Practicing Patience
As we prepare for the summer solstice
Season: Spring
Element: Wood
Moon: Quarter
Happy Tuesday!
Tomorrow is the quarter and last moon in this spring season and the element of wood. Summer solstice is this Friday, June 20, and will usher in the season of summer and the element of fire. If you need support, Kara Markovich’s June sound curation, Sound + Space Summer Solstice Sound Immersion, is this Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. The next Rest Curation is on Sunday, July 27, 2025 from 1:30pm - 3:00pm. This will be the last free Rest Curation in the chalet that I will be hosting for 2025. It will officially be two years since I started the Cascade Rest Curation and I believe it is time to adapt the Rest Curations moving forward. I will keep you posted on what that looks like in future posts.
For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice is the longest day of the year — meaning it is the day with the longest period of sunlight. This additional sunlight brings more yang energy with it therefore making summer the most yang of all the seasons. The fire element, which is associated with the season of summer, is also the most yang of all the five elements. So summer, with its yang energy and elemental fire, should be the most active of all the seasons. But as you know, if you read this Substack regularly, in feng shui we always need a balance of yin and yang energy. Ever heard of summer malaise? Also known as summer fatigue or summer lethargy, it is a feeling of tiredness and low mood that some people experience during the summer months. It can manifest as a loss of appetite, languor, headaches, and dizziness, and is often linked to the increased heat and sunlight. As we transition into summer with its yang energy, hot, sunny days, and shorter nights, it is important to also bring yin energy into your life for balance and to keep away the summer malaise.
Patience is a wonderful practice during this summer season. With all this yang energy swirling around, you may feel the pull to get everything done on your to-do list or finish your workload so that you can get outside. However, we need to be patient with ourselves and know how much we can actually get done in a day. This allows us to take things one step at a time, to know that things will eventually get done (don’t stress), and to slow down enough to truly enjoy this wonderful season. Remember that we still need to rest during this yang season and in doing so we can practice patience to stop overbooking ourselves and really slow down.
So, as we prepare for the summer solstice consider some of these more yin activities to connect to the celebration of summer without entering into a malaise:
Create small terrariums out of mason jars for catching fireflies. Just make sure that you punch breathing holes in the lid or use mesh instead so that that these illuminating creatures survive. I’m a big believer in catch and release for firefly capturing.
Go shopping at a local farmer’s market, farm store, or farm stand. I just went to Green Wagon Farm’s farm store and got some amazing produce. Support local farms if you can.
Light a candle or some incense on the night of the solstice to celebrate the transition to the fire element. I got some Summer incense sticks from Paige Soy Candles at the Fulton Street famer’s market awhile back that I am pulling out for just this occasion.
Make some summer excursion plans. On my list, I have a visit to Cherry Point Market’s Lavender Labyrinth in Shelby, MI and a trip out to Fennville, MI to stock up on my favorite cheese at Evergreen Lane Creamery.
Meander through nature in the morning to soak up some of the sun’s early rays without getting too hot and bothered. A leisurely walk in the shade of trees can bring about a balance of yin and yang.
Pick some flowers from a wildflower patch or from your yard. I just picked my peonies that bloomed at the beginning of June and they were stunning.
Sit outside with a book to read in the warmth or without your phone to listen to the sounds around you. The birds have seemed particularly vocal in my neck of the woods lately and I am loving it!
Take some afternoon naps because, as Tricia Hersey writes in her aptly named book, Rest is Resistance.
Information on upcoming Rest Curations, Rest Walks, and Sound Curations are at the bottom of the post. And please pass this Substack onto a friend or family member to broaden this amazing CRC community and to give the gift of rest to those who need it. If you don’t live in West Michigan and want to hold a Rest Curation in your local community, please email me at abby@cascadefengshui.com for the script and music information. Or email me if you would like to organize a private Rest Curation for friends, family, or colleagues.
