Can you smell the new life in the air? Here in the northern hemisphere, we just crossed over the summer solstice, the most daylight of the year. This marks the beginning of summer, the fire season, in the earth and in our bodies.

In Asian medicine traditions, summer is dominated by fire, the most yang element - hot, active, transforming from one state to another. It is light-giving and life-giving, and potentially destructive. In phases of growth, fire is the expansion and blossoming of life and the seeds we have planted in the past.

During summer, our lives are very active as we engage in travel, celebrations, socializing, and outdoor activities. It is crucial to moderate the fire to prevent overexertion and burnout. Take time to recharge and destress, replenish and relax. Stress is a natural result of engaging with life, and it needs to be balanced by down time with minimal stimulation to regulate the nervous system. Turn off the lights and the screen; rest your eyes and your body. Afternoon siestas are an excellent choice :)

“Fire [element] affects the health of our cardiovascular system, our blood, our endocrine system, and our ability to communicate within and without. It is responsible for the brightness of our spirit and holds the torch that guides us on the path of our life’s purpose.” - Gilles Marin, from Five Elements, Six Conditions.

In my meditation and clinical practices, I have been delighted to learn how healthy it is to follow my spirit, to seek out what lights me up. Too much intellectual thinking (wood element) or past emotions (water element) can dampen the fire of our spirit.

How to you kindle this spirit fire? Learn to feel what brings you true joy, the kind of happiness without any kind of hangover or come-down. I find truth and purpose in the saying, “What I do today creates my future.” I choose activities in my day with the understanding that they create patterns for my future choices.