Summer is here and it’s a time again to rejoice in those glorious long hot days.

In esoteric and eastern philosophies this is the time when the energy is at its peak and the gardens are blooming and abundant with delicious life giving food.

In Traditional Oriental Medicine, a healing methodology called the 5 Phases or elements, each season has a corresponding facet and summer is ruled by the ‘Fire’ element and is associated with the heart, pericardium, small intestines and is said to be related to the tongue.

In a spiritual sense, the joy we feel at summer is a divine experience, as we open our hearts to connect with the mind to receive a spiritual awakening and a mere taste of bliss!

Emotionally, the heart is the seat of the mind and therefore, its highest expression is love, enthusiasm, warmth, humour joy and awakening awareness.

The heart Chakra is at the centre of the Chakra system and is the integrator of the opposite polarities of our psyche: our yin and yang attributes, of our mind and body, our ego persona and our shadow.

Fire is symbolic of maximum activity or greatest Yang, with nature expressing itself at its peak, and the motion is upward and may be difficult to tame.

Symptoms of excessive summer heat may present as agitation, exhaustion, profuse sweating, heartburn, parched mouth and throat, constipation, insomnia heart palpitations, mania and deliriousness.

Emotionally, when the fire element is balanced, sensitivity and expression, true fullfilment and the equilibrium between heart and mind are our greatest rewards.

It’s a critical time to nourishes the heart ‘Chi’ with plenty of fluids and love.

Remember, we are part of nature and we become influenced by it. Also we can learn lots of wisdom from nature. Living in harmony with our natural ways is probably the most under-rated yet most valuable secret of healthy living.

Top tips for good health during summer includes;

Drinking plenty of fluids, to help keep well hydrated. Remember to drink at least 8-10 glasses or 2 litres of water a day. Carry water with you and sip it throughout the day. Drink fluids even if you are not yet thirsty. Dehydration can set in and we don’t even realize it until we begin to feel thirsty. Once you have the feeling of being thirsty means you are already dehydrated.

Eat light, small, frequent meals. Start the morning with plenty of fluids. Include ripe summer fruits and melons, exactly what you crave in the hot season. Watermelon cools and cleanses the system, clearing summer heat. Citrus fruits are also very cooling. Eat whole or extract their juice, store in the refrigerator and sip often throughout the day.

Include salads in your diet. Consuming leafy lettuce and summer greens, corn and cucumbers, in salads are delicious ways to stay cool. These foods contain a significant amount of water and can actually thin the blood, which has a cooling effect.

Wear lightweight, loose, full-sleeved natural cotton clothing to protect the body from the sun and to aid evaporation of sweat. The lighter the colored clothing the more sunlight is reflected away from you.

Stay under shelter and restrict outdoor activities to the cooler parts of the day – early mornings before 10.30am or late evenings after 5.30pm

Pace yourself when working or exercising outdoors, to allow your body to adjust and tolerate the hot conditions. Activist is best in more short spurts followed by a rest rather than with long bouts.

Seek cool breezes under the shade and take cool showers in order to bring down your body temperature.

Sunburn can happen very easily if you are not careful. Dilute one part Tea Tree oil with ten parts of coconut oil and spread freely over the affected areas. This is soothing and pain-relieving and to reduce blistering and peeling. Be aware of apply coconut oil in the sun.

Take a cool bath and relax in the water submerging as much of your body as possible for 15 to 20 minutes. Remember to stay cool this summer.

To find out more about the upcoming ‘Summer Solstice Summit‘ – please click here –