07/04/2023
Summer Time (part 1 of 2 posts)
For me, July is all about that brilliant, shiny sunlight, river swims, and fresh peaches. Those early morning birds songs, prolonged daylight, warm evenings, and even warmer days. It’s being in the mountains with that spicy smell of earth and conifers warming up in the hot sun, letting us know that summer is here. My senses are humming with the season. Through the lens of traditional Chinese lifestyle medicine we see this season as an opportunity for the Fire element to be experienced in its fullest.
A healthy fire in the body and spirit seeks to liberate the authenticity of our Heart into our actions. The spirit of the season is about deepening our connections through a freedom to give and receive love, affection, laughter, intimacy, and play. This is an opportunity for us to renegotiate our obligatory relationships so we can move more freely from the heart, that saying “yes” from our own volition and not from “I should” or “I ought to.” This is a good time to get solid on what a clear “yes” and a clear “no” in the body feel like, and to have our words and actions match those felt energies. For me, a “yes” can be a tingly, excited feeling that makes me want to lean in and ask for more; it ignites my curiosity. A “no” in my body could feel like a small or large tension, a clenching or contracting, a moving away from something; maybe holding my breath, or maybe even just a flat feeling. Most importantly, it’s a commitment to feel our feelings, especially when decision-making comes up throughout our day. One practice that can help us learn to get more aware of what we are actually feeling in the body is breath work. Start with a nice, smooth breath in… hold… and a long, slow exhale out. Just notice the sensations in your body and in your mind during each of those stages. Notice where you are holding tension during your breath cycle, and observe what labels your mind is putting on those sensations.
See next post to continue,…