The Summer Solstice marks the longest day of the year and the shortest night. According to Chinese Medicine it is the most yang day of the year and the start of the season of expansion and pause. With all this sunlight and bright warm qi, it’s a great time for soaking in pleasure, socializing, and expression. Do you flourish during this Fire Season? 

The Fire Element

Fire signifies creation; a dynamic force that destroys and also purifies. The full bloom of the summer season is where Joy opens from the Heart. Summer flowers explode from their spring buds in their full brightness; their expansion. In any creative process, Fire energy dominates when a project is already in full swing and it's as if the creative process starts to have a mind of its own and time is lost; breathing and all fired-up. 

"Fire phase describes a stage of peak power. Whereas, Wood element describes birth and a process of becoming, Fire celebrates that which has become." - Gail Reichstein in Wood Becomes Water

Balancing Fire with Water

The principle of Yin & Yang teaches us that life is able to exist because opposing forces are balanced. If the expansion of Fire (yang) is too great, a balance of Water (yin) will keep us in harmony. If you feel overwhelmed by the increase in yang expansion, show yourself some tenderness, listen to your body and see what it might feel like to root down and harness your water element.

Here are some tips to balancing the overwhelming yang:

1. It’s okay to say "No". Building up boundaries and only leaning into things that are a clear "Yes" will help you learn to monitor your energy thieves and avoid depletion.

2.  Ease into the slowness of summer. There's so much pressure to do, produce, fix, perform, consume, etc. Take your time and sink into the simple pleasures.

3. Play in and be around water. Also be sure to hydrate with plenty of fresh food and drinks that are full of minerals. 

Heart: The Fire Organ

In Chinese Medicine, the Heart is referred as “The Empress”. You can think of it as the emperor/empress that oversees your entire landscape (mind, body and spirit). The Fire element is so important in Chinese Medicine that there are 4 associated organs/channels, opposed to the usual two. These 4 relate with each other and the other organs/channels of your body to regulate your temperature, separate the pure from impure and circulate blood and nutrients throughout the whole body. 

The heart is home to our shen or spirit and emotional health stems from the health of your heart and the strength of your spirit. Our emotional range and expression influences our overall health. During this Fire season, it is important to allow the flow of whatever needs to be expressed. Have meaningful conversations with loved ones, find an artistic outlet and relate with others.

Learn about the unique heart-womb connection here.

Summer Nutrition

What kinds of foods, drinks, and goodies come to mind when you think of summertime? My mind goes to BBQs and lots of Iced Tea! Of course, some of that in moderation is totally fine, but remember that the summer season is that of expansion and activity. We want foods that will nourish but also increase as well as support free flow and expansion. We don’t want things to back up, get blocked up, or bogged down. Think of recipes and light snacks that will keep the energy light and free to flow upward and out. During the heat of the summer, be sure to moderate too many hot AND too many cold foods. 

• As we transition from spring to summer, start to slowly introduce more raw foods into your diet

• Enjoy iced or frozen foods in small amounts

• Incorporate bitter and sour flavors into your diet to help curb and ground an excessive internal heat

• Foods that are red support the heart and blood circulation

• Increase your intake of energetically cooling foods like mung beans

Your summer herbal cabinet should be stocked up with Hawthorn, Motherwort, Reishi, & Jujube Seeds. These will help keep your blood flowing, your heart nourished, and your body balanced during the most yang time of year. Joyous Summer Blessings to you!