Ignite your inner fire: Embracing the energy of summer through Qigong.

In Chinese Medicine and Qigong, each season is aligned with one of the five elements. Summer, which begins on June 20th in the Pacific Northwest, is the brightest, most expansive season. Summer is ruled by the Fire element. As the sun reaches its highest point, we're invited to open our hearts, connect with joy, and radiate our full vitality. It's a time to shine!

The Fire element is about circulation and connection. Just as summer encourages nature to flourish outwardly, our energy (Qi) wants to move more freely through the body, heart, and mind. This season of heart energy where love, laughter, enthusiasm, and spiritual clarity can flourish when our Qi is balanced. The Summer season is is considered maximum yang energy, very expansive, outward, and sunny.

The Five elements correlate with seasons, as well as the organs in our bodies. The elements also correlate with our emotions and different aspects of our bodies including fluid, muscles, ligaments, and tendons.

The heart, pericardium, and the small and intestine are the the fire element organs. The heart is often called the emperor in Chinese medicine and governs not just our blood circulation, but also houses our seat of emotions. When in harmony, we experience warmth, connection, joy, and a clear sense of purpose. When out of balance, Fire can show up as hastiness, restlessness, anxiety, insomnia, or even a lack of direction.

Mimi Kuo Deemer beautifully writes in Qigong and the Tai Chi Axis that " Nourishing fire means caring for our joy and allowing space for the heart to express itself." In our fast paced world, this might mean slowing down to savor the sweetness of summer through time in nature, meaningful conversations, gentle movement, and heart centered practices like Qigong.

Here are a few ways to balance and nourish your Fire element this summer:

Move with intention!

Practicing Qigong early in the morning or in the evening helps cool and circulate energy.

How do we work with Fire element in Qigong? When we meet with the heart in Qigong, we are meeting it on three levels: The physical, mental, and spiritual. All these levels can benefit from practices that can provided our heart with the care it requires.

Physical:

Qigong moves Qi through the body through the blood vessels to extend nourishment through the system reaching every cell. Warming up the body to increase the heart rate helps the circulation as well as cleansing breaths.

Mental:

Stress tends to cause overstimulation and anxiety, so qigongs focus is to use mental awareness and intention to quiet the mind. All of the flowing meditation in motion movements are very beneficial to the heart, helping to regulate our sensory input and stress triggers that are challenging to our hearts health.

Spiritual:

Qigong practices that focus on the heart begin to awaken the divine spirit, consciousness. Mediative movements, visualization, and breathing practices focused on the heart awaken our spark of inspiration and brightens our heart center.

Movements that open the chest and arms like- "heart to sky" or "move the hands like the clouds" help Qi move through the heart and small intestine meridians.

Eat cooling, vibrant foods!

Seasonal fruits like watermelon, cantaloupe, and honey dew. Cucumbers, strawberries, and leafy greens also regulate internal heat. Bitter foods such as arugula, dandelion, and dark chocolate are also fire balancing.

Tend to your emotional heart!

Summer is a season of joy, but also emotional sensitivity. Journaling, spending time with uplifting people, and meditating with gratitude are powerful ways to keep your emotional fire burning bright without summer time burnout.

Embrace connection!

Fire thrives in community. Allow your days to include laughter, meaningful exchanges, and creativity. Shared experiences warm the spirit and strengthen the heart.

As we fully step into summers glow, let us remember that fire not only transforms, but also illuminates. When we nourish the Fire element, we align with natures rhythm and tap into our fullest expression of love, joy, and vitality.

Take a moment today to breath deeply into your heart center. Feel its warmth, smile to it. Let your inner fire glow gently and steadily, radiating outward into the world.

If you would like to learn how to incorporate Qigong into your daily life, join me for a in person class. I am located in Ridgefield, WA and surrounding areas.

I'd love to connect with you! Whether for a group class, a private session, private or corporate gathering. Send me a message and lets connect!