We have officially entered summer, and if spring’s growth produces blossoms, then summer’s fire produces its growth.

Element / FIRE
An important quality of fire is openness. Most of us have fond memories of summer, we feel more energetic, creative, productive, light-hearted, and expansive. Yet, we cannot sustain this maximum yang energy.

Instead, we need to balance and not over-extend ourselves. For me, when I have too much on my plate, I get short-tempered and agitated, which is not good for anyone. This is where slowing down and self-care comes in.

Self-care is needed daily, not just on special occasions. During the summer, especially when the temps rise, I pause and take a nap in the middle of the day. 

I usually get up earlier in the summer with the sun or before, and go to bed later. An occasional nap helps me replenish before I burn out.

Fire needs healthy boundaries to help us direct this energy towards positive use. When we have no boundaries, our fire is extinguished. Remember that the next time you get invited to do something every single night in the same week. Choose wisely.

Yin Organ / HEART

In Traditional Chinese Medicine [TCM] the heart is considered the sun and the sovereign of our body, the emperor or empress. Physically its job is to pump blood throughout our body each day.

When we are emotionally balanced in our heart, we are open, vulnerable and share authentically. When our hearts ache, we learn too far in the other direction—we retract and go within, putting up a wall between us and others.

In Mimi Kuo-Deemer’s book, Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis she reminds us: “In Qigong and TCM any tendency to close down is not viewed as permanent, but rather a deficiency that can be met by nourishing and supporting our body’s innate need for Fire.” 

Our capacity for love and joy comes from rekindling our fire.

Emotion / JOY

You may think that love would be the emotion of summer, but it’s joy. When we feel joy we are more connected with ourselves, feel lighter and more optimistic. However, too much joy can be overstimulating and get us out-of-balance. Again, it’s not an emotion we can consistently sustain. 

In fact, there isn’t one emotion that we can stay in. Emotions are meant to be filled and moved through our bodies—allowing movement [chi flow] not stagnation.

Joy is more of an long-lasting internal emotion, where love more short-lived and external. Think of enjoying your favorite ice cream and how much you love it on a hot day. Joy would be remembering where you had that ice cream, who you were with and recalling the event, and feeling those joyful feelings again.

Create JOY within your HEART and balance FIRE

It all comes back to consistent daily self-care, and knowing when we need to step back and take a break. Or, when it’s time to refuel our vessel, so we can open our hearts and ride the energetic wave of joy.

Interested in experiencing a night of self-care and balancing your fire by calming your heart with Qigong? Join me, Friday evening, July 15 from 6:30-8:30pm. 

DETAILS HERE