A Balanced Approach to the Summer Solstice.

Numerology of 6, the Tetrahedron & 4/6 Breathing.

Here in the UK we are approaching the time when we celebrate the Summer Solstice. This is when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, the days are at their longest and we are very much within the energy of the element of fire. This is the perfect time to be focusing our energy on replenishing, cleansing, charging and reviving our Solar Plexus chakras. This can be as simple as spending time out in the sun, taking some time out to appreciate the beautiful colours of nature as she now reaches the peak of her blossoming season, even something as simple as showing appreciation for the leaves on the trees, now abundant, fresh and lush. Drink in the sight and sounds of them as they ripple and swoosh on the branches, let the beauty of creation fill you with a sense of awe and allow these moments to matter, for within the blink of an eye those leaves will soon be fading, changing and falling before our eyes as summer turns to autumn – so don’t allow the joy of summer to pass you by! Take the time to enjoy it and get out in the wonderful healing green colours while you can! Even if the sky is cloudy or the rain is falling, by connecting with the trees and plants we can still link into the element of Fire – Be aware that the lush green colour is created by the suns rays as the trees trap the light energy and feed off it, allow the light within the leaves to fill you with a sense of passion, with a lust for life itself, let your soul feed from it just as the leaves do. In the moments when the sun does emerge take the time to feel the sun on your skin and visualise this light filling your solar plexus, charging up your creative vitality centre within you. Allow yourself to bask in the energy of pure joy that is invoked, lap it up!

Sacred Geometry

The platonic solid linked into the Solar Plexus and the element of Fire is the Tetrahedron. This sacred geometric shape holds within it the symbolism of an energy that is primal in nature. We all learned in school about the ‘Fire Triangle’ and the 3 conditions needed in order for combustion to occur, these being heat, fuel and oxygen. In more recent years, fire research has developed this from the ‘Fire Triangle’ to the ‘Fire Tetrahedron’ – this model acknowledges that as well as the 3 elements of heat, fuel and oxygen, there is a 4th element that must be present – that being the element of a chemical chain reaction. This reaction can be seen as the creative spark or inspiration. Its an exothermic release of energy that triggers the combustion process. By transforming the 2D basic triangle shape and extending it into the tetrahedron platonic solid then, we can gain an understanding of the spiritual significance of the element of Fire – its the vital energy that is needed to give us our spark, our passion and to trigger the processes of inspiration, creation and transformation within us. Working with this shape and focusing on our solar plexus we can visualise these 4 elements forming within our Solar Plexus and igniting the fire within us.

Balance Needed

With any fire it is important to temper it and to balance the energies and while the solstice is very much a fire festival, the date on which it falls – June 21st, marks the start of the astrological season of Cancer. Cancer holds within it both the energy of fire and water – it is a water sign with strong links to our emotions, yet it represents our home and domestic life and therefore has links to the hearth and the fire element. This is intensified by the fact that it falls in the 6th month of the year – 6 holding the numerological energy of domestic happiness, harmony, balance and stability. By integrating all of the symbology within these different approaches, we can see that this is the perfect time of the year to be focusing on balancing the fire and water elements within us.

The Trick is to Keep Breathing – 4/6 Breathing.

Taking all of the symbolism discussed here we can amalgamate it into a simple breathing exercise. Going back to the tetrahedron we have within this the numerology of 4 and 6 – there are 4 faces, 6 edges and 4 vertices.
Cancer also holds within it the energies of both 4 and 6 – it is the 4th sign of the zodiac and begins in the 6th month of the year. So when it comes to balancing the energies of Fire and Water within us, 4/6 breathing is the perfect exercise to use.
To do this simply inhale for a count of 4 and exhale for a count of 6. Extending the exhale and breathing out for a longer period than the inhale automatically counters the sympathetic nervous system – this is our ‘fight or flight’ response to stress. Regulating our breathing and focusing on extending the exhalation stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system which is governed by the Vagus Nerve, which in turn lowers our heart rate and balances our bodies stress response. Try working this into a meditation over the Summer Solstice to help balance out all the fiery masculine energies that are around, softening it by invoking along with it the feminine watery element of Cancer.

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