What is it about Summer that makes us feel like life is just… bigger? The days are long, the nights are warm, and there’s this unspoken invitation to say ‘Yes’ — yes to the BBQs, yes to that beach day, yes to staying out a little later than usual.

Summer is the season of connection, expansion, and living fully. But it can also be a time when we burn ourselves out chasing all that ‘fun in the sun’ energy.

Have you ever noticed how Summer can feel both exhilarating and overwhelming? One moment, you’re riding this wave of joy, feeling alive and free — and the next, you’re snappy, tired, or just plain overbooked. That’s because the energy of Summer is fire — and fire, while warm and life-giving, can also burn out of control if we’re not mindful.

So today on I Love Me The Podcast, we’re diving into Summer Self-Care through the lens of Traditional Chinese Medicine — how to nourish our heart, calm the inner fire, all the while embracing the passion, play, and connection of the season.

 

Simple, inspiring lessons in self-love. Hello expansive one, It’s Tamra back again.

Here in the Southern Hemisphere we’ve just stepped into Summer — a season that holds so much potential for personal expansion, connection and joy…

As long as we don’t burn ourselves out.

That’s why today, I wanted to explore the inner and outer shifts that comes with Summer – so you can attune to the energy of the season in a way that keeps you emotionally vibrant, physically well, and spiritually connected.

Because Summer isn’t just a date on the calendar — it’s a state of being.

And it requires specific summer self-care.

In Taoist philosophy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season is connected to an element, a set of organs, emotional tendencies, and a spiritual invitation.

And Summer?

Summer belongs to the Element of Fire.

Which makes sense, because fire is hot, and in most parts of the world, Summer is hot too.

Now fire is warmth.

Fire is joy.

Fire is intimacy, expression, movement, passion.

It’s the laughter shared with friends.

The way the sun kisses your skin.

The moment when you feel most alive.

But like any fire, it needs to be tended.

Because when left unchecked, fire expands and can consume us.

In this way, Fire is also about discernment and clarity.

It teaches us how to shine without burning out, how to lead without dominating, how to love deeply while still honouring our boundaries.

So Summer becomes this sacred dance:

Knowing when to step into the sun — and when to return to the shade.

When to connect — and when to rest.

When to say yes — and when to lovingly say no.

Energetically, Summer is the peak of Yang — the most outward-moving, expressive, and vibrant time of the year.

It’s all about expansion.

Look at the natural world right now — everything is in bloom.

The fruits are ripening.

The bees are buzzing.

The days are long and full and bright.

This season calls us to do the same — to express our full aliveness, to be seen and known and heard.
It’s a time for getting out there in our community.

A time to play, be creative, be intimate, and most importantly, live from our heart.

But here’s the gentle reminder:

Even joy needs tending.

Even fire needs boundaries.

For when our inner fire is balanced (when we’ve offered ourself summer self-care), we feel lit from within — passionate, content, with vibrant energy.

But when that flame becomes too wild, or not tended at all, we can feel anxious, scattered, overextended… or on the flip side, flat and exhausted.

Insomnia, delusions and severe psychiatric conditions are showing us there’s too much internal heat in the body, which can be more of an issue in Summer.

Physically, too much Heat in the body can manifest as fever, hot skin conditions like acne and eczema, high blood pressure, a rapid pulse, ulcers, or in worst case scenarios, cardiac arrest, because the Heart is the key organ that comes online in Summer.

And we need to care for our heart, and make sure we don’t agitate it by putting it in pressure-cooker conditions.

So, now that we’ve attuned to the pulse of Summer…

Let’s take a deeper look at the organs associated with this fiery season, and the role they play — not just in our physical health, but in our emotional clarity, our relationships, our boundaries, and our joy.

Summer belongs to the Heart and the Small Intestine — and these two organ systems work together in powerful, almost poetic ways.

Let’s start with the Small Intestine.

Physically, it sorts the pure from the impure — it decides what nutrients to absorb and what waste to eliminate.

Energetically?

It does the same.

The Small Intestine helps us discern what is nourishing from what is draining — not just in food, but in relationships, habits, thoughts, and environments.

It quietly asks:

‘Is this truly feeding my heart?’

‘Does this relationship, this conversation, this scroll through Instagram — make me feel more me, or less me?’

And the more clarity we can cultivate around what nourishes us…

The easier it is to make aligned choices, and to let go of what doesn’t serve.

