Strengthen Your HEART
Now that we have fully entered summer, it's time to tend to our hearts.
According to Chinese medicine, the heart is the organ that energetically runs the strongest in the summer, making it the best and easiest time to regulate any imbalances and disharmony.
The emotions that tell us if the heart needs attention are anxiety and stress. They deplete chi (energy) from the heart, leading to fatigue and confusion.
The heart is known as the sovereign ruler and houses our soul light, known as Purusa in yoga or Shan Shen in Chinese medicine. Without clear boundaries, external influences can cloud this light, leading to confusion, overwhelm, and emotional hurt.
It's important to discern who and what we allow to shape our most precious heart center. And these days, limiting news intake can be the first step in protecting our hearts from stress!
Each season has two organs that are energetically in high tide, but the heart has three other organs also running strong to protect and support it.
I'll explain it to you with the help of authors and teachers Lori Dechar and Stephanie Nosco, who describe it so well.
The energetic organ that is paired with the heart is the small intestine. Although its physical functions differ significantly from the heart, its energetic qualities resonate with heart chi.
The small intestine separates the pure from the impure in our food. Emotionally, it separates what is truly ours —our thoughts, feelings, and values —from what belongs to others.
Discernment from our gut is essential when navigating intimacy and influence: what is my truth, and what have I absorbed from my partner, family, or the broader culture? 'Trust your gut' speaks to the small intestine's wise discernment.
When clear, the small intestine gives us clarity to stand in our truth, without rejecting connection.
The other two organs that support and protect the heart are the pericardium, the sac surrounding the heart, and its pair, an ethereal organ, known as the triple warmer (or San Jiao), which is the energy that powers the metabolism, our respiration, digestion, and elimination.
The pericardium acts as a buffer against emotional shock, shielding the heart. When the pericardium energy is balanced, it helps us stay open while guarding our heart chi from overstimulation and emotional toxicity.
The triple warmer is an invisible organ responsible for distributing fluid and heat. Energetically, it regulates the flow between our inner world and outer world, determining what enters and what remains outside.
Like a drawbridge to the castle (the heart), it controls access, protecting our inner terrain from overwhelm and oversharing.
Let's keep our hearts radiant, strong, and open; the world needs this more than anything right now!
From my heart to yours~
Namaste,
Maggie