Five Element Medicine for Late Summer - Earth Energy
Discover how aligning with Late Summer Earth energy supports digestion, grounding, and emotional balance
As the bright, expansive days of high summer begin to soften, nature invites us to slow down, reflect, and return to our centre. In Five Element wisdom, this is the Earth phase—an often-overlooked but deeply healing time of year. Late Summer offers us a sacred pause between seasons, a chance to nourish body and spirit, digest the fullness of life, and reconnect with what truly sustains us. In this blog, we’ll explore how attuning to Earth energy through simple self-care practices can bring grounding, clarity, and a sense of deep inner belonging.
As we move through the peak of summer, there's a subtle but profound shift beginning to whisper through the natural world. The vibrant Fire energy that has carried us through the height of summer—with its expansive yang qualities, creative spark, and outward-flowing vitality—is beginning its graceful transformation into the nurturing, grounding Earth energy of late summer.
This transition is beautifully embodied in the ancient Celtic festival of Lammas, celebrated on August 1st, which marks the first harvest and honours the sacred balance between summer's peak fire and the coming season of gathering and grounding. This marks the halfway point between Summer Solstice and Autumn Equinox.
Traditional Chinese Medicine is based on the belief that humanity is part of the natural world and that health or balance can only be achieved when one follows the natural law, adapting to the changes of the seasons and the surrounding environment. This is the philosophy of the TAO. The more we stray from living in harmony with the TAO the more damaging it is to our mind, body and spirit. The theories of YIN/YANG together with the 5 Elements were developed through ancient Chinese rituals of observing natures’ ever changing cycles. These theories are fundamental to Traditional Chinese Medicine.
The Wisdom of Fire Energy
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fire energy corresponds to the Heart and Small Intestine meridians and the Heart Protector and Tripple Heater meridians , governing our capacity for joy, connection, and vibrant expression. During summer's peak, this Fire element has supported us with:
Creative inspiration and outward expression
Social connection and communication
Vitality and dynamic action
Joy and laughter
The ability to share our inner light with the world
Yet like any element in nature, Fire energy requires balance. When we've been burning brightly for months, we may notice signs that our inner Fire needs tending: restlessness, difficulty sleeping, feeling overstimulated, or even burnout from too much outward-focused activity.
The Gentle Embrace of Earth Energy
As we transition into late summer, the Earth element—associated with the Spleen and Stomach meridians—begins to call us home to ourselves.
This isn't an abrupt shift but rather a gradual, organic process. In the Five Element cycle, Fire naturally creates Earth—just as a fire's ashes enrich the soil, our summer experiences of expansion and joy create the foundation for autumn's deeper harvesting of wisdom. The key is supporting this transition consciously, helping our Earth element return to its natural state of nourishment and support. Working with your earth energy supports and helps you to :
Boost your energy
Improve digestion
Release worry and stress
Improve cognitive function
Boost your immune system
Get grounded and centred
At its essence, Earth energy is about nourishment and support, both giving and receiving the sustenance we need to thrive.
Earth Element
Earth is the centre, our planet, the soil from which things grow. It supports us nourishes us and offers stability.Earth is the centre. All other elements have a movement up or down, Earth acts as the centre, as an axis around which all the other elements move.
Earth holds shape and form, like the banks of a river contain the water.
Earth element corresponds to late summer and to the transition time between each season. Earth is harvest time. There is a soft golden quality to the sunlight, there is a languid stillness and a sense of softening and ripening.
It is a time to pause, to find stillness , give thanks for a bountiful harvest and relax and centre after the full on expansive energy of summer.
Earth relates to the stomach and spleen meridians in the body. The stomach and spleen meridians are central to digestion and play a vital part in Chinese medicine, converting food into Ki and distributing it around the body.
The main qualities of the Earth element are nourishment and support.
Symptoms of Imbalances
Digestive problems, bloating, obsession, over -protective, co-dependent, sympathy, insecurity, worry, poor memory, water retention, excessive mucus, weight gain, congested lymphatic system, prolapse, loose stools, digestive disorders, fatigue, nourishment issues, ungrounded and scattered emotionally.
