Yay! The summer solstice is almost here. As of writing this blog, it is just a few days away for those of us in the northern hemisphere. Now is the time to celebrate the year's longest day and all of the gifts that the summer season abundantly provides. In Qigong, the Summer Solstice offers an exciting opportunity for practitioners to connect to the energies of nature and the seasons. Today, I'd like to share with you how you can harness the luminous gifts of the Summer Solstice, the fire element, and your awakening heart.
"Day Of Magnificent Yang"
Why is the Summer Solstice important for Qigong practitioners? Well, in Qigong and daily life, we're constantly navigating the polarity of Yin and Yang energies.
Yin is the energy of passivity, restfulness, relaxation, sleep, cold, and darkness. Conversely, Yang is the energy of activity, wakefulness, heat, and light. Everything in nature is in a constant dance between Yin and Yang energies. You directly experience this transformation of energy all the time, and an obvious example is during the night when Yin energy is strong. The night transforms into day and is the domain of Yang energy, only to transform back into Yin again in the evening.
As humans are in the quest for balance, we experience Yin and Yang channeling through us all the time. As Qigong practitioners, we practice being skillful and intentional about running these energies through us. For example, Reflect for a moment on a time when you simply listened to a friend without speaking, giving advice, or trying to change the situation by simply being with and holding space for your friend by honoring what is. Consciously listening is a very "Yin" activity since you are open to receiving the other person into your heart and mind.
Speaking and expressing yourself and your truth with others is an example of experiencing "Yang" energy. This energy is radiating out and away from you. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Qigong, the tongue is associated with the heart, and the heart is associated with the fire element, which is the most Yang of all the elements.
Often, Yang is associated with "masculine," and Yin is associated with "feminine." However, let's not get confused by these terms to be about gender because both male-identifying and females identifying people contain Yin and Yang energies, and the relative strength of each is really dependent on the individual person and situation. Therefore, as conscious qigong practitioners, it's important to be in touch with your own Yin and Yang energies and be receptive to others rather than make assumptions based on preconceived notions regarding their appearance.
Like the seasons, every one of us constantly changes our relationship with Yin and Yang.
When it comes to the seasons, the Summer is the time of Extreme or Maximum Yang Rising. Sunshine, long days, and hot weather all reflect that Yang energy that is vibrant and full. Within the months of Summer, the Summer Solstice is the day of "maximum Yang." It is a time when the world is experiencing the fullest expression of nature's Yang energy.
How can we harness the gifts of Yang energy?
Humans are nature, and we naturally take on the energies around us. Therefore, it's no surprise that many people want to get out and spend time outside during the summer months. Yang energy seeks to engage with the world and celebrate life. Spending time outside and being active is one way to absorb the Yang energy of the Summer Solstice.
Qigong Breathing Practice for the Summer Solstice called Body Breathing.
The next time you are outside in the beautiful rays of sunlight, especially during the sunrise or sunset, practice this simple yet profound Qigong breathing practice for the Summer Solstice called "Body Breathing."
Settle in and start to breathe deep into your abdomen.
Breathing in and out through your nose
As you breathe for a few moments, start to connect with the universal breath. Realize that you are in communion and breathing with all of nature. Stay with this part as long as you'd like
When you are ready, bring your awareness to your inhale and draw the golden sunlight into your body. Allow your inhale to be a little longer than your exhale. You are actively filling your body with light. You are harvesting the light. Stay with this practice for as long as you like.
When you feel complete, simply allow this light to permeate and enter into all the cells of your body.
To complete this practice, send the golden light down into your belly and let it settle there as a place to store the light. Your belly is your lower dantien. This Daniten is your biobattery. Let the sunlight charge your bio battery so you can access that light when you need it later in the cooler months that are right around the corner.
Day Of The Fire Element And The Awakening Heart
The Summer Solstice is when the fire element is more present in the natural world than on any other day of the year. The sun expresses fire and Yang energy at its fullest! It is the necessary source of warmth, light, and life for all living things on Earth. Without the sun's Yang energy shining down upon Earth's Yin soil, our planet would be barren and without Qi.
As I just shared, the fire element is connected to the heart and is our source of love, passion, and joy. Therefore, the Summer Solstice is a great time to connect with loved ones and cultivate the love that we share together. Spending time together fosters the fire element, bringing loving joy to all parts of your being.
In romantic partnerships, the Summer Solstice can be an especially wonderful time to ignite or reignite the passion you both share for one another. When you celebrate love and joy through romantic connection, you feel an abundance of love and the power of healing vitality flowing through you.
Healthy and loving relationships synergize and harmonize with the heart and fire element. Your entire being is elevated and nourished when loving connections are vibrant and alive. So, make it a point to prioritize those in your life that you care deeply about.
Many Cultures, One Holiday
Unlike many other holidays, the Summer Solstice is celebrated by nearly every society that experiences a summer. The Summer Solstice isn't based on historical myths or ideological beliefs. Rather, it is simply a fact of nature that the Earth rotates on its semi-diagonal axis, creating the longest, shortest, and every day in between.
Most cultures that experience a Summer Solstice recognize the importance of embracing its gifts. In most cases, this is done as we described above: Coming together with loved ones and celebrating. Often, families and communities hold ceremonies, build fires, dance, and cook a feast.
Free Summer Solstice Qigong Practice and Ceremony (pre-recorded- instant access)
You are invited to participate in a Summer Solstice Love and Kindness Qigong practice! This is one of my absolute favorite practices, and it is a great honor to share it with you!
I chose this form for us to practice together during one of the high holy days to amplify love, radiance, and light. When we are consciously working with the cycles of nature, we can more readily cultivate self-love and then share it with the world by working with the high frequency of love, compassion, joy, bliss, healing, and light.
In this practice and ceremony, I introduce you to The Lotus Flow: A Buddhist Qigong movement to open the heart and increase feelings of empathy, love, and connection to all beings.
Would you like to start your day clear, energized, and with a light, joyful heart? Click here to get the 13 Minute Morning Qigong Practice for FREE!⬇️⬇️⬇️
