Tomorrow the sun will finally reach the highest point in the sky, and we will experience the longest day and shortest night for the year. You know what that means… Summer is here!
As we welcome and celebrate the summer solstice tomorrow, I wanted to bring more awareness to the symbolism of this time, the energetic aspects to be aware of for this season, and tips and tricks to stay cool and balanced as we move into the hottest part of the year.
Below is a video that will guide you through a breath technique to keep your cool as things heat up.
The Harmonizing Healthcare team also has an exciting announcement for you this week! Make sure to read or scroll all the way to the bottom of this weeks Newsletter for more details.
Summer Symbolism
The summer solstice, and season of summer, has been long celebrated throughout the history of every culture. Summer Solstice, which your ancestors, many generations back, may have referred to as Midsummer, signified the start of a bountiful season when the land is its most fertile and the sun shines its brightest. It was known as a time of celebration, potential, and passion, and a time to bask in the abundant, life-giving energy of the sun, and to enjoy the beauty and abundance of the land after the hard work, careful tending, and cultivation marked by spring.
The summer solstice is the day when the earth’s tilt is at a point where the land of the northern hemisphere is closest to the sun. As we find closeness to this fiery ball of gas that gives light and warmth to our planet, we step into a time marked by the rising power of the Fire element. With the energy of fire, and the shortened proximity between earth and sky, both physically and spiritually, now is a time to step into your personal power and purpose.
Now is the perfect time to deepen your connection to nature as it is beaming and glowing with the sun’s energy. Get out into the forest, tend your garden, or just stick your feet in the soil to ground into this beautiful, bountiful energy of the season. As you deepen this connection, remember to only take what you need and stay in a space of gratitude for all you are offered (a good practice both for our connection to the land and for life in general). And for a land that is so abundant and gives so much for us to survive, think about ways you can give back. Can you cultivate by growing your own garden, clean up by picking up trash, or give back another way such as spreading seeds or offering water and love to the land.
Summer is a great time to rediscover and take steps onto the path aligned with your truth and use the fire within to burn away anything that no longer resonates with you or feels out of alignment in your life. But as you make this shift of manifesting newfound truths and releasing old habits, remember that things take time, these fruits of transformation may not come until next season, so allow yourself to transition slowly into this new celebrated version of you.
During this warm, bountiful season, we should find fertility in our own life to inspire and create; draw into existence all of your creative desires. Bring this fire energy into your life and allow it to be the flame that not only burns away the things you’ve outgrown, but also the flame that ignites your passion, will, and drive. And as the distance between earth and sky draws closer, remember to celebrate and find gratitude for all the work you’ve done to grow closer to your highest self and truth.
This summer, find time to experience life and do things that bring you joy, but also find time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the beauty of your own accomplishments.
TCM & Summertime
”As the sun accelerates the life streams of the earth,
the Heart squeezes the living juices of the blood through the vessels,
imbuing the body with mindfulness.”
(Between Heaven and Earth, p. 176)
Season: Summer
Element: Fire
Direction: South
Yin Organ: Heart
Yang Organ: Small Intestine
Emotion: Joy
Sound: Laughter
Taste: Bitter
Summer is a yang season, represented by the element of fire, the spark which inspires life.
When our fire is balanced, we embody or attract:
- Enthusiasm for life
- Good communication
- Charisma
- Optimism
- Magnetism
- Empathy
- Awareness
- Love
- Joy
- Community
- Intuition
When we our fire is either excessive or deficient, it can show up in some of the following ways:
- Excessive perspiration
- Hot flashes
- Rashes, hives, hot skin conditions
- Trouble sleeping and insomnia
- Bad dreams
- Hyper-excitability
- Apathy or lack of joy
- Anxiety, Irritability, restlessness
- Mania or depression
- Excessive talking, rapid speech, or inappropriate laughter
- Headaches
- Thirst
- Addiction to or craving for stimulants
- Swollen Feet
- rapid or irregular heart beat
- Sores in the nose, mouth, tongue, or lips
- Red eyes
- Chest pain
- Chills
- Hyper or hypotension
- Issues with boundaries
- Confusion
As we shift from spring to summer, in TCM, it is a shift from Liver energy to Heart energy. We are shifting from a focus of awakening, detoxing, digesting, and planting seeds and into an energy of passion, connection, mindfulness, creativity, and joy.
Heart
In TCM the Heart is viewed as the emperor of the body which governs the blood and the mind. It is in this Heart energy we experience joy, tap into intuition, and connect with others. The Heart is responsible for moving the blood, and this regulation of movement ensures that proper nourishment is continually flowing to all functions of the body to maintain balance. The Heart is also the home of the Mind and Spirit, encompassing consciousness, cognitive ability, memory, spirituality, and emotional and psychological health.
While Summer is most connected with the Heart (yin), it is also associated with the Small Intestine (yang), the Pericardium, and the Triple Burner.