Ask yourself:
What do I truly need to feel nourished, supported and safe in this world ?
When our Earth element is in balance, we experience something truly beautiful: abundant Spleen energy generates a deep inner sense of wellbeing and a wonderful sense of ease and comfort. We feel content, able to enjoy the pleasures of life, with a deep relationship to our own sensuality. There's a feeling of abundance on all levels—we're able to give and receive with grace. Our digestion becomes relaxed and efficient, the body feels supported and toned, and the mind is clear. We feel grounded, embodied, safe and protected by the divine mother Earth herself.
However, when our Earth element becomes imbalanced—often from the intensity of summer's Fire energy or the demands and stresses of modern life—we may notice different signals from our body and mind:
Physical signs might include loose stools, poor digestion, heartburn, tiredness, heavy limbs, weakness in the legs, lack of stamina, or fatigue. Some may experience blood sugar imbalances or challenges with diabetes.
Mental and emotional signs often manifest as feeling overwhelmed, excessive overthinking, poor concentration, or a sense of being unable to process and integrate our experiences.
Practical Ways to Support This Transition
As we move through this seasonal passage, we can support our bodies and spirits with gentle practices that nurture our Earth element back to balance:
Gentle ways to align with Late Summer’s Earth energy:
Grounding - walk or stand barefoot on the ground. So simple but so powerful ! Barefoot on the ground allow our bodies to absorb free electrons from the earth which help neutralise free radicals and can help reduce inflammation, calm the nervous system and reduce cortisol levels. There is also a major acupressure point Kidney 1 on the sole of the foot. It’s through Kid - 1 that we absorb the earth’s cooling supportive energy into our energy system.
💆 Receive nourishing bodywork or massage . Earth element is nourished by touch (Shiatsu is perfect!) book here
🍲 Eat warm, seasonal foods: root veg, grains, stews.
Nourishing Foods for Earth Support: Choose foods that support healthy digestion and blood sugar balance: cooked grains, root vegetables, sweet and mildly bitter flavors. Eat mindfully and regularly to support your Spleen's capacity for transformation and nourishment.
Dietary Tips
Eat at proper times . Eat slowly and mindfully. Chew your food.
Eat sitting down, not on the run !
Spleen loves well-cooked foods like soups, stews and casseroles. Try and eat warm food. Avoid very cold water and cold food eg ice cream and raw food. Cooked food best.
Earth element foods include :
Yellow and orange vegetables. sweet potatoes, pumpkin, squash, parsnips, carrots. Yam, string bean, corn, chestnut, tofu, chickpeas, oats, spelt, dates, figs, cherries, apples, peach, plums, red grapes. molasses, honey, herring, lamb, mackerel, apricots, organic beef, scallions, courgettes, potatoes walnuts
rice. Oats, polenta, millet, spelt
Pungent spices like aniseed, fennel, ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon and liquorice.
Onion family, ginger, peppermint and liquorice good for clearing damp.
🌬️ Practice slow, centred Qi Gong: Practice movements that draw energy downward and strengthen the legs—simple standing postures, gentle flowing movements that connect you to the earth beneath your feet, helping to address weakness and fatigue while building stamina. Raise the hands to condition the stomach and spleen.
💖 Boost self esteem . Spleen energy is related to self love and nourishment Tap your thymus (in the middle of your sternum) with loving affirmations. 6 x morning and night for 28 days.
Eg I love myself, I take care of myself, I value and treasure myself.
One of my favourites affirmations for boosting self-esteem
I am good enough in all that I do.
I am important and I do matter
I am valued, respected and loved.
✨ Favourite acupressure point: ST 36 (Zu San Li) – supports energy, digestion & calm.
Acupressure for Earth Harmony: Gentle pressure on points like Spleen 6 (San Yin Jiao) and Stomach 36 (Zu San Li) can support digestive health, reduce overthinking, and help restore that sense of groundedness and inner wellbeing.
