FIRE TIME!
Summer is the season of the Fire Rhythm in the Eastern traditions and Energy Medicine. It’s when yang (active) energy and our qi (life force) are at their peak. Many of us look forward to the longer, warmer days when everything around us and within us seems more active. Fire Rhythm energy has characteristics that resemble the summertime where we experience heat, dryness, and nature at its peak of growth. It’s a time when we like to wake up early, enjoy the sun, play outside and flourish as nature does.
On a deep emotional level, the element of Fire can be understood as passion, love, and joy. Its vibrant energy allows us to become fully aware of ourselves and expand out into the world. When in balance, it brings spark, laughter, and great pleasure. It shows up in our ability to have fun in our lives and allows us to open, and truly share parts of ourselves with others. Its maturity allows us to experience the world in full bloom. When our Fire energy is at its best it lets us engage with others and the world in deep and meaningful ways. We can express ourselves with enthusiasm, expansiveness and the drive for warm connection and interaction.
It is important to flow with this energy and allow your social and dynamic side to shine.
When Fire energy is balanced, you are likely to experience strong feelings of joy, love, and connection. When out of balance, you could experience volatile emotions, anxiousness, hysteria, impatience, obsession and even depression. Physically we might suffer from dryness and constipation, as too much heat dries up our bodily fluids, as well as inflammation of the joints, palpitations and even insomnia. People with more Fire predispositions tend to be very passionate, excitable, sensitive, and impatient.
One of the key theories of Eastern cultures is living in harmony with the seasons. One of the best ways to keep our energies in better balance is by being mindful of what we put into our bodies. Luckily, “Mother Nature” always knows what’s best, and provides us with what we need, when we need it.
Summertime is when the abundance of fruit such as wild berries, blackberries, strawberries, elderberries, and mulberries are all bursting with life and very nourishing for our Fire organs, that include the Heart and Small Intestine. Enjoying papaya, mango, pineapple, apricot, cherries, melons, and apples are also beneficial.
In food and cooking the Fire element is related to both the bitter flavour and the colour red.
Red foods are exceptionally good for our blood. Foods like apples, tomatoes, red grapes, red plums, watermelon, blood oranges, strawberries, red pepper, beetroot, kidney beans, red potatoes, and red cabbage get their colour from the pigment anthocyanin, which releases anti-inflammatory compounds that boost blood flow to the brain and body.
Summer is a time when our metabolism is activated, and we're nourished by lighter, more cooling foods to keep us in balance with our climate and environment. When cooking it’s a better time to enjoy lighter proteins like fish, seafood, and chicken. When thinking of cooling foods think of green vegetables like lettuce, fresh snap peas, and cucumbers.
For an overheated Fire, bitter is the most cooling flavour for an intensely hot summer day. Eating rocket, arugula and dandelion salads help to bring the Fire element into its most healthful expression. Foods like watercress, kale, broccoli, chicory, and limes are very good for our Heart qi. Bitter foods clear the body of excesses and are drying and detoxifying. Summer is the perfect time to start introducing some of these powerful Fire foods into your daily cooking repertoire. It is the flavour most disliked and forgotten in our modern day excessively sweet Western way of eating.
When it’s time to spice things up don’t forget the healthy Fire element foods like hot capsicum peppers, chili peppers, black peppercorns, and cayenne pepper.
Nourish your Fire energies and your spirit this summer and eat a little more salad, fruits, citrus, and melons. Use bright colour foods and be creative with beautiful meals.
Fire energy is playful so make eating fun!
Watermelon Fries with Zesty Chili Lime Dip
Try this simple recipe below, or try an slightly altered recipe here: Spicy Watermelon Fries with Lime Yogurt Dip
Ingredients
1 mini watermelon peeled and cut into french fry shapes
Dip
1/4 cup of yogurt
Zest and juice of 1 lime
Cayenne powder and salt to taste
Embrace the Fire energy this season and enjoy the renewed sense of vitality it brings you!
Love Becca