheik on the verge of starvation discovered the plant in the wild. When he tossed the berries into his campfire, he fell in love with their aroma but found them too hard to chew. After trying to soften them in water, he drank the liquid and felt invigorated.
It’s hard to separate truth from myth, but we do know that Yemenite Sufi Muslims consumed coffee to keep alert during nighttime chanting rituals. Coffee eventually spread throughout the rest of the Muslim world, fueling Yemen’s economy for over 250 years. Many people drank it to stay awake during late-night Ramadan festivities, and coffeehouses sprung up to fuel the demand. More legends propagated about the bean’s origins, with some crediting Muhammed or the archangel Gabriel for gifting it to humanity.
Coffee Comes to Europe and America
Coffee was widely consumed in the Muslim world by the 1500s. Around this time, Europeans began encountering the drink during their travels. Although they found it bitter due to its initial lack of sugar, they loved its energizing effects. The drink soon came to Europe, where it was both loved and considered controversial. Just as in the Middle East, coffeehouses popped up in major cities throughout the continent. They became cultural centers and community meeting places, much like taverns were during America’s colonial era.
One often-repeated legend claims that several clerics asked Pope Clement VII to ban coffee, insisting that it was “Satan’s brew.” Yet when the pope tried coffee for himself, he enjoyed it so much that he gave it his blessing. From there, coffee came to the Americas, where early colonialists embraced the brew. “Coffee makes a man more reasonable, better able to concentrate and hardworking,” comments Laura Turner in the Washington Post. “No wonder people might see it going hand in hand with the Protestant work ethic.”
All Hail the Mighty Bean
Canada ranks third in the world for coffee consumption. For many of us, this bold brew is a must-have that fuels our bodies and minds. Whether or not we thank the divine for our daily drink, it certainly holds a revered place in our modern lives.
As the years go on, it becomes a lot easier to fall into the wrong habits. A great way to succeed includes incorporating your significant other into the mix.
As the years go on, it becomes a lot easier to fall into the wrong habits. Routine may force you to eat specific foods out of convenience, for example, rather than for the nutritional content of the meal. Luckily, it is never too late to practice better habits. A great way to see success from your goals is by incorporating your significant other into the mix. When you both are serious about adopting healthier habits, you can lean on each other for support throughout the process. Consider these suggestions to find the right ideas to reach your goals.
What You Eat
One of the best ways to get started is by focusing on your diet. What you eat plays a huge part in your overall feelings of wellness. Try to begin incorporating healthier options into your meals. Instead of making traditional French fries, consider cooking some sweet potatoes. Small adjustments can make a big impact. Focus on the foods nutritionists claim to be the healthiest, like eggs, broccoli, Greek yogurt, salmon, spinach, lentils, nuts, and leafy greens. If you’re not used to eating any of these foods, slowly incorporate them into your diet to see success.
How You Sleep
How you sleep also plays a big part in your health. A number of recent studies suggest that the average adult does not get anywhere near the amount of sleep he or she is supposed to. Experts agree that a healthy adult needs somewhere between 6 and 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. One way to encourage this is by giving yourself a strict bedtime and sticking with it. Try to limit using your phone once you’ve gotten in bed. Instead, read a book or newspaper. Studies show that phone usage before bed increases the odds of sleep disruption.
Exercise Habits
A growing body of research suggests that regular exercise can significantly improve your overall health and longevity. Not only does it help you keep weight off and feel your best, it reduces the likelihood of disease and premature death. While you may not have the time and stamina to start training for a marathon, there are simple ways you can incorporate exercise into your daily life. For example, you could take a walk every evening, or take the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Ideally, you can find some activities that you and your partner both enjoy that you can do together.
New Skills
When discussing health, a number of experts focus solely on the body. While it is crucial to eat the right foods, get a full night’s rest, and exercise your body, you also need to think about nourishing your mind. As you get older, you are less likely to pick up a new skill by chance. This means you need to take active steps towards learning how to tackle a task you’ve never attempted before. Whether you want to play a musical instrument, knit, climb, or ride a horse, taking the time to master a new skill is a healthy and productive option.
