Summer is governed by the energetic principle of fire, that of the flame: the external fire of nature, dazzling and overflowing with colours and forms, at the height of its maturity; but also an internal flame, connected to all the ‘luminous’ and ‘warm’ aspects of an individual. A lively mind, responsiveness, spontaneity, the ability to express oneself easily, the capacity to be joyful, to take pleasure, to be swept away by passion, and to express lyrical or emotional outbursts – these are all character traits that imply a ‘fire temperament’, in the energetic sense of the term. The heart and small intestine are the organs and viscera that follow this same principle. Described as the ‘Emperor’, the heart, beyond its essential circulatory role, coordinates the functions of all the vital organs—liver, heart and kidneys—but is also directly connected to the brain, the mind and the emotions.
Any imbalance in the heart affects all the other meridians. Through its rhythm, the heart is capable of responding to the slightest physical or emotional stimulus. And as this rhythm is controlled by the autonomic nervous system, the heart is therefore also directly connected to the unconscious. The tongue, the blood vessels and the entire circulatory system, as well as the complexion, are, on a physiological level, directly linked to it, as are consciousness and intelligence. Its ‘assistant’ from an energetic perspective is indeed the small intestine, which acts as a ‘customs officer’. As the warmest part of the human body, the small intestine is where digestion takes place, where food is sorted, and nutrients are absorbed. If a person is to live this summer season to the full, they must avoid heatstroke or sunstroke; to this end, they seek to combine the principle of fire with that of water. To temper, soothe, and calm any overheating to avoid excesses.