Note: Rest products are still in the works, but I am leaving the paid subscriber Rest Readings, Rest Recipes, Rest Rituals, and Rest Recordings on the newsletter for a month or so. If you want to contribute, consider becoming a paid subscriber through Substack:
REST READING
Check out all of the rest reading recommendations in Resources on my Substack page.
REST RECIPE
As we approach the summer solstice*, fresh produce is now in abundance. As I mentioned above, I recently stopped by the farm store at Green Wagon Farm and they had the most amazing cherry tomatoes and basil. Perfect ingredients for little nibbles I needed to make for an impending gathering. I have long seen tortellini skewers on Pinterest for cute little appetizers, so I thought I would give them a go with a Caprese twist. So, here is my recipe for Tortellini Caprese Skewers:
DRESSING
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup red wine vinegar
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 tablespoon honey
2 teaspoons lemon juice
1-1/2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
Pinch of cracked red pepper flakes
Pinch of black pepper
SKEWERS
Tortellini
Fresh mozzarella bocconcini
Fresh basil leaves
Cherry tomatoes
Toothpicks
Flake salt
Make the dressing in a large bowl. Cook the tortellini per the package directions and drain. Toss the hot tortellini in the dressing to coat. Cover the bowl and store in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight to let the tortellini cool and soak up the dressing. Wash and halve the cherry tomatoes, wash the basil leaves, and halve the mozzarella. To prepare a skewer, thread a toothpick with one cooled tortellini, a halved mozzarella, a basil leaf, and a halved cherry tomato. Continue until all of the ingredients are threaded onto the toothpicks. Finish with a sprinkle of flake salt.
*To combat summer malaise, opt for lighter, smaller meals to avoid feeling sluggish after eating.
REST RITUAL
I wanted to share with you that the Wild Zen Yoga Fest is coming up on July 18-20, 2025. Per the Wild Zen Yoga website, “Experience the magic of Wild Zen in Trufant, Michigan, at this annual festival designed to nourish your body, mind, and soul. Immerse yourself in a weekend (or day!) filled with yoga, mindfulness, meditation, movement, music, and the beauty of nature, all while connecting with a vibrant community.” Here is the 2025 WZYF schedule for reference:
I’ll be leading a walking meditation at the fest on Sunday, July 20, from 12pm-1pm. You can purchase tickets from the Wild Zen Store. Hope to see you there!
Thank you so much for reading! I hope this has been enjoyable. May you have a restful week and summer solstice.
Below are the upcoming 2025 Cascade Rest Curations (links to Eventbrite are underlined):
REST CURATIONS
Guided body scan, energy clearing, vagus nerve reset, yoga nidra exercise, rest / sleep, wake up, and meditation over an hour and a half. All Rest Curations will take place on the Sunday near the new moon at the Liebestraum Chalet in Alto, Michigan:
Rest Curation - Sunday, July 27, 2025 from 1:30pm - 3:00pm
REST WALKS
Monthly dynamic walks to bring both energy and relaxation. These guided walks will start with a circle to stretch and to set an intention to ponder based on the element of the season. The first 30 minutes of the walk will be in noble silence and the last 30 minutes will be open to conversation and observation. The walk will finish with a circle to reflect, share, integrate, and finally stretch. If you have been hesitant to join a Rest Curation, please consider signing up for a Rest Walk since this a more active entry into yin energy. All Rest Walks will take place on the Saturday near the full moon at a park near Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Rest Walk - Saturday, August 9, 2025 from 10:00am - 12:00pm
SOUND CURATIONS
Join us to celebrate the element of each season with sound immersions by Kara Markovich at the Liebestraum Chalet in Alto, Michigan:
Sound + Space Summer Solstice Sound Immersion - Summer solstice, Friday, June 20, 2025 from 6:30pm - 8:00pm
And if you are interested in my feng shui and interior design services, please see my website at www.cascadefengshui.com and contact me at abby@cascadefengshui.com.