The Sizzle of Fire! — Core Potentials - Osteopathy, Energy Medicine, & Nutrition

On Sunday, June 20th we celebrate the Summer Solstice in the Northern Hemisphere marking the longest day of the year and the official start of summer. In Vancouver, Canada it’s been lovely weather since the beginning of May with crisp dewy mornings, beautiful sunny days and cooler nights. But now we are moving into the true heat of the summer, and we are beginning to look for ways to tame the heat. Fire energies can can make us feel sensational or be suffocating for our bodies and minds.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine’s (TCM) there are 5 Elements, Earth, Metal, Water, Wood and Fire, that produce certain types of energies in our environment, within our bodies and within our minds that correspond with the laws of nature. After enjoying the new growth of Spring “Wood” time, we are now transitioning into the next rhythm in the cycle. The summertime’s seasonal qualities perfectly describe the “Fire” Element’s distinctive characteristics. Summer is an active time full of movement, warmth, growth and relationships. Society is typically outside, gathering, and enjoying each other’s company. Humans and plants flourish with the warmth of the sun. Nature itself is moving, the plants are now thriving, animals are getting ready to produce their young and things are busy.

This year in particular, with the constraints we’ve all had to endure, we are full of nervous anticipation as things are beginning to open up again. This type of signature fire energy can have its positives and negatives. Having a summer birthday and a strong Fire Rhythm myself, I’ve noticed a different, almost edgy, type of energy in my body. It feels like the sparks and crackles one might hear and see flying off a bonfire on a fun summer’s night. It’s great if the sparks are under control, but if they become fast and furious, unpredictably catching you off guard, that’s another story all together. I don’t know about you, but venturing out after a year of seclusion, has made some of my Fire Meridians feel a little jangled this year. Meridians are channels of energy that run through the body and are governed by certain organ energy systems. All the meridians pair, or in the case of Fire quadruple, to individual elements.

Fire Element meridians are:

· Heart Meridian – King or Queen of the body’s Kingdom.

· Circulation Sex Meridian – (Pericardium in TCM) - Protector of our Heart

· Small Intestine Meridian – Sorter of Pure from Impure - Discernment

· Triple Warmer Meridian – Outer Warrior and Guardian

Fire Element people love to be front, and centre and we can recognize our Fire personalities as being our charismatic leaders and entertainers, who willingly distract us with their natural radiance and sizzle. Fires can be strong and bold and full of optimism, always looking for the good in any dire situation. Solid Fires have been working overtime during this historical time to keep people around them amused and cheerful with their magical gifts of “zest” appeal. Even if you’re not predominantly a Fire personality, what fire energies you do have, most likely been on guard, vigilantly protecting your health and the health of others.

With that being said Fire people may have been on “bouncer” duty more than usual this past year and are noticing they are having a bit more trouble finding balance as we go into this revved up time of year. When first under stress a Fire personality can become frenetically over energized, too intense, and susceptible to panic and hysteria. They can find themselves embroiled in unhealthy dramas, even if it’s to their detriment. Like a wildfire, unable to control their boundaries, when their stress has been prolonged, fires can become controlling, domineering, tyrants with arrogant determination. The sparkier they become the more susceptible they are to hotheaded reactions that sometimes incinerate and scorch those in their way. Left too long in this over energized state will just eventually lead to them burning out. When “burn out” sets in, Fires can actually become uncharacteristically meek, vulnerable, and a bit over guarded.

When balanced, Fires are your wild child, with bubbly personalities, ready for adventure and passion. They love the thrill of loving and are zealously bursting with effervescing joy. When in balance they are the optimists, inspirers, and believe in the abundant good of all. Typically Fire energies bring an uplifted, joyful feeling that encourages us to embrace having fun, search for excitement, belly laugh and enjoy getting intimate. As we head into this sizzling time of year it might be good to check with your own “Fire” element and see where you are at.

When our Fire Element has been out of balance for too long it can eventually lead to physical and emotional ailments.

Too much Fire energy…

Physically - Angina, erratic pulse, excess perspiration and a tendency to overheat, fainting spells, flushed complexion, hot flashes, irregular/rapid heartbeat, mouth sores, palpitations, rashes, hives, red inflamed tongue, skin irritations, sleep disturbances, speech disturbances.

