Discovering the contentment of the shade

The Yin Side of Summer

Discovering the Contentment of the Shade

All my life, I have considered myself a beach bum. I have almost always lived on or near the ocean, and I was drawn to the sun, the water, and the freedom of long summer days. Swimming, sunshine, and, of course, working on my tan were simply part of who I was. As a fire sign, I have always run hot, and would be in the ocean, river, pool or shower at least once a day to cool down! I do love the sunlight and warmth, but have always struggled with its intensity.

Looking back, I can see a similar pattern in the way I lived my life. I spent much of it burning the candle at both ends—overworking, overdoing it, and running hard and fast. I was often pushing myself beyond what was sustainable. This lifestyle was exhausting. Eventually, I found myself smoldering in my own ashes, and I am finally learning that I do not have to burn in order to shine.

Perhaps that is why this summer has felt so different. The heat became harder for me to tolerate, and when I tried to push through it as I always had, my body asked me to pay attention. After becoming overheated and exhausted, I realized I could no longer ignore what it was telling me. I was being called to slow down, even further than was comfortable for me.

I still live only a few miles from the beach and continue to swim regularly, but these days my rhythm has changed. I swim laps early in the morning and occasionally visit the beach for a late-afternoon swim, when the intensity of the day has softened. I still seek solace at the ocean, but I no longer feel the need to live every moment at full intensity.

Through circumstance, a recent move, and a growing need for a gentler lifestyle, my days began to take on a different rhythm. I now work from home, with my office in a cool basement, and I found myself spending more time at home than I once would have imagined.

To my surprise, I began to relish the shade and discovered another side of the season—the sister of summertime: shade. Beneath the trees, I began noticing the lush greens, the contrast of light and shadow, and the way different weather patterns could completely change the landscape. Slowing down helped me notice what had been there all along.

I began spending more time on my porch, watching hummingbirds and butterflies and listening to the waterfall of our pond. I rested in the hammock in the late-day sun and began to relish simply being at home. Somewhere in that slowing down, I discovered something I hadn't expected: contentment.

A friend once pointed out that I often went to the beach when I needed to escape. The beach has always been a place of joy, freedom, and healing for me, and I don't think that will ever change. But this summer, I began to realize that I didn't always have to run somewhere else to find peace.

And there, I was slowly and quietly working in a more sustainable way, nourishing myself as I planted and harvested from my Sacred Herb Garden, communed with the plant kingdom, made flower essences, prepared tinctures and oils, wrote healing stories, and quietly developed the foundation for my new work.

I had always thought of winter as the season of rest, but this summer taught me something different. Even in the height of growth, there can be periods of pause. Flowers do not bloom continuously. They rest between blossoms, gathering their energy before another flower opens. Sometimes they bloom again. We are invited to do the same.

Summertime in New England is fleeting and valued greatly! Summer brings excitement, vacations, heat and joy, but it also holds space for shade, the soft quiet space where the flower gathers her energy to fully open. The yin and yang are not opposites competing with one another. They are best friends, working together—sun and shade, movement and rest, opening and closing—creating the conditions for the flower to bloom into its fullest and most fragrant expression.

I am learning balance this season in a new way that is deeply nourishing and joyful. I am like the morning glory, blossoming in the early morning sun and closing in the intense heat. Have you ever noticed how, on a cloudy day, the morning glory can remain abundantly in bloom? She pays attention to her environment, opening and blossoming when the conditions are best for her.

Recently, on a foggy day, I walked through a meadow where white, pink, purple, and striped morning glories seemed to be starring in their own show. Against the soft, muted backdrop of the fog, their colors seemed even brighter, no longer competing for the spotlight. Each one had its moment to shine.

This cool summer, Sister Shade befriended me and helped me discover that I can be true to my own nature and blossom when the conditions are best for me. Instead of fighting the current, I can trust the flow and let the river of serenity carry me to my destination with ease. 🌿