7 July: Contemplations on the Solar term “Minor Heat”
The height of summer begins to ripen. Warmth builds steadily, though the full intensity of heat has not yet arrived. Temperatures rise, and growth is abundant. Beneath this brightness and activity lies a subtle tension, the point where expansion meets restraint. Life flourishes outwardly, while balance is maintained by nurturing the inner being with calm awareness. This season embodies heat, endurance, and resilience, sustained by patience and steady presence. Observe the persistence and stability in nature, and reflect on how measured endurance supports continued growth.
Sit comfortably,
breathe naturally,
exhale to release,
inhale to integrate,
staying calm and aware.
This is the last Solar Period of the Host Qi of Shao Yang. Following this, Tai Yin will take over as Host Qi, marking the beginning of the inward journey with the Solar Period of ‘Major Heat’.
In the final exercise at Minor Heat, opposites are reconciled, and all aspects coexist within the space of the self.
Afterwards, opposites naturally separate again, enabling attunement to the changes occurring in the natural world. These changes serve as keys to self-knowledge, until we recognize that self-knowledge is not an end in itself. Ultimately, we come to see that Love knows no opposites.