Emotionally - Crashes, explodes and burns. Having no time for self, blows up, screams and falls apart.

Not enough Fire energy…

Physically - Blushing, difficulty maintaining sexual arousal, digestive problems, excessive perspiration, exhaustion, heart irregularities or insufficiencies, insomnia, lightheadedness, low blood pressure, pale, ashen complexion, rashes, eczema, ringing in ears, shallow breathing,

Emotionally - Being cut-off from others, burns out

There are many ways to help bring our Fire Element back into better balance. If we think of how, we might control a real fire we would find ourselves searching for some water. It might be time to just go to the beach or the lake and get yourself into somewhere wet and cool. If that isn’t possible then just make yourself a big pitcher of hydrating water that you can jazz up by adding some of your favourite summer seasonal fire red fruits like cherries, strawberries, raspberries and watermelon. Make them into a yummy fresh summer fruit salad and enjoy cooling off. Relish the juicy sweet flavours and allow it to invigorate your enthusiasm and boost your zest for life again.

Summer Watermelon Fruit Salad

This watermelon fruit salad is deliciously refreshing and perfect for a hot day.

It’s lovely as a side dish at a BBQ because it's so light that it won't fill you up. It's also a great light start to your day or an easy dessert or even a snack to cool you down when the temperature is off the charts.

Ingredients

Salad:

· 4 cups watermelon, cubed into 1-inch pieces

· 1 ½ cups strawberries, sliced into rounds

· 1 ½ cups raspberries

· 1 ½ cups cherries, pitted and halved

Dressing:

· 2 tbsp freshly squeezed lime juice

· 1 ½ tsp lime zest

· 2 tbsp honey

· 1 tbsp fresh mint, finely chopped

Optional: To add a note of saltiness, feel free to add crumbled feta cheese (vegan or regular) to this salad.

Instructions:

1. Whisk together honey, lime juice, lime zest and mint.

2. Prep watermelon and berries and place in a large bowl. Drizzle dressing over top and lightly toss.

3. Garnish with some torn mint.

Notes:

If you are not a fan of mint this fruit salad is also fantastic with fresh basil instead.

Make sure to eat this watermelon fruit salad right after you make as it can become limp and watery the longer it sits.

Energy Medicine Strategies

If you can’t find the time to cool and hydrate here are some simple Energy Medicine strategies that only take a few minutes to help calm you’re out a balance emotional fire energies. On our heads are energetic neurovascular points that respond instantly to the touch of our hand. Our magnetic palms are strong enough to move the blood and the chemistry of our hormones that can cause our fiery emotions to go out of balance. While holding specific points on our head we can use the sound of “Haaaa”, which will naturally engage our vagus nerve that governs our parasympathetic system. You will find after several deep slow breaths, while holding your hands on your head, that it will eventually make you feel more calm and less frenetic. Try all the different holds listed below that are specific for each of the different fire meridians and take notice on which one feels the best.

· Heart Meridian

Hold the top of the head for 3 minutes, while slowly breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth using the sound of “Haaaa…”.

· Circulation Sex Meridian

Hold behind the ears, just above the top edge of the ear, with your fingertips for 3 minutes, while slowly breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth using the sound of “Haaaa…”.

· Small Intestine Meridian

Place the tip of your fingertips of both hands on the centre of the top of the head and rest the palms of your hands over the curve towards your ears, on both sides, for 3 minutes, while slowly breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth using the sound of “Haaaa…”.

· Triple Warmer Meridian

Hold the fingertips of your right hand on the right temple, and the fingertips tips of the left hand at the base of the throat, in the hollow, for 3 minutes while breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth using the sound of “Haaaa…”. When finished on the one side, place the fingertips of the left hand to the left temple while holding the throat with the right hand for another 3 minutes, breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth using the sound of “Haaaa…”.

To take care of the whole Fire Rhythm all at once:

Hold behind the eyes at the back of the head with one hand, and the front of the forehead with the other hand for 3 minutes, while breathing in through the nose and out through the mouth using the sound of “Haaaa…”.