Small Intestine
The Small Intestine – the yang organ of summer, is the organ where most absorption of nutrient occurs during the digestive process. It essentially weeds out the bad and soaks up the good. In a similar fashion, energetically, this organ allows for discernment and clear judgement of information and impressions received and digested in our daily interactions.
Pericardium
The Pericardium is the membrane that surrounds and protects the Heart in the physical realm. Energetically, this organ is viewed as the gateway to the heart. This gate serves to open and welcome in positive energy, and set the boundaries that prevent negative energy from entering.
Triple Burner
The triple burner (San Jiao), is an energetic organ that is felt, but not physically present in the body. Even though it has no physical presence, it is just as important as any other organ, and passively oversees the balance and flow of the entire system. It is responsible for passively directing and regulating the fluids of the body, controlling body temperature and discharge of waste, freeing up portals and movement, and relaxing restraint or swelling.
Food and Activities to Balance Summer Heat
“In the three months of summer there is an abundance of sunshine and rain.
The heavenly energy descends, and the earthly energy rises.
When these energies merge, there is intercourse between heaven and earth.
As a result, plants mature and animals, flowers, and fruit appear abundantly.
One may retire somewhat later at this time of year, while still arising early.
One should refrain from anger and stay physically active,
to prevent the pores from closing and the chi from stagnating.
One should not overindulge in sex, although one can indulge a bit more than in other seasons.
Emotionally it is important to be happy and easygoing and not hold on to grudges,
so that the energy can flow freely.”
From the ancient text: The Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine
Foods to enjoy (cooling yin foods that disperse heat and nourish the fluids of the body)
- Apple
- Lemon
- Kiwi
- Watermelon
- Orange
- Pear
- Pineapple
- Tangerine
- Apricot
- Cantaloupe
- Tomato
- Peach
- Bitter greens: endive, escarole, spinach, kale, swiss chard
- Cucumber
- Salads
- Yogurt
- Wheat
- Barley
- Fish
- Duck
- Rabbit
- Mint
- Dill
- Cilantro
- Lighter foods/meals
Foods to avoid (Hot and Dry foods):
- Coffee
- Excessively spicy foods
- Ice cold foods
- curry
- Sugar
- Alcohol
Stay hydrated
- Drink lots of water
- Drink watermelon juice or green tea (disperses heat)
Wake up earlier
- If the sun can stay up late and wake up early, then so too should we.
Invite in more water into your life
- Cool baths and showers
- Visit natural waters (lakes, creeks, oceans, springs)
- Go swimming
Do things that bring you joy
- Connect with people you love
- Make time for play
- Start new creative projects
- Go on adventures
- Play games
Exercise
- Incorporate more cardiovascular exercise to keep the heart and circulatory system healthy
- Do workouts that are fun and make you sweat. Sweat removes toxins.
- Meet yourself where you are now – start slow and work your way up if needed.
- Don’t overdo it. The heat of summer makes the heart more vulnerable, so build endurance gradually.
Relax
- Schedule in downtime
- Allow for short, midday naps
- Make time for meditation, solitude, and introspection
Moisturize
- With fire comes dryness – so hydrate your skin and cells.
Establish and maintain healthy boundaries
- With the heart more open and vulnerable, its important to keep healthy boundaries. If this is something you have a difficult time with, now is a great time to start. The more you practice, the easier it gets, and the more peace and joy you will maintain in this season.
Refrain from hot emotions (anger)
- Lets not add more flame to the fire, for we may overheat, dry out, or burn out of control. Try to avoid situations that cause irritation, frustration, or anger. If you can’t avoid these situations, see if you can observe the interactions as though you are not a part of them and separate yourself from your emotions. The breath technique from this week’s video is also a great tool if you notice any hot emotions creeping in.
Essential oils suggestions for Summer
- Peppermint
- Lavender
- Vetiver
- Eucalyptus
- Sandalwood
- Citronella
- Rosemary
- Citrus oils: Lemon, Lime, Grapefruit
- Geranium
As promised in the intro, I have an exciting announcement for you!
The Harmonizing Healthcare clinic will be starting a weekly broadcast with the mission of supporting you in a deeper way and helping you optimize your well-being physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Dr. Sarica Cernohous, L.Ac., Brittany Petrick, L.Ac., and other guests will come together every Tuesday to cover topics of health and wellness in order to inspire and support you on your journey of holistic health.
The purpose of this service is to help and support you, your family, and our community, so if there is a topic of health or a challenge that you are going through and would like us to cover it, please let us know.
We will be using the new social media platform, AllSocial, which is free to join.
It is a great resource for alternative health education.
Our first broadcast will be on Tuesday June 23rd.
Here is our link so that you can follow us:
https://allsocial.com/harmonizingcare?follow=harmonizingcare
We look forward to connecting with you in this new way and offering you education and resources to harmonize your life.
Happy Solar Eclipse, Summer Solstice, and New Moon!
With gratitude,
The Harmonizing Healthcare team