Seasonal balance: Summer
The yin yang symbol represents balance: everything exists in relation or contrast to something else and is part of the whole. Seasonal balance artwork by Natalie Rossiter.
Balance - the holy grail of health. A subjective, ephemeral, elusive state that we all aspire to.
As someone interested in a variety of holistic, psychological and spiritual approaches to mental health I’ve come to notice that there is something that everything I’ve encountered - so far - has in common: the belief that balance = health. What that balance looks like or how it’s achieved will vary between modalities and belief systems, but whether you’re an ecologist, botanist, psychiatrist, yoga teacher or social worker we all seem to agree that balance is key.
I find this very reassuring and helpful. However, just because something seems simple doesn’t mean it’s easy. The concept of balance can be deceptive in its simplicity and one can, paradoxically, become overwhelmed at trying to achieve it.
In these seasonal articles I’ll share some insights and guidance on how you can consider what a balanced life looks and feels like for you at different times of year or even seasons of your life.
“Ten thousand flowers in spring, the moon in autumn,
a cool breeze in summer, snow in winter.
If your mind isn't crowded with unnecessary things, this is the best season of your life.”- Wu-men
Summer bright
Summer brings light, energy, abundance along the promise of holidays and fun. Flowers are blooming, trees are in full leaf, the earth is warm underfoot and food is fresh and flavourful. The amount of light - and the vitamin D it provides - gives us more energy and even folks like me who love an early bedtime find themselves still active past 9pm. We are part of nature, and the season enlivens us too; we might feel the desire to have a little adventure, or perhaps we indulge our animal impulse to bask in the sun, the simple pleasure of ripening in summer’s glow. If Spring has take off energy, Summer is cruising at altitude. This is a season of steady growth and maintaining momentum. There is a lot of sensory pleasures on offer; sun warmed skin, sandy toes, juicy stone fruits, cold beers, festivals, coastal walks, outdoor meals and bees bumbling around the garden.
What can imbalance us
Summer is full of activity; end of terms, holidays, trips - lots of things to do and people to see. Whilst the potential for joy is high, so too is the danger of overwhelm. In Qigong and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Summer is connected with the element of fire and it’s organ is the heart. Whilst we want to embrace the energy of the season and use it to feed the relationships and projects important to us, we must be aware of the potential for burnout. Fire is essential; it keeps us warm, cooks our food and keeps us safe with it’s light. But too much fire is undoubtedly dangerous and can be a destructive force, leaving us feeling depleted and worn out. It is possible to OD on joy during this season - there can literally be too much of a good thing.
If you have a garden, or even just walk past one regularly, you’ll notice that the plants that bloom for long periods of time, like lavender or geraniums, bloom steadily and consistently. One flowerhead dies off as another comes into bud. Plants like this need sun, but not too much, and enough water. Often, trimming it back helps it to bloom even more. This steady pace, cutting back when needed and hydration are exactly what humans need too!
Balance in Summer: cooling the heat
Too much heat or activity and we burn out. Too little and we fail to connect fully with life, becoming passive, avoidant or depressed. We work towards balance by first acknowledging these potential dangers and checking in with our energy levels to assess what’s needed.
If you’re feeling listless and detached you need movement (this can be gentle) and to reconnect with joy; consider music, food, places and people that light you up. There is too much yin energy for this season of yang, so you’re out of sync with the season. You might ask yourself what you’re avoiding or what is blocking you from connecting with your heart. Try not to get stuck in black and white thinking; I see this a lot with summer “haters” who write off a whole season and lose out on joy as a result. You don’t have to like the same things other people enjoy, but to resist the sun and light too much is energy wasted.