Disconnect
Limiting how often you use your phone is also a good habit to get into. These days, most people rely on their phones for everything. One study has even suggested that the mind is subconsciously thinking about checking a phone even when the item is not present in the same room or is powered off. This means you need to take hard action to break the chain. Try to have at least one full hour away from any screens. Use this time to meditate, read, connect with a loved one, or whatever else will help you use your time well.
Break a Bad Habit
You may also have adopted a bad habit that you want to break for your health. Smoking cigarettes or the excessive consumption of alcohol can easily take a toll on your life. In order to live in a healthier way, try to avoid these behaviors. Quitting smoking or cutting back on drinking might help you feel a bit more in control of your life. Be forewarned that these goals can be very difficult to achieve, so be sure to lean on your partner for support throughout it all and make the steps you are taking to improve your life small enough to be achievable.
Adopting healthier habits is important for your future. Take time now to see what adjustments will help you reach your wellness goals and discover what you and your significant other can accomplish together.
Unless you’ve delved a bit into feng shui, you may see it more as an interior design art. While it does involve interior design in modern homes and offices, there are spiritual and philosophical ideas behind the practice. But there is probably lots more about this unique art that you may not know. Want to test your knowledge? Check out these cool and fascinating facts about feng shui.
You’re Probably Pronouncing It Wrong
Feng shui is pronounced “fung shway” and comes from two Chinese words: “feng,” which means wind, and “shui,” which translates as water. According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, this term first appeared in English around 1797.
Feng shui has taken a while to spread into Western cultures. Some of the first English-language books on the subject date to the early 1970s. Many of these were academic texts — hardly anything like the “feng shui for dummies” type manuals you see today. The first book that’s even close to a feng shui manual was published in 1984: “Feng Shui: Ancient Wisdom for the Most Beneficial Way to Place and Arrange Furniture, Rooms and Buildings” by Sarah Rossbach.
Feng Shui Came From a Poem
While feng shui has major roots in Taoist philosophy, architect Anjie Cho mentions that the concept comes from an ancient Chinese poem. It comes from the Book of Burial, a text by Chinese historian Guo Pu written during the third or fourth century C.E. You can read the full text at Feng Shui Gate, but one excerpt details how qi works with wind and water:
The Classic says: Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.
The ancients collected it to prevent its dissipation, and guided it to assure its retention.
Thus it was called fengshui.
Why Curved Lines Are a Big Deal
If you’ve ever seen a house that uses feng shui principles, you may have noticed lots of curving, flowing lines and shapes. Cho explains why in a Mind Body Green piece by Sarah Regan. Cho mentions a belief from Chinese folklore that evil spirits can only move in straight lines. That’s why meandering paths and flowing border edges are key components of traditional Chinese gardens. You’ll find these elements in the feng shui gardens of Western homes as well.
Curved lines are also ideal in feng shui for another reason: They promote the flow of qi. Appropriately, Blue Lotus Feng Shui nicknames qi as “virtual water.” That life energy should move in a balanced way — not so slow so it gets stagnant, and not so fast that it rushes. Think of it this way: Standing water can gather disease-causing bacteria plus mold and pests such as mosquitoes and rats. And a tsunami hitting landfall at around 40 miles an hour can generate 1,700 pounds of force.
Feng Shui Uses Five Elements, Not Four
You likely know about the four elements — fire, earth, air, and water. These come from classical Greek thought, and we see them reflected in philosophies and arts like Western astrology. But feng shui uses five elements, collectively called “Wuxing”: water, wood, fire, earth, and metal. They’re more like elemental states that can nurture or inhibit each other in creative and destructive cycles. They also represent different aspects of qi, the energy that flows through everything and everyone in our universe.
Feng shui has exploded in popularity over the last few decades. While you don’t need a degree in Chinese cultural studies to understand its basics, delving deep into the subject can yield some surprising knowledge. It also shows how much can get lost in translation. Simplifying concepts can help transmit them across languages and cultures, but there’s often much more below the surface.
