2019 Summer Magic
Greetings Dear Community,
I hope you had a wonderful summer solstice and are beginning to feel the abundant energy that this wonderful season brings. There’s something about the extra hours of sunlight that give us the extra time to nurture our creative energy.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the element associated with summer is fire, which fuels the fire within to give us light, and illuminate our inner being as well as the outer world. For many of us who lean towards the natural contraction of fall and winter, by summer we are bursting with excitement for connection with the outer world: outings, vacations, bbqs, beach days, etc. I love the opportunity to fully celebrate life in its bounty.
As always, I encourage you to find balance this season. Summer energy can take us away from meditative time and relaxation, the balance between human be-ing, and human do-ing. Gardening, lounging in the shade, taking outdoor baths, and eating long dinners outside are some of my favorite ways to regroup.
In TCM, fire is the spark from which all of life derives. The sound connected with fire is laughter, the taste is bitter, and the emotion of fire is joy. When our fire is in balance, we experience joy and enthusiasm for life. When in excess, we can feel restlessness, hyperexcitability, or notice manic behavior. Fire deficiency manifests as a lack of joy and a general feeling of apathy. Symptoms of fire imbalance include some of the following: restlessness, agitated or explosive energy, excessive perspiration or lack thereof, constipation, disturbances in sleep such as insomnia or restlessness, skin conditions such as hives or rashes, anxiety and irrational fears.
In addition to the roles of the heart associated with western medicine, in TCM the responsibilities of the Heart are also extended to emotional and spiritual realms. Ancient texts teach us that the heart is compared to a supreme monarch who is responsible for maintaining internal peace and harmony. The Yellow Emperorʼs Classic of Internal Medicine states that “The heart is the sovereign of all organs and represents the consciousness of one’s being. It is responsible for intelligence, wisdom, and spiritual transformation.” I like to pay extra attention to my heart chakra in the summertime. Noticing what makes my heart expand or contract is a simple tool I try to incorporate into my personal practice. What brings you joy?
Each of the elements in TCM has a corresponding yang and yin organ connected with it, but the heart (the yin organ of Fire) is the supreme monarch, and is attended to by three other organs associated with Fire: the small intestine, the pericardium, and the triple warmer (also known as the san jiao channel).
Some simple tips for staying healthy during summer and embracing joy:
*In TCM, it is rare that we recommend eating too much raw food. I highly recommend trying out my Summer Gazpacho recipe. Summer tends to be the time when that rule is adjusted. Eat within season, and also cooling foods if you lean towards overheating. In addition to seasonal fruit and veggies, be sure to include bitter greens into your diet.
*Drink plenty of clean, filtered water. I recommend every household have a good filter (I personally use a Berkey filter). I like to add lemon or lime to my water, or high quality essential oils. The Earthtonics Botanical Toning Mist is my new favorite thing to spray in my water. Also, if you feel like you are not fully absorbing your water, then add a pinch of sea salt and drink some coconut water. I also use an electrolyte powder called Ultima.
*Exercise, but don’t overdo it, as your heart is more vulnerable in the summer! Swim, or try to exercise in the morning or evening when the sun is not as fierce. Walking is always recommended, especially after meals. Get your qi and blood moving!
*Connect with the earth. Get in the ocean, feel the sand in between your toes. Mindfully walk on the dirt or grass. Smell the flowers and appreciate the beauty around you. Start paying attention to nature in ways that you haven’t before. Connecting with the earth will help you feel connected with yourself, as we are simply a microcosm of the macrocosm.
Sending summer blessings and infinite joy.
In Health,
Lyndsey
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The Summer Day
Who made the world?
Who made the swan, and the black bear?
Who made the grasshopper?
This grasshopper, I mean-
the one who has flung herself out of the grass,
the one who is eating sugar out of my hand,
who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down-
who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes.
Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face.
Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away.
I don't know exactly what a prayer is.
I do know how to pay attention, how to fall down
into the grass, how to kneel down in the grass,
how to be idle and blessed, how to stroll through the fields,
which is what I have been doing all day.
Tell me, what else should I have done?
Doesn't everything die at last, and too soon?
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?
—Mary Oliver