Summer, the Fire Element & the Medicine of Joy

I recently had a big birthday—and like a lot of people hitting a milestone year (maybe?), I found myself doing a little life inventory. You know the one: Am I living the way I want to? What needs to shift? What do I want more of?

What kept coming up for me was simple but powerful:
I want more joy.

Not the over-the-top, everything-is-perfect kind of joy. Just more lightness. More ease. More moments that feel warm and connected and truly mine.

And—lucky me—it turns out I’m not the only one who thinks this is the season for it.

In East Asian Medicine, summer is ruled by the Fire element—and that means it’s all about the Heart. Not just your physical heart, but your emotional center. The part of you that feels, laughs, loves, and connects.

Fire is the energy of full expression. It’s warmth, movement, enthusiasm. When Fire is balanced, we feel joyful, open, and connected—to ourselves and to others. There’s a lightness. A sparkle. The kind of joy that doesn’t have to be loud, but feels steady and true.

But Fire can go out of balance, too.
Too much? You might feel anxious, scattered, or burnt out.
Too little? You might feel low, withdrawn, or disconnected.

The good news? You don’t need to “fix” yourself. You can just work with the season to gently support your inner Fire.

Here are a few ways to do that:

• Laugh. Even if it starts with something silly. Joy is medicine.

• Spend time with people who make you feel safe and seen. Fire needs connection.

• Eat sun-fed foods like berries, cucumbers, tomatoes, basil. Let your body receive the season.

• Let yourself be a little more spacious. Stay up later, move more, rest in the sun. Be human.

And if your spark feels a little dim—or a little too intense—acupuncture can help regulate your nervous system and bring your Fire element back into a state of ease.

Here’s to a summer that feels joyful, nourishing, and just the right amount of warm.