Now let’s turn to the Heart — the ruler of Summer.

In Chinese Medicine, the Heart is more than just a physical pump.

It’s seen as the Emperor, providing a house for our Spirit to reside.

Because when our Heart energy is balanced, we feel open, connected, clear, joyful, and deeply content.

And that’s what gives us access to our wise inner voice, or as I like to call it, our True Self.

When we have this direct line of communication with our Heart, we can be in the moment, express ourselves authentically, and listen deeply to others.

But when the Heart is overworked or overheated — which can happen easily, as the Heart is an extremely active organ, beating 24/7 our entire life — we may feel restless, irritable, overwhelmed, or even manic and scattered.

You know that wired, buzzy feeling you get after too much coffee or socialising in the heat?

That’s Heart Fire flaring up.

And when this fire gets out of control — we may swing into anger, exhaustion, or emotional burn out.

The Heart’s sense organ is the tongue, so it also governs speech — so if you find yourself talking too fast, too much, or struggling to express your truth, it may be a sign that your Heart energy needs tending.

Now unlike the other seasons, Summer actually has four organs that come online — and the third is the Pericardium, known as the Heart’s Protector.

If the Heart is the Emperor, the Pericardium is the trusted bodyguard.

It governs our emotional boundaries — helping us stay open and connected, without being flooded or depleted.

And this is especially important in Summer.

Because this is a season full of social invitations, events, family time, community gatherings… and yes, sometimes overcommitment.

The Pericardium asks:

‘Can you stay open-hearted — while still saying no when you need to?’

‘Can you protect your joy — without closing yourself off?’

This organ teaches us how to say yes and no with love.

To let people in — without giving ourselves away.

This is a form or Summer self-care.

Finally, we have the San Jiao, also called the Triple Burner.

This one is a little more mysterious.

The San Jiao isn’t actually a physical organ — it’s an energy system that governs the movement of Qi (life force), fluids, and heat throughout the body.

Think of it as your inner thermostat and hydration manager — responsible for how your body distributes warmth and moisture.

In Summer, when everything heats up, it’s crucial to keep the San Jiao happy with proper hydration, cooling foods, and practices that keep your body fluids moving.

Ok, so what does this look like, when it comes to caring for ourself in Summer?

How do we apply this wisdom directly to our life, so we can have a Summer selrf-care plan?

Firstly…

Eat for the Season and stay Hydrated

Summer calls for light, vibrant, and hydrating foods.

Think of fresh produce that thrives this time of year — watermelon, cucumbers, tomatoes, berries, stone fruits, and leafy greens.

Cooling foods like mint, cucumber, and melons help prevent overheating.

Bitter foods like arugula, dandelion greens; they help balance excess heat and support the Heart.

Lightly cooked meals or room-temperature dishes keep digestion smooth when it’s hot.

And the foods you want to avoid, are heavy, greasy, or overly spicy foods that can create internal heat.

So you want to match your food choices to the season…

And drink lots of filtered water throughout your day.

Cooling herbal teas like mint and chrysanthemum are so balancing in the heat of Summer.

Next, you want to:

Find Your Joy – But Pace Yourself

Summer energy says:

‘Get out there! Connect! Shine!’

And yes, Summer is the perfect time for barbecues, long walks, connecting with others, and spontaneous adventures.

But too much ‘doing’ can tip fire into burnout.

So the questions you want to ask yourself over Summer are:

Am I saying yes because I want to — or because I feel I should?

Do I feel more alive after this activity, or depleted?

Remember, true joy isn’t about constant activity — it’s about contentment with what is. Sometimes the best Summer moment is sitting quietly in the shade, feeling the breeze, with zero FOMO.

Thirdly, as part of your Summer self-care, you want to:

Balance Connection and Boundaries

Summer is about community, relationships, and sharing your gifts with the world.

But healthy fire knows when to retreat.

The Pericardium reminds us:

A strong yes requires a loving no.

If you’re not sure if a person is over-stepping a boundary, try ask yourself these questions:

Do certain people leave me feeling drained?

Am I over-committed socially?

Can I carve out an afternoon just for me, to recharge?

This down-time and ability to set boundaries, amid the busy outward backdrop of Summer, is so important to our health and wellbeing.

And that’s why next week, I’ll be going into depth on what healthy boundaries look like, when to know you need to set some, and how to do it from a place of love and ease.