One of the major milestones in a married couple’s life is finding a new place to call home together. Whether you’re ready to tie the knot with your partner or you’ve just recently wed, you’ll find that buying a house is a more complex process than buying a car or completing a gift registry. You’re in search of a place that you can lay your head to rest as well as start a family of your own. Here’s what Canadian couples should know about finding that perfect home.
Securing a Down Payment For your Home
Many Canadians will need to finance the purchase of a home with a mortgage from a bank or lender. These lenders expect you to provide a down payment to show that you have some skin in the game. Per the Canadian government, your down payment is a percentage of the property price as follows:
If the house is $1,000,000 or more, then the down payment is 20%.
For homes between $500,000 and $1,000,000, you’re expected to put 5% down for the first $500,000 and 10% down for any amount in excess.
For properties over $1,000,000, you’ll have to pony up at least 20%.
Keep in mind that 5% of a residence worth $500,000 is $25,000. Saving money for a down payment is a significant undertaking, especially for a young couple.
Getting Pre-Approved for a Mortgage
Unless you can afford to buy a house with cash, you’ll need a home loan. Before you start falling in love with various properties, get a pre-approval from a lender so you can know which properties will be covered by a mortgage. Getting pre-approved also locks in the interest rate for a loan for up to 120 days. Changes in interest rates can significantly impact your monthly loan repayment, so it’s important not to go into the house hunt blind. Keep in mind that what you can actually afford and the amount a lender is offering can be vastly different. Not all lenders are the same, so you should shop around for the best rates.
Finding a Real Estate Agent For Your Future Home
When buying a house, you’ll want to have someone on your side, representing your best interests and walking you through the process. A real estate agent is an expert on the purchasing process and brings knowledge of the local area and market analysis tools. He or she has experience in finding homes and often has other resources to help you find a property with the features that are most important to you. Your agent advocates for you and helps negotiate the best price for the house that you want. You can go through the process without an agent, but why would you, especially when many sellers have agents working with them?
Kicking the Tires
Buying a house without having an inspection done is not like buying clothes without trying them on. You cannot do a simple return if you find that the property has major problems, especially things that would have been revealed in an inspection. It’s important to hire an experienced inspector who can check the structure, the electrical and plumbing systems, and more to make sure you’re not getting more (or less) than what you bargained for. An inspector can help create a punch list of items that need to be repaired or addressed before a sale. The issues that come up may also be grounds for negotiating a lower price.
A new home is a big step in your life together as a new or soon-to-be-married couple. In addition to deciding on the features that both of you need and want, you’ll also need to get your finances together to apply for a mortgage and save money for a down payment. A good real estate agent will walk you through all the steps, helping you to find the perfect Canadian castle to call your own.
Feng shui, acupuncture, and other traditional Chinese practices contain concepts from Taoism. This centuries-old philosophy emphasizes flow, harmony, and balance. Everything in our universe contains a fundamental cosmic energy known as qi. Five elemental phases illustrate how nature works, but they also have energies that can interact and combat each other. Chinese philosophy explains how things work when these phases are balanced – and the resulting problems when they’re not.
Creative and Destructive Cycles
The five elemental phases occur in two primary cycles – creative and destructive. The former, known as “shēng,” illustrates how one element can aid in generating another. In this context, “creation” isn’t literal. Rather, it’s an endless cycle of transformation and revelation. Wood fuels fire to create earth, which holds the metal that collects water.
The second primary cycle, “kè,” is somewhat destructive. But “kè” best translates as “restrain” or “overcome.” In this cycle, each element mitigates another one’s effects. Water puts out fire, which can melt metal. With enough force applied, metal can cut wood. When a tree seed germinates, wood erupts from earth by pushing out of the soil. Earth can form solid barriers that block the flow of water.
