Adapted from Summer Solstice Start of Summer? Not For Your Body.

In the United States, many see the Summer Solstice as the beginning of summer.  However, as far as seasonal energies go, this is really the pinnacle of summer energy. Consider yin (dark, feminine) and yang (light, masculine) energy. The Summer Solstice marks the longest day (yang = day) of the year and the shortest night (yin = night).  Therefore, the Summer Solstice is the most ‘yang’ day of the year – the height of summer and yang-fire energy.

Our body works in conjunction with the daily, monthly and yearly cycles.  We are healthiest when abiding by nature’s cycle. The most basic rule being – active during the day and sleeping at night. During the summer’s increase of yang energy and sunlight, we may find ourselves waking up earlier and staying up later, enjoying bright bursts of spontaneous activity, going out, and socializing more. This is all normal and in harmony with the season. However, all of the extra and light and activity can cause disturbance in sleep quantity and quality. One way we can balance the yang-fire energy is to create space for care, connection and slowing down. Think of a roaring fire that has burned out and the smoldering embers that remain. It’s okay to smolder.

Another way to work with the summer seasonal energy is to get a ‘tune-up.’ This is especially true if you experienced health problems last winter.  It may seem counterintuitive to treat your winter colds during the summer, but the best time to treat winter diseases are when yang energy reaches its peak. The tonifying treatment used during summer months will help strengthen and prevent winter weakness and sickness.

Here are some other ways to embrace and balance summer’s yang-fire energy (according to EarthSky and Mend acupuncturist, Jessica Resch):

  • Stand facing south (the direction of summer) for a few moments and honor the “southness” of summer
  • Balance your fire element by swimming in a cold, dark pool or stream
  • Wear red!
  • Laugh. In the Chinese tradition, there are sounds associated with the five seasons, and the sound associated with summer is laughter.
  • Let the fire roar and build by connecting and spending time with loved ones
  • The taste for summer is bitter, so eat really good dark chocolate, coffee, beer, and garden greens
  • Self-care and self-love (i.e. the inward aspect of tending one’s fire), as well as creating the space and time to do the things you love to do (hobbies, activities)

That it is to say, enjoy all the yang-fire energy that summer has to offer, but maintain balance. Typically, when we don’t live in balance with a particular season, sickness, pain, etc. will show up in the season that follows it. For example, overdoing it in the summer may lead to sluggishness or sickness in late summer/fall. It’s all about striking the right balance between the outward and inward, the doing and the being, the roaring fire and the smoldering embers.