Module Three
fire
“The fire element represents pure love.
When we work with the fire medicine, we open our hearts.
This can make us feel very vulnerable and so it's important to create a sense of safety within ourselves.
Fire also represents divine timing when things just seemed to line up. We will feel aligned in our intention and discover ways to manifest synchronicity. Summer is a season of the fire element, a time for gathering in community, coming together and co creating from a magical place. Fire is spontaneous, passionate and excited by possibilities, but also discerning, knowing what is and isn't right for us even in the heat of the moment. Fire is enthusiastic and sees the extraordinary in the ordinary. It is a catalyst and unifying energy, bringing people together so that they may expand through a shared experience. The shadow of fire is it can be consuming, leading to burnout, longing and apathy. Enthusiasm can tip over into mania, and while spiritual circles will often teach oneness, there can be a tendency to practise specialness, which can separate us from the whole. To connect with the fire medicine, connect with your hearts intent. The simple act of lighting a candle acts as a declaration of setting your intention. If you have a strong intention and stay focused on that, you will notice when things come up to help you with your intention and purpose”
Emma Cannon, You Are The Medicine.
A healthy heart loves different frequencies and a healthy fire element loves adventure and movement. It loves diversity of all the food groups, raw and cooling foods.
A healthy heart follows its passions and dreams, and you can visibly see the lustre on someone’s face as they are beaming with radiance.
However erratic activities can throw the fire energy out of balance and quickly turn to chaos. Like a fire engulfing its capture, when the Qi is robbed from of the heart problems with begin to show.
Out of balance it shows erratic behaviour, resulting in troubled feelings of inadequacy. The heart houses the Shen - which is the idea of our vibrational energy or our consciousness which is believed to be anchored in the heart - it’s the more ethereal concept of our ‘spirit’.
As mind and body are inextricably linked in TCM, the Shen is believed to reside in the heart and is anchored and nourished by blood and yin. If these are weak, our Shen will lack stability. It is also easily agitated by excessive heat. When we look at conditions affecting the nervous system, Shen disturbance is typically present.
The Emperor (The Ruler)
Season: Summer
Emotions: Joy, happiness, and delight;
potential for depression if imbalanced
Color: Red
Controls: Metal - Yang energy
Time: 11 am - 3 pm
Organs: Heart and Small Intestine (triple heater and pericardium)
Characteristics: Warming, bright, dynamic
Tissue: Blood vessels
Personality Traits: Sensitive, intensely loving, dramatic
Direction: Upward
Injurious Climate: Heat
Taste: Bitter
Energy Flow: Outward
Opens to: the tongue and taste and smell
Governs: the blood and blood vessels
Houses: the Shen (spirit)
Cooking Style
Encourage raw, lightly cooked, sautéed, wok-style, and steaming methods to support balance.
Balance and Imbalance
Balanced State: Manifests as joy, warmth, and healthy social connections, supporting an open, loving demeanor.
Overstimulated State: Can lead to overjoy, excessive socializing, and "high voltage" emotions, potentially depleting Qi. Imbalance may present as circulatory issues, disconnection from society, or psychological struggles (e.g., low spirits).
Primary Imbalances and Symptoms
Insomnia, excessive dreaming, forgetfulness, hysteria, mental disturbances. Mental and spiritual disturbances, coma/ near death experiences, taste and smell complaints, palpitations, panic attacks, angina, high and low blood pressure, poor circulation, anxiety, restlessness, insomnia, hot flushes, ruddy complexion, lack of joy, mania, anti social behaviour, irrational laughing, frozen shoulder, mental confusion
Over joy - too much qi, too much, too social and hi energy, hi voltage,
Core Functions
Heart: Rules blood and blood vessels, critical for circulation.
Spirit (Shen): The heart stores the Shen, embodying our consciousness and sense of presence.
INGREDIENTS TO SUPPORT THE FIRE ELEMENT
FOOD
Leafy greens, rocket, beetroot, cinnamon, turmeric, endive, mustard greens, cacao is also brilliant, raddish, rocket
Taste – Bitter, drying, downwards, inwards, drains, clears damp
The heart is like the SUN to our body, radiating out heat and nutrients via the blood circulating the body
If love is abundant the face is normal reddish and moist and bright. If its insufficient its pale and without lustre
SHEN is energy of consciousness and awareness. It’s the radiance of our spirt which lights up the dark. It’s the flame of a candle -
Since Shen resides in the Heart and circulates through our whole body in our Blood, supporting this important organ and the essence of Blood can help us to stay grounded, calm and open in our mind.
• Eat foods that have a vibrant red colour
• Don’t forget, a little bit of bitter flavour helps to extract nourishment from food and send it to the Heart
• Give your heart and Shen flowers, in food, brewed into tea, or as flower essences
FOOD AND HERBS THAT CALM SHEN
• Longan, mulberries
• Warm raw milk
• Lavender, chamomile, valerian, motherwort, hops
• Magnesium rich foods
