Surrendering to Summer
By Myrna Lewis
7/5/2000
Summertime! Summertime! Sun...Sun...Summertime! Without a doubt, at least
in the Pacific Northwest, these are two of the sweetest words in the English
language.
The warm glow of full yang energy of fire in the
summer encourages all life forms to flourish. Humans can best achieve growth
during this season by following some simple guidelines. It is important to not
go to bed too early but to get up early. It is better to eat less food. The
focus should be on foods that have a bitter taste rather than the more acid
tasting foods. It would also be a good practice to enjoy natural coolness such
as lying under a tree or sitting by the water.
Fire energy is related to
the heart as well as the Shen(Spirit). The heart, being the seat of all human
emotions is associated with love, compassion, joy,openess and generosity. If
fire energy is blocked, the result can be high blood pressure, heart problems or
nervous disorders. Fire pathology also shows as being too open hearted, a poor
sense and enforcement of boundaries in interpersonal relationships and the
inability to be spontaneous or give emotionally.
Before we totally
surrender to the soft, warm air and sweet smells of summer, Dr. Sun recommends
the following adjustments to our qigong practice for bringing greater enjoyment
to this season: ' According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the heart energy
field, which is sensitive to the hot summer, defines fire. So, with the coming
of the summer season, the heart energy field becomes more activated than during
any other season. Physiologically, the heart regulates the circulation and
distribution of blood, thereby affecting the metabolic rate. Because the heart
energy field becomes very active, the heart's paired yang organ, the small
intestine, may become weaker. Therefore, we need to cultivate the abdominal
energy more in order to enhance the small intestine's energy field and to bring
heart-fire energy down to the kidney area to harmonize the qi and blood. In
addition, according to traditional Chinese culture, the heart houses the spirit
and controls the emotions, particularly the emotions of joy and worry. Worry and
joy can affect the heart. Excessive worry results in extreme exhaustion,
insomnia, loss of appetite, dizziness and others. In order to promote better
health during this season, we need to train the mind to reduce worry as much as
possible. In contrast to worry, joy is happiness and can balance the yin and
yang. Joy can help us to harmonize the qi flow and promote the circulation of
blood. It is of course advisable to try to practice joyfulness but at the same
time it is important not to be excessive in this area either. This balancing and
harmonizing of emotions is part of Yi Ren Qigong practice.'
Despite the
admonishments of striving for balance, I can't help but wish, since our summer
season is so short, that it be totally illegal to do anything but kick back and
mellow out. NO WORK ALLOWED, only schmoozing, snoozing and smooching under a
big, old, shady tree. Ah, what sweet surrender!
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