July is a great time to be active and let your fire flame. We are in the middle of summer, and it’s a great time to play, explore, travel, spend time celebrating with friends and family, and basically squeeze the juice out of life. Not only is this the Fire time of year, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, but there are personality characteristics that go along with the fire season or element.

I live with someone whose primary element is Fire. He is gregarious, fun-loving, optimistic, passionate, and can be the life of the party. He also gets distracted easily and forgets what he’s doing.  Both he and another Fire friend of mine tend to interrupt during conversations. Trying to get a word in edgewise when they are both together is next to impossible. That part can get a little irritating at times. The Fire element can also bring up anger and emotional vulnerability in people, if not balanced. However, overall, the Fire archetype represents a powerful force of energy, passion, and transformation.

The organs of the heart and the small intestines are ruled by the Fire element. The heart is the organ of love and passion and helps us to create healthy relationships with others and with yourself. The small intestine is associated with the ability to discern and make proper decisions. In addition, the Fire element has something that none of the other five elements have. It has two systems. One that is an outer protector, called the Triple Warmer which is associated with the fight-flight-freeze response, and one that is your inner protector, called the Pericardium or Circulation Sex whose job is to protect the heart and distribute energy equitably through the body.

Among the many physical symptoms associated with Fire, it affects the amount of fluid in the body: Too much heat dries up your internal waterways and too little heat can result in an excess of fluid. Menstruation, sexual secretions, lubrication at joints, digestion, and metabolism, to name a few, reflect and depend upon the balance of your Fire element.

Is your Fire balanced?

To know if your Fire energy is operating well, ask yourself the following questions. Is there joy and laughter in your life? Are friendships important to you? Do you have excitement, creativity, and passion in your life? Or do you feel restless, anxious, and overly emotional? Do you have difficulty with focus and attention? Are you committing to too many things? Do you feel burned out?

When balanced, the energy of Fire supports you in enriching your enjoyment of life, your relationships, getting closer, opening outward, and being receptive to others. When out of balance, you may feel anxious, restless, have difficulty sleeping, or feel overly emotional.

Ways to tend your inner Fire

• Have fun on a regular basis. Make it a priority. Consider fun as important to your well-being as work or anything else you do.
• Show up unconditionally in your relationships.
• Try spending more time listening than talking.
• Live your passion. If you don’t know what your passion is, stay curious and don’t stop looking. When you find an interest, dive into it wholeheartedly and enjoy!
• Get physical. Get into your body and out of your head. Make love, exercise, dance, run, play. Get your circulation going.
• Take the July Energy Medicine Yoga Classes focused on all aspects of the Fire Element. Sign up HERE.

If you have interest in exploring your own elements or how balancing your energies can be helpful for your overall wellbeing, I am now accepting new clients in my Energy Medicine Practice. Initial sessions usually last two hours and follow-up sessions are 1-1/2 hours. Please email me at MindfulRossy@gmail.com for more information.