Staying cool & calm this pita season
Summer in Aotearoa arrives like a warm exhale golden, expansive, full of movement. But with its beauty comes the unmistakable rise of Pitta, the fire element that rules heat, intensity, drive, ambition, digestion, metabolism, and our inner flame.
This season is naturally bright, sharp, and outward-focused. And when Pitta increases — either through lifestyle, climate, or emotional charge — the body and mind can slip into imbalance quickly.
Irritability. Inflammation. Overthinking. Perfectionism. Breakouts. Acidic digestion. Feeling “on edge.”
Sound familiar?
This year, the heat carries an extra layer of cosmic significance.
Because as we move through the summer of 2025, the South Node of the Moon (Ketu) shifts into Leo — a fire sign, a sign of expression, identity, visibility, and sovereignty. Ketu brings purification. Leo brings flame. Together, they burn through the old versions of self that no longer align with our truth.
How can we stay cool, calm, centred, and sovereign…
while the world — and our inner world — grows hotter?
Pitta in Summer
Ayurveda teaches that summer increases Pitta because “like increases like.
More heat more fire in the system.
You may notice:
• less patience
• quicker temper
• skin sensitivity
• digestive acidity
• disrupted sleep
• urgency, intensity, or pressure
• pushing yourself too hard
South node in Leo
Ketu represents:
• detachment
• karmic clearing
• past-life mastery
• spiritual evolution
• truth over ego
• cutting through illusion
Leo represents:
• identity
• radiance
• self-expression
• creative fire
• leadership
• the heart
When Ketu moves into Leo, it purifies the ego layer.
Old identities you’ve outgrown burn away.
Patterns around visibility, validation, being “seen,” and self-worth rise to the surface to be cleared.
These practices keep Pitta balanced and help you navigate Leo-intensity with ease.
1. Favour Cooling, Grounding, Hydrating Foods
This season calls for:
• watermelon, cucumber, mint
• coconut water
• aloe vera juice
• pears, apples, berries
• basmati rice, mung dal
• leafy greens, lightly cooked vegetables
• coriander, fennel, rose, cardamom
Avoid excessive:
• chilli
• alcohol
• vinegar
• fried foods
• heavy meats
• coffee
• overly competitive environments
• excessive screen time / artificial heat
2. Add Nervous System Herbs: Ashwagandha + Lion’s Mane
This duo is a favourite Pitta-season combination:
• Ashwagandha calms the adrenals and lowers internal heat.
• Lion’s Mane sharpens focus without overstimulating.
Together, they support emotional regulation, clarity, resilience, and a cooler mental field.
3. Morning Cooling Ritual: Mint + Rose + Lime Water
Before your first herbal tonic, hydrate with cooling water infused with:
🌿 fresh mint
🌹 rose petals
🍋 a squeeze of lime
This reduces internal heat and soothes the liver — Pitta’s primary seat.
4. Oil the Body (Abhyanga) with Coconut or Sandalwood Oil
Oil absorbs heat and anchors the nervous system.
Use long strokes on limbs, circular strokes around joints, and light massage over the belly.
Leave the oil on for 10–20 minutes, then shower.
This is especially helpful for Leo-Ketu because it grounds the fire.
5. Swap Intensity for Rhythm
Pitta wants to work, perform, and prove.
Leo-Ketu wants to burn away any ego tied to performance.
So instead of:
• high-intensity workouts
• constant deadlines
• perfectionistic structure
Try:
• ocean swims
• slow strength training
• Pilates
• breath-led movement
• restorative yoga
• evening walks
Let your body be fluid, not forceful.
6. