Course Overview

Rising temperatures, increased rainfall, longer hours of daylight, and rapid agricultural growth are part of the start of summer. Grains grow full, but are not yet ripe. The diet should be light, without heavy or fatty foods. Take naps to protect the heart from heat or over-exertion. Working with others is important to share the load and develop friendships. Frogs croaking, earthworms wriggling, cucumbers growing. Sow thistles flowering, delicate whitlow-grass dying, temperatures rising. Nature expands her territory with prolific growth, held together by the yang power of heaven. Sometimes restricted and restrained, at other times the full yang power of heaven is seen in full abundance. The three months of summer bring rapid growth and flowering. Heaven and earth intertwine, and the heart is nourished and developed. Avoid excess heat and violence. Assist the beauty and strength of nature. If the heart is not nourished, there will be illness in autumn and serious illness at the winter solstice. In the 4th month and 6th branch, be aware of excess fire and heat affecting the heart, pericardium, and spleen. Remember SP 6 to build yin and SP 10 to cool blood. HT 3, HT 7 and HT 8 particularly protect the heart from heat. P 6 protects digestion, while ghost points P 5, P 7, and P 8 protect from unexpected emotional disturbance and trauma. The classics recommend shu stream and ying spring points in summer. The traditional qi gong exercises activate thoracic 7 and 8.

Course Objectives

• Learn how to use the specific energies of early summer to improve treatments
• Be able to be in tune with the energies of early summer and benefit from them in your health
• Be able to practise the traditional qi gong exercises for the two fortnightly periods
• Be aware of the multiple aspects active at this time of year

Course Outline

0 hrs - 15 minUnderstand Start of Summer solar period. its meaning and application. Half-way between Spring Equinox and Summer Solstice, it welcomes the season of summer with its increased light, heat and rainfall, leading to prolific growth.

15 min - 30 minUnderstand the images of the 6 traditional 5 day periods. Frogs croak, earthworms loosen the soil, cucumbers emerge. The sow thistle flowers and delicate grasses die as the heat arrives.

30 min - 1 hrsUnderstand the 6 traditional hexagrams and their advice for the time of year. Be cautious in new territory. Be aware of the power of summer. Be aware of heavens yang power to give growth, sometimes restrained, sometimes full of abundance.

1 hrs - 1.25 hrsUnderstand the importance of summer for the heart, opening, nourishing and developing in beauty and strength, without force and violence. Remember HT 3 Lesser Sea, Ht 5 Penetrating Inside, HT 6 Yin Cleft and HT 7 Spirit Gate.

1.25 hrs - 1.5 hrsUnderstand the importance of the sixth earthly branch, si, related to fire, the fourth month, the foot tai yin spleen meridian and the snake.

1.5 hrs - 1.75 hrsUnderstand the importance of the spleen meridian to the heart, for example Sp 6 Three Yin Crossing to build up yin and SP 10 Sea of Blood to cool heat in the blood.

1.75 hrs - 2 hrsUnderstand xiao man Lesser Fullness or Grain Buds, when the grain is growing full, but not yet ripe. It is full, but not overflowing, showing appropriate modesty. A little can be enough and wholeness lies in the not quite complete.

2 hrs - 2.25 hrsUnderstand the dangers in summer of the heat climate, particularly to the heart, depleting yin and fluids and endangering the health of the heart. Ensure protection, rest and sufficient fluids.

2.25 hrs - 2.5 hrsUse the 4th month matching meridian the hand jue yin pericardium to protect the heart from heat and unexpected emotional trauma. Consider P 5 Intermediary messenger, P 7 Big Mound and P 8 Palace of Toil for protection and guarding the shen spirit.

2.5 hrs - 3 hrsLearn the Start of Summer and Grain Fullness traditional qi gong exercises. Start of Summer exercise activates thoracic vertebra 8 and helps the spleen. Lesser Fullness exercise activates thoracic 7 and helps the pancreas.