Great Heat: 12th Seasonal Node (July 23 – August 6, 2026)
July 23, 2026 starts Great Heat, the 12th of the 24 seasonal nodes. This is the sixth and final stage of summer.
Yang energy has reached its fullest expression. Nature is vibrant, abundant and full of life.
Great Heat is summer's blazing peak.
An old saying describes this season as the time when "the rice boils in the field." It’s a beautiful image of crops ripening under the intense summer sun and reaching the fullness they’ve been growing toward all season.
It invites us to reflect on what in our own lives has been growing and may now be ready to harvest.
What's Happening in Nature
Fireflies become more active on warm, humid evenings
The earth is heavy with heat and humidity
Intermittent heavy rains
Seasonal self-care
Summer is associated with the Heart and the Shen, our capacity for love, joy and connection. As nature becomes more open and expansive, we often do too, spending more time outside and gathering with others.
This is a season to express kindness, since even small gestures of warmth can have a lasting effect.
The Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic cautions against holding onto anger during summer because excessive emotional heat can disturb the Heart and Shen. Like a sudden summer thunderstorm, emotions can arrive intensely and pass just as quickly. When we allow them to move through us, the storm doesn’t need to become the entire day.
In class, we’ve been practicing Qi Gong to gently massage and cool the Heart and Pericardium.
Nutrition
The foods that grow in each season often reflect what our bodies need most at that time. During Great Heat, lighter, water-rich foods help replenish fluids, while a small amount of mild spice can keep digestion warm and encourage light sweating to help release excess heat.
Pumpkin (squash) & Mung bean side dish
This is traditionally eaten to help clear heat and drain dampness
Ingredients
1-pound kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), peeled, seeded and diced *
1 cup dried mung beans
Water
Sea salt
Plain or vanilla yogurt, for serving (optional)
* Traditional recipes use kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), available at Asian markets such as H Mart. Kabocha has a naturally sweet, rich flavor and creamy texture, making it an excellent choice when available. If you can’t find kabocha, butternut squash makes an excellent substitute.
Directions
Rinse the mung beans under cool running water.
Place them in a bowl and cover generously with room-temperature water. Soak for 15–20 minutes.
While the mung beans soak, peel, seed, and cut the squash into 1-inch cubes.
After soaking, drain and rinse the mung beans again.
Place the mung beans and squash in a pot. Add enough fresh water to cover the ingredients by about 1 inch.
Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer gently for 30–40 minutes, or until the mung beans are tender and the squash is very soft.
Add a pinch of sea salt. Gently stir to break up the squash and combine the ingredients.
Allow to cool. Serve with plain or vanilla yogurt, if desired.
Other foods to enjoy now
Watermelon
Peaches
Cucumbers
Tomatoes
Zucchini and summer squash
Sweet corn
Fresh basil and mint
Mung beans
Barley
A small amount of warming spices and herbs, such as:
Fresh ginger
Garlic
Scallions
Black pepper
Basil
Seasonal Practice
The classics advise that in summer we should allow the mind to expand outward and enjoy nature. Since this season carries the quality of rising Yang, it is also a good time to seek out high places for walking.
Landscapes viewed from above give that rising Yang energy room to expand. Standing on a ridge and looking out over hills and water, the Heart is nourished by openness.
Our Healing in Nature hike was postponed because of rain, but we now have a new date: Saturday, August 15th.
This professionally guided hike was created to align with the energy of the season, with a special focus on overlooks and expansive views.
We'll begin with a peaceful walk alongside Cascade Lake before heading into the woods and gradually climbing to the ridgeline. Once at the top, we will take in panoramic views of Greenwood Lake, Bearfort Mountain and Prospect Rock.
If you were not able to join us on the original date, maybe this new date will work for you. We still have a few spaces available. Learn more and register here.
Conclusion
Enjoy the sun, the warmth and the abundance of life flourishing all around us.
We’re part of nature, so what happens in nature also happens in us. Noticing the beauty and energy of the seasons keeps us connected to the natural world and grounded in the moment.
Next Seasonal Node: Start of Autumn, August 7 to August 22, 2026.