Chéng: The Cycle of Overwhelming
Wandering Dao describes the nature of both the shēng and kè cycles. The parent-child metaphor best characterizes shēng. Why? Because every element nourishes another and helps it grow. Daoist philosophy sees kè as a grandparent-grandchild relationship. Why? Well, this cycle alternates elements. Instead of water interacting with wood, it interacts with fire. By skipping phases, water dampens fire instead of nourishing wood.
In feng shui and other traditional Chinese practices, applying the kè cycle results in balance. But you can have too much of a good thing, and that’s what happens in an overwhelming elemental cycle. This is called “chéng,” a Chinese verb meaning “to multiply” and written as Hanzi as “乘.”
Excessive restraint is the key feature of the chéng cycle. It progresses in the same way as the kè cycle, except its energies act with brutal force. Fire can vaporize metal at extremely high temperatures – for example, on exoplanets like KELT-9b. This distant gas giant boasts surface temperatures around 7,800 degrees Fahrenheit. Its atmosphere contains several heavy metal gases such as iron, titanium, and chromium. And while metal can cut down trees, this turns into deforestation when taken to extremes.
Insult With Injury: The Wǔ Cycle
Just as kè energies destroy when they exert too much force, they can also be weak with too little effort. When this happens, the second element pushes back against the first. Taoist philosophy calls this “wǔ.” It’s a Chinese verb that means “to insult” and written with the “侮” Hanzi character.
Wǔ energies move in the opposite direction of kè. Fire can evaporate water, which in turn floods or muddies earth. When there’s too much earth, it can bury wood. If a tree withstands a metal cutting implement, its wood can dull the blade. Metals with high thermal conductivity can transfer heat.
Some call wǔ the weakening or counteracting cycle. To understand why, let’s look at an example. A river bisects the land it flows through. That divided land becomes its left and right banks, which hold the river and direct its path. But should that river rise too high, it overflows its banks and floods surrounding communities. Thus, water counteracts earth’s restraints.
A Balanced Approach to Life
Ancient Chinese tradition speaks of elemental phases that operate in cycles of generation and overcoming. So when things fall out of balance, this can cause chaos. The wǔ and chéng elemental phase cycles show how that chaos plays out. Even if you’re not into Taoism, understanding and resolving these imbalances can help create a more harmonious life.
Preliminary data indicate grooms may be at a higher risk of dying from COVID-19, as men tend to have poorer health habits compared to women.
The COVID-19 pandemic has proved to be more fatal to men. CNN reported on March 24 that males make up 70% of those who died from coronavirus complications in Italy and 54% of total COVID-19 deaths in South Korea. Yet even without a global virus outbreak, taking care of oneself should be a top priority, especially for men who seem to have poorer health habits compared to women. While grooms are figuring out what to do next about their upcoming weddings, practicing healthy habits can ensure that they’re around to say “I do.”
Why More Men Are Dying From COVID-19
Medical professionals are trying to determine why more men have succumbed to COVID-19. Scientists haven’t determined any concrete causes, according toThe Guardian, but they have some theories that may fit the facts. Unhealthy behaviors seem to be the key to higher death rates: More men smoke, drink, and don’t practice healthy habits such as handwashing. Men are less likely to seek medical attention when they are ill. MDLinx reveals that they’re diagnosed at higher rates with serious health conditions:
Type 2 diabetes
Cardiovascular disease, including heart attacks
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Chronic heart failure
Lung cancer
Grooms and General Risk Factors
British Columbia’s Centre for Disease Control explains that people with chronic illnesses are at higher risk of severe COVID-19 complications. However, they also face a generally greater risk of dying earlier. That contributes to Canadian men’s lower life expectancies: 79 years versus 83 years for Canadian women. Harvard Health mentions that more men are employed in high-risk occupations such as construction, the military, and firefighting. Canadian men are three times more likely to successfully commit suicide, less likely to have significant social connections, and less likely to seek mental health treatment.
Staying Healthy and Beating the Odds
Understanding your risk factors is important. But don’t worry: This article won’t turn into a lecture or sound like a 1950s educational film. What grooms can do, however, is focus on potential ways to maintain or improve their health. Harvard Health suggests choosing one goal to tackle first rather than trying to make a ton of lifestyle changes at once, so pick something attainable right now. Simple steps are a great way to begin your journey, and many helpful resources are available to get you started:
If you use tobacco, take steps to quit. Several provinces and territories offer free accessible support for going nicotine-free.