If you’re feeling exhausted, frazzled, jittery and rushed then you need a slower pace, more being less doing, something taken off your schedule and adjusted expectations. Quite probably you also need a lie down in a cool, dark room! Th'e heat of summer - literally and figurately - can be intense, and just like winter it asks us to adapt accordingly. The skill of balanced energy in summer is knowing when to stop or slow down - to add in a fire break, if you will. Yes; prioritise joy, direct your energy outward and stay up late. But also have the occasional do nothing day, lie in the shade and read all afternoon and make space for the mundane and necessary alongside the productive and fun.
We Brits could learn from our European friends who are more experienced at dealing with heat; Italians have ‘il dolce far niente’ - the sweetness of doing nothing, and in Greece the saying ‘siga siga’ (literally slowly slowly) reminds us to take a relaxed pace, especially in summer, and savour the present moment.
A fire break in an intentional empty space that prevents a wild fire from spreading. We need to create fire breaks in our schedules and busy lives to prevent burnout.
Some ideas for a more balanced Summer:
1. Set intentions for the season, ideally around the Solstice but there’s no limit as to when this can be useful. Being clear on what matters to you will help you direct your energy mindfully and avoid overwhelm/burnout. Maybe take a walk in nature where you can think clearly, and consider what’s important to you over the next few weeks and months. Try not to think too far ahead, just about the current season, and be realistic in your plans. Here’s some suggestions:
Make a vision board (I do this on my seasonal mini retreats) - this is a lovely way to capture images, symbols and words that you want to focus on. Looking at it often affirms your intentions and keeps your goals in your conscious minds, making you more likely to achieve them.
Journaling - after your walk and contemplation, write down your thoughts about what you need this season and where you want your focus to be. Consider what needs to change from Spring and what needs to be adjusted to create more balance. You can find my summer solstice journal prompts on my website.
2. Be intentional and proactive about cooling, grounding & resting. What helps you feel calm? Maybe this is different in Summer than other seasons. In heatwaves especially, you’ll need to think carefully about clothing, hydration, skincare and nutrition. You might want to make some changes to your home or routine, such as placing fans where you rest and leaving time to prepare cold drinks in the morning so you have a supply throughout the day.
When you feel clear on what you need to feel grounded, don’t just rely on remembering this: plan it in. Block out time in your diary for resting. Schedule the meet ups with friends and family before your workload builds up. Get your yoga mat/new book/ice lollies/sun hat ready for when you need them.
Rest is so much more than just sleep or binging Netflix on the sofa. There are 7 different types of rest and therefore many ways in which we can recharge. Summer is a time of productivity, activity and doing - so balance this with things like meditation, slow crafts (focusing on the process not just the end product) and stillness (e.g. sipping your morning tea in the garden).
3. Recognise when to step away. It’s easy to get carried away with the joys and responsibilities of Summer and take on too much or give too much of yourself to others. Balance requires constant adjustment and fine tuning, so don’t make the mistake of seeing as a destination than once you’ve arrived at you can let slip from your mind.
Check in regularly with yourself - how are your energy levels? Are you feeling restless and could do with a bit more movement and fun (more yang needed)? Or are you getting weary, stressed and overwhelmed (more yin needed)?
Know your stop signs and catch them early. If you have a garden or houseplants, ideally you’ll notice a leaf tip has gone brown and water the plant before the whole thing dries up and dies. Or if you have a dog you’ll notice when they’re getting uncomfortable and take them for a walk before they wee on the carpet or chew your slippers. We want to pay the same attention to ourselves and give the same care; know the signs that you need some TLC and tend to this before it becomes a bigger problem. It’s a lot easier to take a nap, make a cuppa and sit in the garden or cancel that extra event now than have a total meltdown in a week or twos time. These, I’m afraid, are often the lessons we learn the hard way!
Don’t try and do it all. Summer can have a vibrant and optimistic energy, but like a child at a birthday party that’s eaten too many sweets, we can crash when it all gets too much. Sensory overwhelm - vibrant colours, temperature, bright light, heady scents, bold flavours, sticky sun-cream and loud music - is so easily experienced in Summer. Steady pacing and intentional cooling and grounding are vital to keep the high energy sustainable.
