Summer in *your* body

May brings the Qi Node for Summer. We shift from the Spring element of Wood into the Summer element of Fire. We must tend to our inner fires as well as keep our tools to extinguish nearby. The energy of Summer flows from early May to early August. The peak of Summer is at the solstice, which this year falls on June 21st.

When you are building a fire, all you need is to create a tiny spark. Then suddenly all things can blaze. When fire becomes overly powerful we must find a way to slowly tone it down. Is there a place in your life that could use a controlled burn. To cut away the dry wood.

As we dive deeper into this medicine this summer is a great time to get acupuncture and check in with your body.

Element:

Fire

Physical Body:

The Fire element encompasses four different organ systems in Chinese medicine. Double what the other four elements encompass. Heart, Pericardium, San Jiao and Small Intestine.

The Heart and Pericardium are prone to symptoms like irregular heartbeat, palpitations, insomnia, mood imbalances like anxiety, sometimes the highs of joy or mania

The Small intestine is discerning and has a huge job of sorting pure from impure. Despite it’s name the physiological organ takes its time

The San Jiao is like the recent New York Times article on the interstitium. It is the great connector and moves fluids through our bodies for support on hydration on many layers.

Emotional Body:

In balance you may feel momentum, inspiration, joy and pleasure

Out of balance you may feel manic, scattered, depressed / anxious, have insomnia

Dreaming body:

This is a time of year to dream. Pay attention to your dreams at night. Record them with voice memos, write them down. Soak in your day dreams and hold tight to what is inspiring you right now.

How to care for yourself:

connect to YOUR joy - journal, run, get out in nature, connect with friends, listen to music, stay up a little too late, sleep in, get rest, do art, create, go laze around, eat some tasty food, get acupuncture