People who drink alcohol should do so in moderation. If you’re concerned about addiction, check out this treatment guide from the Canadian Centre on Substance Abuse and Addiction.
The Canadian government offers a food guide snapshot, plus some tips on how to shop and eat better.
New to exercise? Sports medicine expert Andrew Lavender provides several suggestions to get started as a beginner.
The Loop lists several national and provincial mental health resources.
If you’re dealing with food insecurity due to COVID-19, try Food Banks Canada’s food bank search. Each provincial and territorial government operates social assistance and welfare programs. Also, California-based Dignity Health supplies several tips for eating well if you lack regular access to fresh, healthy food.
Your Journey, Your Choices, Your Health
Life is precious. Besides your quality of life and goals, there are friends and loved ones who care and would love to see you stick around for a long time. Grooms also have a wedding to look forward to, whether or not COVID-19 has delayed their plans. Remember that change won’t happen overnight: This isn’t a race to see how quickly you can accomplish your goals. Nobody’s expecting you to become musclebound or become a whiz at CrossFit. If your first benchmark is eating one piece of fruit each day, that’s fine. The bottom line: Take care of yourself. The world needs you.
The humble coffee bean has a surprising religious history that weaves together many fascinating tails and origin stories.
Would you call your morning cup of coffee a mystical experience? In our quest to power up for the day, we probably don’t think about coffee’s origins. Yet this humble bean has a surprising religious history. It’s a fascinating and complex tale that began in Africa many centuries ago.
Coffee’s Ethiopian Origins
Coffee cultivation takes place in over 80 countries today, most of them located in tropical regions. One popular legend claims that an Ethiopian goat herder discovered the plant after noticing strange behavior out of his goats. After finding a green shrub decked with bright cherry-colored berries, he picked some of the fruit and brought it to a local monastery. The caffeine enabled the monks to stay awake, and the rest was history.
Except that it wasn’t really history.
Journalist Livia Gershon explains that the coffee plant did first grow wild in Ethiopia. However, the local tribespeople discovered it first. Thanks to its energizing properties, the bean was used as a sacrament in communal ceremonies. Hunters also imbibed it to stay alert and stave off hunger while seeking their prey. It eventually made its way to other parts of Africa, where other cultures found more uses for it. Some brewed a drink from the vivid red berries, while others roasted them in fat or chewed them without any prep. The Haya people of Tanzania even traded the beans as currency.
Java and Midnight Meditations
Just in case you thought the Ethiopian goat herder would get all the credit, there are two other myths about coffee’s origins. The Spruce‘s Lindsey Goodwin mentions one story in which a Sufi mystic finds and chews the berries during his journey through Ethiopia. Another tale claims that an exiled sheik on the verge of starvation discovered the plant in the wild. When he tossed the berries into his campfire, he fell in love with their aroma but found them too hard to chew. After trying to soften them in water, he drank the liquid and felt invigorated.
It’s hard to separate truth from myth, but we do know that Yemenite Sufi Muslims consumed coffee to keep alert during nighttime chanting rituals. Coffee eventually spread throughout the rest of the Muslim world, fueling Yemen’s economy for over 250 years. Many people drank it to stay awake during late-night Ramadan festivities, and coffeehouses sprung up to fuel the demand. More legends propagated about the bean’s origins, with some crediting Muhammed or the archangel Gabriel for gifting it to humanity.
Coffee Comes to Europe and America
Coffee was widely consumed in the Muslim world by the 1500s. Around this time, Europeans began encountering the drink during their travels. Although they found it bitter due to its initial lack of sugar, they loved its energizing effects. The drink soon came to Europe, where it was both loved and considered controversial. Just as in the Middle East, coffeehouses popped up in major cities throughout the continent. They became cultural centers and community meeting places, much like taverns were during America’s colonial era.
