It is summer in Australia, the fruit is ripe and the sun is hot on our skin. This is the most Yang- season of the year, we feel the outward and expansive energy as we are out there, busy socialising, at BBQ invitations, going camping etc.
According to the 5 elements of Chinese medicine, summertime is associated with the element of Fire.
The energy in this element is expanding to its maximum potential and we see and feel this in nature’s growth and expansion. We might also feel we have more energy to get things done.
The energy of Fire is helping us share our joy and compassion, to become aware or ourselves. Now is the time to have fun, to celebrate and enjoy.
Let’s look at these two qualities of a balanced Fire element:
joy and enthusiasm in your life
clarity of thought (and ability to express via speech)
The Fire element expresses itself as joy and manifests within us as love, laughter and enthusiasm. When our Fire is low and we experience no inner "blooming," we can feel a lack of something to share - there is a lack of joy or compassion, for example.
At the other extreme, a Fire imbalance can manifest as being too hot, a tendency to over-socialise, always joking & talking, always being “on” and never allowing a pause or quiet moment to contemplate. Taking in more and more without mentally digesting the flood of visual or verbal input plus all the self-talk will lead to exertion and cause mental overwhelm. This can further cause poor sleep or problems falling asleep.
Clarity is a central attribute of those with a harmonious heart-mind.
The condition of the heart is reflected in the awareness of your spoken words. If we improve our awareness of our speech, we can strengthen the heart. A scattered mind and its spirit can be collected and organised though mindful speech patterns.
Maybe you would like to reflect on this and keep an eye on yourself where you are on this spectrum over summer and what you can do to balance yourself. Most importantly and preceding mindful speech is you mental clarity.
How is your mental clarity?
If you do feel scattered and confused, easily forgetting things, find ways to tend your fire like:
taking the time to breathe fully - your diaphragm is connected to your pericardium (heart protecting sac) so you can influence your heart beat with conscious deep breaths
becoming aware of what you are grateful for (write a gratitude journal)
ground yourself through walking in nature, water the plants in your garden,
feel into the body: dance, stretch and feel the physical extension of your heart along the arms into the fingers
whatever it is that fills your heart with joy and contentment- take time to do what you love.
The Fire element manifests in our body through 4 organ systems: the heart (Yin organ) and small intestine (Yang organ) and pericardium (Yin organ) and the triple heater (Yang organ).
Since the heart is seen as the emperor, we will focus on the heart and its Yang partner, small intestine.
We can address the flow of energy along the heart and small intestine meridians with acupressure, Yin Yoga postures or tapping along the energetic lines of the meridians that nourish heart and small intestine with Qi, life force energy.
The meridians associated with the Fire element are found along the arms, both on the inside and the outside. Therefore, Yin poses will focus on creating space around the heart space and into the arms (both inner and outer).
My favourite heart opening Yin pose for summer is supported fish (use block or bolster across shoulder blades and a block to hold your head):
When you find yourself sinking into your heart opening shape next time, maybe contemplate on some of the qualities of a balanced heart.
How clear is your mind? What are you grateful for today?
Be well :-)
x Simone