Summer Summertime

Summer, summer, summer time, time to sit back and unwind. ~ DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

I hope this message finds you well. Summer is here, the heat has officially arrived in Maryland, and for some of us, this season brings an increase in activity: cookouts and barbecues, gardening, travel, beach excursions, hiking and other outdoor sports, lazy days by the pool, farmers’ markets, music festivals, and street fairs, just to name a few. Others of us may choose to indulge in more indoor activities because warmer temperatures cause us to feel unwell. Dehydration, dry skin, allergies, heat stroke, sunburn, insect bites, and a host of other signs of un-ease are some possible outcomes if we do not take precautions before heading outside to play in the heat.

Although the Earth is farther from the Sun at this time of year, we still experience rising temperatures. The tilt of the Earth’s axis determines seasons. The Northern Hemisphere, where we reside, is tilted toward the Sun during this season, increasing our planet’s exposure to intense light rays, resulting in weeks of increased atmospheric heat we refer to as “summertime”. Fun fact: aphelion, the moment when the Earth is farthest from the Sun, occurs on July 6th this year. Our planet will be 94, 502, 961 miles away from the Sun! Since the Earth moves slowly in its orbit when it is farthest from the Sun at this time of year, Summer is the longest season of the year in our hemisphere.

During the Summer, the Earth shifts on its axis and slows its orbit due to interaction with external forces while maintaining functional integrity. We, as Earth’s inhabitants, also change our behavior to adapt to the external environment, maintaining our physical, mental, and spiritual health as we live, love, create, work, and play together. Five Elemental Theory uses seasonal cycles to understand, explain, and balance our physiology. In this theory, Summer is associated with an increase in energy (heat) or Fire, the element assigned to this Season.

The Fire element rules our emotions and emotional expression, and when balanced, we experience joy, passion, and connection. When there is too much Fire, we may have heart palpitations, digestive issues, feel restless, experience anxiety, and emotionally withdraw from friends and family. We already have simple practices to balance the intensity of this element’s manifestation in our daily lives. We rest when we tire ourselves from “doing too much”. We hydrate before hikes and outdoor sports to prevent dehydration. We drink warm, calming herbal teas to relax before bedtime. Some of us crave fruit because it does not weigh us down and helps to hydrate our bodies. Even when we have a warm bowl of soup on a cold day, we are supporting the role of the Fire element in our physiology. We also turn to guided meditation, yoga, and breathing techniques to calm and balance emotions. How do you balance your Fire energy?

I am naturally a “Fire” type, and some of my favorite ways to balance my personal expression of the element include soaking in a warm bath with magnesium salts when my body feels tense, having fruit with every meal, meditating, practicing Yin Yoga, and receiving Reiki/Energywork, and CranioSacral work, both of which are offered at SomaFlows, LLC. Reiki supports the movement of vital energy, Qi, in the body and helps calm the mind, relax the body, and reduce symptoms of stress and anxiety by promoting balanced energy flow. CranioSacral techniques help manage anxiety (also depression and sensory regulation issues associated with autism) by balancing and maintaining the rhythmic flow of cerebrospinal fluid, the fluid that bathes and nourishes our nervous system, in our brains and spinal canals. I feel calm, refreshed, restored, and reset when I receive either modality.

In the meantime, make time each day to do something you love to cultivate Joy! Even one small gesture can help cultivate Joy in our own lives and remind others that Joy is always accessible to each of us, even when the world feels chaotic.