The Yang Within Yang

The summer solstice also means the height of Yang energy.

We just passed the summer solstice yesterday. From this longest day of the year, we begin to see the days get shorter as the seasons do their annual march (don’t worry, there’s still plenty of summer left). This time of year presents an interesting discussion in relation to Qi, our moods, circadian rhythms, and especially to our Qigong practice.

In a post I wrote several years ago about Yin, Yang, and seasonal change, I talked about the interplay and generation between these two elements. They each wax and wane, one giving way to the other in harmony, and so the universe turns. We see this ebb and flow in everything around us: our sleep/wake cycles, the hours of the day, the courses of our lives, how plants grow- Yin ang Yang exists while growing and fading in literally everything around us. In Chinese medicine theory, we learn about how in every season, whether its nature is Yin or Yang, no matter which is dominant, the seed of the other is always growing.

And so, with the summer solstice, at least here in the northern hemisphere, we find ourselves at the Yang within Yang. From here, Yang begins to wane ever so slowly and we begin to see the Yin within Yang, even if it’s going to be 95° tomorrow. Since we humans are as subject to the laws of nature as any other being living in it, we too are affected by this extreme Yang energy we see right now. Do you find yourself staying up later, even though you don’t mean to? In spite of your late bedtime, do you still find yourself popping out of bed like a daisy at 5am? Do you feel warm, even if you’re always a freeze baby? If you’re a very strong fire daymaster do you feel maybe just a little too frenetic right now? Do your Qi flows in your practice feel stronger than usual? All of these things are an expression of the high Yang energy all around us at the moment.

Even though I spend my days in the clinic telling people to eat soup and drink room temperature water, this time of year we are able to let go of that a little bit. Warmth from the Yang energy charges our bodies and makes them function optimally. Our Qi flows closer to the surface of our bodies, warming even the chilliest of toes and fingers. The longer amounts of daylight reach our pineal gland via our visual cortex and tells us to stay up late and get up early, and we somehow still feel energized because of it.

If you’re someone how often wonders what they should be practicing, now is an excellent time to focus on patterns that promote strong Qi flow such as Lifting the Sky, Carrying the Moon, and Double Dragons Emerge from the Sea. Our bodies more easily generate Qi, or Yang Energy, during this time of year, which means these patterns can more readily break through blockages, all while providing you with a good store of energy for the more Yin times of year to come.

Do you experience specific things that only seem to happen at this time of year? Share your experiences in the comments below!