Dear Patients, Students, and Colleagues,

I cant believe this is the 15th Summer Letter i have written. Time flies like an arrow and fruit flies like bananas ;) We had a fantastic start to summer this year with Amy's 5th annual Mugwort harvest and Solstice celebration on Sunday!

We learned about the amazing plant Mugwort, which is the dried herb we burn for Moxabustion during acupuncture sessions to energize, build and strengthen Qi energy. We also made a dispacho or a mandala made as an offering and then burned in the fire from the Peruvian Patchakuti Mesa Tradition. It was a beautiful day! here are more pictures from our event! 

One of the reasons I LOVE 5 Element Acupuncture is because it offers an integrative lens with which to see the workings of our bodies, minds, emotions, and world.  When you come in for an acupuncture treatment, I am looking at you through this lens and making sure the cycle of inner seasons is working in the best way possible!

I am so excited to have this opportunity to share more of this perspective with you. Let's talk about the FIRE ELEMENT!

Yesterday we celebrated the Summer solstice. During the Solstice we experience the sun at its highest and hottest and give thanks for the energy of Fire that it offers us. It was made even more special this year by the a rare event of having a full moon and a full sun at the same time!

In Summer, the powerful growth spurts of springtime have given way to an abundance of new life. We have beautiful plants including yummy vegetables and powerful healing herbs, buzzing insects and noisy birds squaking in the loudest voice they can. Summer is the time of year the energy of nature is at its fullest, biggest, brightest. Life is shining and moving as powerfully as it can. 

In us the energetic movement that summertime represents shows up as our fullest capacity of being. We have abundant energy, our biggest heart and love, playfullness, intimacy, relationships and joy come easily and abundantly. 

In 5 element medicine the goal is to keep the energy moving through this natural cycle. When it gets stuck thats when dis-ease, pain or upset occur. When the shining Summer energy (FIRE element) within us gets out of balance you may feel sad, lonely, shy, doubtful, confused, anxious or depressed. You may find it hard to make friends or have intimate relationships. You may feel low energy, lack of warmth or experience insomnia or heart disease.

When Fire is in balance it offers the gifts of warmth, partnership, compassion, joy, laughter and touch. 

If your Summertime energy or FIRE element is feeling stuck here are a couple exercises that can help!

1. DANCE! Turn on your favorite music and let your body move! you can even sing along if you want. There is a wonderful saying from Zimbabwe that goes: "If you can talk you can sing If you can walk you can dance"

2. LAUGH! Just for the hell of it! Do what it takes. read jokes online...tell the good ones to a friend or beloved. watch a comedy or listen to a comedian. You can even join us for The Laughter Yoga Experience!

3. SMORES! Gather your friends and make an old fashioned campfire. Tell stories, jokes, make smores..

If you have been receiving seasonal acupuncture treatments, now is the perfect time to come in for your Summer session. We can help bring Joy to your body, mind and soul! If you are new to acupuncture now is the perfect time to jump into sessions =) Also if you know anyone who may be interested please feel free to pass on this newsletter! 

Click here to schedule your session, email or call us at (610) 203-3747. 

enJOY!!!!

Lance