As the sun stretches to its highest point in the sky, the Summer Solstice arrives like a deep inhale—a pause at the peak of expansion. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), this is not just a change of seasons, but a potent portal into realignment with nature’s rhythms.
It is the height of Yang energy—fullness, brightness, and movement. And yet, in that very peak, the seeds of Yin are quietly planted once more. The Yin is an invitation to slow, savor, and begin the quiet return inward.
From the perspective of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the Summer Solstice is a sacred opportunity for Yang Sheng —nourishing life.
This year I found myself drawn to the Sequoia trees, those elders of the Earth who model exactly what it means to thrive in harmony with light, time, and stillness.
🔥 The Fire Element & Summer in TCM: Honoring the Heart and Small Intestine
Summer belongs to the Fire element, which governs the Heart and Small Intestine meridians. These aren’t just organs in the biomedical sense—they are spiritual centers of discernment, joy, and connection.
- The Heart (Xin) is the emperor of the body in TCM. It houses the Shen, the spirit or consciousness, and is responsible for emotional clarity, sleep, and relational warmth.
- The Small Intestine (Xiao Chang) assists the Heart by sorting the pure from the impure—not just in digestion, but in thoughts, emotions, and experiences.
When our Fire element is in balance, we experience true joy—not manic or performative, but deeply rooted. Our thoughts are clear, our spirit is radiant, and we’re able to engage with others authentically. When out of balance, we might feel anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, or even spiritual disconnection.
The Solstice is a powerful time to nourish these organ systems through seasonal self-care, somatic practice, and spiritual ritual.
🌳 A Personal Solstice: Listening to the Sequoias
My family and I are now visiting the ancient Sequoias—those majestic beings who live in quiet communion with both fire and time.
Sequoias don’t grow fast, and they don’t grow alone. They root deeply, live communally, and hold presence in a way that humbles those standing underneath them. Their trunks bear the marks of lightning and wildfire, and yet they stand—tall, soft, wise. They are Fire transformed into wisdom.
My family is surrounded by the Sequoias as we welcome the Summer Solstice. The Solstice is traditionally honored as a powerful moment when the sun’s energy—like the towering Sequoias—is at its peak, reminding us to live in reciprocity with the Earth, walk with intention, and realign with the sacred order of life.
In the stillness of that forest our hearts open. The noise of the world falls away. Our breath deepens. We remember: joy is not something we chase, but something we allow.
This is the essence of Yang Sheng—to make choices, connections, and movements that align us with life’s sacred flow, rather than deplete it.
☀️ Summer Solstice Wisdom: How to Nourish Life (Yang Sheng) in the Season of Fire
Yang Sheng means “nourishing life”—a core principle in Traditional Chinese Medicine that emphasizes living in harmony with nature to preserve health, vitality, and spirit. To honor the Heart and Small Intestine meridians and support your Shen during the Solstice, consider these Yang Sheng practices:
✨ 1. Practice Heart Qigong or Breathwork at Sunrise
- Early morning movement helps anchor Yang without overwhelming the Shen. Try gentle heart-opening movements or breath patterns that calm the nervous system.
🌿 2. Eat Seasonally & Lightly
- Focus on cooling, hydrating foods like cucumber, watermelon, mung beans, mint, and chrysanthemum tea. Bitter flavors, which belong to the Heart, can help clear excess heat.
💗 3. Tend to Your Emotional Fire
- Notice where your energy is going. Are your connections nourishing or draining? Discernment is a function of the Small Intestine. Practice emotional composting: keep what feeds you, release what does not.
🌸 4. Let Joy be Easy
- Take in the laughter of a loved one. The warmth of your skin in the sun. A quiet hour in the trees. Noticing joy is just as vital as seeking it.
✍️ 5. Reflect with Ritual
- Write a letter to your future self as if planting a seed of Yin within all this Yang. What are you carrying forward from this season of light? What would you like to release?
🌗 Solstice as Sacred Threshold
In TCM or TEAM, the Summer Solstice is not only the peak of light—it is also the moment when Yin begins its return.
Just like the Sequoias, we’re called to hold both fire and stillness, expansion and rootedness.
Rather than burning ourselves out in summer’s brilliance, we’re invited to savor this threshold—to let it be a moment of deep spiritual attunement. To ask: What do I need to stay nourished, not just lit up?
This is the art of living seasonally and soulfully.
May you feel the warmth of the sun not just on your skin, but in your spirit.
May your inner fire glow steady.
May the wisdom of the Sequoias remind you that true strength is soft, slow, and sacredly rooted.
With Little Sage love,
Melissa