Number four on the Summer self-care list, is:

Emotional Care for the Heart

When the Heart is balanced we’ll experience joy and contentment, but when the Heart is agitated, that can turn to anger, over-excitedness, or frustration; even manic type behaviours in extreme cases.

So we need to know how to ground ourselves, come back into a place of calm.

This is where practices like Qigong or Yoga, especially ones that include heart-opening flows and back bends are so nurturing at this time.

Meditation with a focus on breathing into the heart space will also help you rebalance.

And if you’re looking for some practices that offer this kind of support, go here and sign up for the FREE Self-Love Starter’s Kit.

Inside you’ll find a beautiful 5-minute heart meditation AND a 12-minute heart-opening yoga practice.

You may also like to try gently massaging acupressure point REN17 – it’s on the centre of your chest on your sternum.

This point is called the ‘Sea of Tranquility’ point for a reason — it soothes emotions and restores harmony, which can be such a gift amid the Summer excitement.

Laughter and play also support the Heart in Summer, because remember, the Heart is all about experiencing joy.

If you’re low on your dose of laughter, check out Episode 33, where I share the science behind laughter, how it really is medicine for the body, and ways to invite more of it into your life.

Next, on the Summer self-care list…

Listen To Your Heart.

When our Heart is clear of unhealthy, unresolved emotions, it houses our Spirit, our True Self.

What this means, is that by simply focusing our attention on our Heart, we can tune into our own inner wise person.

We can let the intelligence of our Heart’s Brain guide us through life, in a way that feels aligned and on purpose.

And if you haven’t heard of your heart’s Brain before, go back to Episode 24, where we explore exactly how our Heart Brain works.

Because when we’re following our heart, everything in life flows with much more ease.

For our Heart was the first organ to form in the body, and it’s our Heart that was always designed to guide us through life.

Unfortunately for most people, they listen more to their head, which bases its thoughts and decisions on past experiences, as opposed to tapping into our purpose and our potential.

So when it comes to Summer Lifestyle Practices, you want to:

Eat and drink hydrating, cooling foods and water.

Move your body joyfully – think dancing, swimming, yoga with backbends – movements that open the heart and chest area.

Set clear boundaries around how much you’re out there, so you can…

Balance your doing with being, and take the necessary time-out to relax.

Since the days are longer, balance that yang outward energy with yin inward moments like sunset walks, gentle journaling or meditation.

Play, laugh, listen to your heart’s guidance, above the loud noice of others or your own Ego.

And you’ll find that Summer becomes this beautiful time, where you come into a much deeper alignment with yourself and with nature.

One of the greatest gifts of Summer is its clarity.

The brightness of this season helps illuminate what’s aligned in our life — and just as importantly, what isn’t.

If something feels “off,” Summer invites us to notice it.

It’s a time to gently ask yourself:

Are my relationships fuelling joy or draining it?

Is my work lighting me up — or slowly burning me out?

Is there a passion that’s been waiting to be expressed more fully?

This is the season to listen.

To feel.

To recalibrate.

Because the more you align with what truly nourishes you, the more you come home to contentment — which is the virtue of the Heart.

And if inner contentment doesn’t sound all that sexy, then I highly recommend listening to Episode 28 — so you can understand the true value of contentment.

Remember, in Chinese Medicine, the Heart isn’t just about keeping us alive — it’s about helping us truly live.

It holds our spirit, our True Self, our joy, and our deepest sense of purpose.

And when we express that — through creativity, honest conversation, loving connection, or simply being our full selves — we feed not only our own spirit, but our community too.

That’s the true invitation of Summer.

To live fully, but with presence.

To burn brightly, but not out.

To express our light — while also knowing when to step into the shade.

So as you move through this vibrant season, ask yourself:

What makes my heart feel light?

What old stories can I release that dim my joy?

How can I build a life that feels both warm and balanced?

Above all else..

Keep your Heart open.

Stay joyful, but discerning.

Know that rest is just as sacred as action.

Let your heart — your beautiful, wise, radiant heart — be your guide.

And remember:

You are the flame.

And you are the one tending it.

Thank you so much for joining me today.

If this episode on Summer self-care sparked something in you, I’d be so grateful if you left a quick review or shared it with a friend — it really helps more beautiful humans find this space.

Until next time…

Enjoy soaking up the vibrance of Summer.

Or if you’re living in the Northern Hemisphere, take a peek at Episode 59 where I share how to keep your fire burning through Winter, so you can tap into the wisdom of your Kidneys.