As the fire element energy arrives this season I am already seeing the different presentations of imbalance in the clinic. Often we think about having too much fire – the anxiety, the heat, the insomnia…
But what about not having enough fire?
What is the Fire Element in Chinese Medicine?
Fire energy is essential for our basic physiological functioning. In Chinese Medicine, there is a thing called the Ming Men Fire – the Life Gate Fire – a kind of cook stove at the base of the pelvis that drives our ability to digest and metabolize food, to generate blood and to pump that blood and other important substances throughout the body…. We need fire just to function.
But fire energy also nourishes our spirits. It provides us with a sense of inspiration, delight, motivation and a genuine interest in connecting with others. When that spiritual fire runs low, life can feel flat. Isolation sets in. Depression creeps up. You can even see it in a person’s eyes – the dimming that happens when the fire is low.
How to replenish low fire energy and lift depression
If your spirit tends to look more like your fire energy is diminished you can approach it like a nutritional deficiency. Fire element “vitamins” include:
- lighting candles
- spending an evening with friends around a bonfire
- watching comedy — really anything to generate laughter
- wearing sparkles or the color red
Or…
When your depression is more extreme than a Netflix special can handle
Sometimes watching the latest comedy show isn’t enough. If you are struggling with your mood, or if you can’t muster the energy to gather your people around a bonfire, right now is a critical moment to work on kindling that spiritual fire within. I invite you to schedule your first or next session opens in a new window::HERE::