St 36 - 3 Mile Leg - top acupressure point !
Sit down and place your hand on your knee, with your fingers pointing horizontally.
The Stomach 36 point is located about four finger widths down from the bottom of your kneecap, towards the outside of your leg.
You should be able to feel a small depression in the muscle there. That's the Stomach 36 point!
Very important point. Tonifies Ki, eliminates fatigue. Helps digestive conditions like nausea, vomiting, acid reflux, belching, cramps bloating, flatulence, diarrhoea , low appetite , poor digestion. Improves immune system and treats chills fever and asthma.
This is such a powerful point, it is said that by daily stimulation of this point you can live to be 100 ! Modern studies have demonstrated that stimulating this point produces measurable changes in the area of the brain related to gastric function.
Rest and Reflection: Honour your body's need for deeper rest during this transition. If you're experiencing fatigue or heavy limbs, this may be Earth's way of asking you to slow down and receive nourishment rather than constantly giving out.
Release Worry and stress
Hold ESR points on forehead above each eyebrow and breathe for 2-3 mins. Do whenever feeling stressed
Deep belly breathing , holding belly and heart. This is really nice to do in bed before going to sleep.
This is a time to slow down and come home to centre. Let the Earth hold you.
Celebrating the Shift: Gong in the Woods - Lammas Celebration
To honour this beautiful transition, I'm delighted to invite you to join me for Gong in the Woods - Lammas Celebration on Saturday, August 2nd, 2025. This woodland day retreat is designed specifically to embody the shift from summer's vibrant Fire energy to late summer's grounding Earth energy.
We'll gather in nature to:
Practice gentle Qi Gong that supports the Fire-to-Earth transition
Guided meditation
Experience breathwork that grounds and transforms
Share in fire ceremony honouring the first harvest
Receive the healing vibrations of a woodland gong bath
Enjoy a nourishing shared vegan feast that feeds both body and soul
There's something deeply healing about marking these seasonal passages in community, surrounded by the wisdom of trees and the earth's natural rhythms.
Going Deeper: Five Element Earth Energy Workshop
For those called to explore Earth energy more deeply, I'm also offering a Five Element Earth Energy Workshop on Saturday, September 6th, 2025. This session will provide a comprehensive exploration of the Earth element, with practical tools for:
Understanding your relationship with the Earth element and recognising your own patterns
Identifying Earth imbalances (from digestive issues to overthinking) and learning how to restore harmony
Learning specific Qi Gong sequences to strengthen the legs, improve stamina, and support digestive health
Exploring practices that cultivate that beautiful sense of inner wellbeing and contentment
Learn acupressure points to support your earth element
Developing a personal practice to support your Earth element's capacity for nourishment and abundance
Reconnecting with your body's wisdom and your relationship with sensuality and pleasure
This workshop is particularly beneficial if you've been experiencing any of the Earth imbalance signs—whether physical symptoms like digestive challenges or fatigue, or mental patterns like overwhelm and poor concentration.
The Gift of Seasonal Awareness
Learning to attune ourselves to these natural rhythms isn't just about wellness—it's about remembering our place in the larger web of life. When we honour the transition from Fire to Earth energy, we're participating in an ancient wisdom that has guided humans for millennia.
As the light begins to shift and the first hints of harvest appear in the world around us, consider how you might acknowledge this transition in your own life. What aspects of summer's Fire energy are you grateful for? What are you ready to harvest and integrate? How might you welcome Earth's nurturing embrace?
The seasonal wheel turns with or without our conscious participation, but when we choose to dance with these rhythms rather than resist them, we find ourselves supported by forces far greater than ourselves.
Ready to experience this transition in community? Join us for Gong in the Woods - Lammas Celebration on August 2nd, or mark your calendar for the Five Element Earth Energy Workshop on September 6th. Both events offer opportunities to deepen your connection with the natural rhythms that guide us through each season of the year.
You can get more information and book on the workshops at www.fionacarson.com/events
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