Happy Solstice Mitesh, 

Welcome back to another Potentials Newsletter. Today is the solstice! Enjoy the long day and get some sun!

In today's newsletter, we go into the connection between summer, the solstice, and the Chinese mythological phoenix. All three emphasize the development of flow and I offer a little qigong technique to feel that flow in your body. Finally, Anna's provide some sun tea recipes for you to try at home.

Embrace the light and become radiant!

Blog Post

As the weather becomes warmer my favorite place to be is out in the garden, poking about in the dirt, picking and planting. As things in the garden start to grow, I also love to brew sun tea as a way to enjoy the abundance of the summer, connect to the energetics of the season, improve hydration and get extra pro-biotics and phytonutrients into my diet. This is also a fun and easy project to do with kids that combines gardening, cooking and experimentation.

I’ve shared directions and precautions for how to make sun tea along with ideas for flavor combinations in a blog post. I hope these will give you some inspiration for getting outside and creating some combinations of your own!

Beneficial Properties of Ingredients in Recipes: 

•  Elderberry: Rich in antioxidants and vitamins that boost the immune system. 
• Lemon Balm: Known for its calming effects and mild sedative properties. 
• Cucumber: Hydrating and cooling, good for detoxification. 
• Watermelon: Hydrating and full of vitamins A, B6, and C, along with antioxidants. 
• Lavender: Known for its calming properties, helps reduce stress and anxiety. 
• Thyme: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants, supports immune function and digestive health 
• Basil: Contains anti-inflammatory properties and aids digestion. 
• Blackberry: High in vitamins C and K, antioxidants 
• Mint: Digestive health, respiratory benefits, antimicrobial. 
• Lemon Verbena: Digestive aid, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, calming. 
• Lemon: Rich in vitamin C, digestive health, skin health
• Chamomile: Calming, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, digestive aid. 

Seasonal Insights 

The Solstice and the Phoenix

Last time we talked about how summer starts before the solstice from an astrological perspective. It's like an oven - it takes time for the hemisphere to warm up, and because of water and winds, the land doesn't warm up evenly. So, while some places might be scorching hot, others are still grappling with the transition from winter to spring to summer, even if they are located at the same latitude as the hot places. Portland, I'm looking at you!

But with the solstice, we'll see the earth's temperature even out. Water will still play a big role in regulating the heat, but the sun's rays are still strong, causing fog and storms as the water battles the solar heat.

The Chinese phoenix symbolizes the blending of different elements during this time of year. You can see it in its name, fenghuang (鳳凰), which combines the male phoenix (鳳) and the female phoenix (凰). But the blending doesn't stop there. In some descriptions, the fenghuang has a rooster's beak, a swallow's face, a fowl's forehead, a snake's neck, a goose's breast, a tortoise's back, a stag's hindquarters, and a fish's tail. In other depictions, the phoenix's eyes are the sun, its head is the sky, its back is the moon, its feet are the earth, its wings are the wind, and its tail is the planets. Its feathers represent the five fundamental colors: black, white, red, green, and yellow. Each color represents a different Confucian virtue. In the sky, the vermilion bird of the south appears at night in the summer. Sometimes, these two birds are combined into one mythical bird.

The season, the phoenix, and the vermilion bird embody a time of unfolding qualities and the blending of opposites in nature and humanity. The merging of qualities and concepts represented by the phoenix shows the many opportunities available during this time. Nature is incredibly expressive, and we can start to feel that. It's a time for gentle excitement. So, embrace the warmth and the many opportunities that summer brings! But as summer reaches its peak, it's a gentle reminder to come back down to earth and get ready for winter. We don't need to rush back to earth, but we can make space for the opportunity to return.

Health Tip 

During this time of blending, it's important to find a balance between work and rest, without letting one overpower the other. Working too hard during this time will lead to exhaustion, while resting too much will allow weeds to grow and choke the harvest.

This time of year invites us to enter flow states. Flow states allow us to deeply connect with the world around us and within us. In our previous discussion, we learned the Qigong shaking technique, which starts with the movement of spring shaking out from the ground. After shaking, we transition into a state of flowing and floating.

To reach this state of flowing and floating, we finish shaking by gradually increasing the speed and reducing the intensity of the shaking. Eventually, the intensity becomes so small and the speed so fast that it seems like we're not moving at all. Instead, we find ourselves floating in a space that feels like zero gravity. Here, we open ourselves up to a flow state, tuned in to our internal sensations, moving like a feather in the currents of air.

In this state, let go of all other concerns and simply feel. Allow your breath to flow naturally and let your sensations guide your movements. You can rotate, hold a pose, or relax when you feel ready. The most important thing is to let the flow guide you.

When your body starts to feel slightly heavier or thoughts start to intrude, it's time to end the float and honor the experience in your own way. Then, continue with the rest of your life!

Did you miss out on our quarterly lectures? Many of you reached out, asking if it was still possible to get access. The good news is that our quarterly lectures are still available to watch until July 27th! These recordings are designed to give a deeper understanding of important health issues that we all deal with.

This is the last opportunity to access all these valuable lectures together before we transition to our new series for the next year. These sessions are available on a donation basis, making it easy for everyone to gain access.

Available Lectures:

1. Nutrient Dense Eating 101: Learn how to optimize your diet for maximum nutritional benefit.
2. Healthy Blood Sugar 101: Discover strategies to manage and maintain healthy blood sugar levels.
3. Healthy Microbiome 101: Understand the importance of gut health and how to nurture your microbiome.
4. Vagus Nerve 101: Optimizing Relaxation for Health: Explore the role of the Vagus nerve in relaxation and overall well-being.

We hope you will check these out. Summer is a great time to focus in on health and wellness by utilizing strategic lifestyle and diet changes! These lectures are filled with helpful and simple ways to help you make changes that go a long way towards improving how strong, energetic and healthy you feel.

As always, it’s a pleasure to write and connect with you. Thank you for reading.

~Mitesh Master, LAc.