One often-repeated legend claims that several clerics asked Pope Clement VII to ban coffee, insisting that it was “Satan’s brew.” Yet when the pope tried coffee for himself, he enjoyed it so much that he gave it his blessing. From there, coffee came to the Americas, where early colonialists embraced the brew. “Coffee makes a man more reasonable, better able to concentrate and hardworking,” comments Laura Turner in the Washington Post. “No wonder people might see it going hand in hand with the Protestant work ethic.”
All Hail the Mighty Bean
Canada ranks third in the world for coffee consumption. For many of us, this bold brew is a must-have that fuels our bodies and minds. Whether or not we thank the divine for our daily drink, it certainly holds a revered place in our modern lives.
As the years go on, it becomes a lot easier to fall into the wrong habits. A great way to succeed includes incorporating your significant other into the mix.
As the years go on, it becomes a lot easier to fall into the wrong habits. Routine may force you to eat specific foods out of convenience, for example, rather than for the nutritional content of the meal. Luckily, it is never too late to practice better habits. A great way to see success from your goals is by incorporating your significant other into the mix. When you both are serious about adopting healthier habits, you can lean on each other for support throughout the process. Consider these suggestions to find the right ideas to reach your goals.
What You Eat
One of the best ways to get started is by focusing on your diet. What you eat plays a huge part in your overall feelings of wellness. Try to begin incorporating healthier options into your meals. Instead of making traditional French fries, consider cooking some sweet potatoes. Small adjustments can make a big impact. Focus on the foods nutritionists claim to be the healthiest, like eggs, broccoli, Greek yogurt, salmon, spinach, lentils, nuts, and leafy greens. If you’re not used to eating any of these foods, slowly incorporate them into your diet to see success.
How You Sleep
How you sleep also plays a big part in your health. A number of recent studies suggest that the average adult does not get anywhere near the amount of sleep he or she is supposed to. Experts agree that a healthy adult needs somewhere between 6 and 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep. One way to encourage this is by giving yourself a strict bedtime and sticking with it. Try to limit using your phone once you’ve gotten in bed. Instead, read a book or newspaper. Studies show that phone usage before bed increases the odds of sleep disruption.
Exercise Habits
A growing body of research suggests that regular exercise can significantly improve your overall health and longevity. Not only does it help you keep weight off and feel your best, it reduces the likelihood of disease and premature death. While you may not have the time and stamina to start training for a marathon, there are simple ways you can incorporate exercise into your daily life. For example, you could take a walk every evening, or take the stairs at work instead of the elevator. Ideally, you can find some activities that you and your partner both enjoy that you can do together.
New Skills
When discussing health, a number of experts focus solely on the body. While it is crucial to eat the right foods, get a full night’s rest, and exercise your body, you also need to think about nourishing your mind. As you get older, you are less likely to pick up a new skill by chance. This means you need to take active steps towards learning how to tackle a task you’ve never attempted before. Whether you want to play a musical instrument, knit, climb, or ride a horse, taking the time to master a new skill is a healthy and productive option.
Disconnect
Limiting how often you use your phone is also a good habit to get into. These days, most people rely on their phones for everything. One study has even suggested that the mind is subconsciously thinking about checking a phone even when the item is not present in the same room or is powered off. This means you need to take hard action to break the chain. Try to have at least one full hour away from any screens. Use this time to meditate, read, connect with a loved one, or whatever else will help you use your time well.
Break a Bad Habit
You may also have adopted a bad habit that you want to break for your health. Smoking cigarettes or the excessive consumption of alcohol can easily take a toll on your life. In order to live in a healthier way, try to avoid these behaviors. Quitting smoking or cutting back on drinking might help you feel a bit more in control of your life. Be forewarned that these goals can be very difficult to achieve, so be sure to lean on your partner for support throughout it all and make the steps you are taking to improve your life small enough to be achievable.
Adopting healthier habits is important for your future. Take time now to see what adjustments will help you reach your wellness goals and discover what you and your significant other can accomplish together.
