The power of the Sun is on full display in the northern hemisphere, as we enter the month of Sivan. At the time of this writing, sunrise is around 5:15 am and sunset at 9:00 pm in Seattle! This energetic fire will continue to grow until it peaks on June 21 at the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and we will bask in its heat for months.
Just as the Sun is the center of our solar system, our heart is the center of our personal world. In Chinese medicine, the element of fire is associated with the season of summer and the organs of the heart (yang) and small intestine (yin). When we connect with the flow of Spirit emanating from the heart, we experience joy and love. When this energy is blocked or stagnant, we experience anxiety and despair.
There are several powerful acupressure points that can help nourish your heart. One of the easiest to access is known as Heart 7 or Spirit Gate (Shen Men). This point is excellent for calming anxiety or panic, and helps relax the body while also calming the mind. This is a great point to stimulate if you are experiencing sleeplessness or excessive worry as well.
It can be found just below the crease of your wrist, in line with the space between your pinkie and ring finger. You will feel a tendon under your finger. It is common for this point to be sore to the touch. Hold this point with steady pressure for at least 30 seconds and up to 3 minutes as often as you'd like. Take a few deep breaths. The love of the Universe is now flowing more freely through your body. Do a little dance of joy!
Joy is paramount this month in the Hebrew calendar. In Sivan we encounter Shavuot, a celebration of the receiving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, as well as the wheat harvest in the land of Israel. Shavuot is associated with the sefira of Tiferet (the heart chakra in the yogic system). Tiferet harmonizes the energies of Loving Kindness (Chesed) and Discernment (Gevurah) to create a balanced energy. This is true love. Like the late, great Leonard Shaw used to say, "mature love is a combination of compassion and backbone."
Sivan is also associated with the number 3 (being the 3rd month of the year) and the higher order that arises when two opposing forces harmonize. Paradoxically, the symbol for the month of Sivan is the twins, two distinct people who share one womb. Could this be pointing to the greater unity that comes from the harmony of opposites?
As humans, we contain both physical and spiritual realms, and these meet most profoundly in our heart. At the heart of the Torah is the wisdom that every human being is created in the image of the Divine, and that we play an integral role in the unfoldment of Creation. Through our thoughts, words, and deeds, we bring this World closer to its highest potential, or slow down its progress. When the energy of our heart is open and flowing, we feel our connection to the Great Mystery and know that we are not alone. We feel a connection to something greater, and it moves us. It is the dance of life.
Energies of the Month
Element: Fire
Organs: Heart/Small Intestine
Emotions: Joy (balanced)/Anxiety (unbalanced)
Acupressure: Heart 7 (Shen Men/Spirit Gate)
Mazal/Sign: Sivan/Gemini (Mutable Air)
Hebrew Holiday: Shavuot
Important Dates
New Moon of Sivan/Gemini: May 30
Shavuot: Sunset on June 4 until Sunset on June 6
Full Moon of Sivan/Gemini: June 14
Summer Solstice: June 21
New Moon of Tammuz/Cancer: June 30
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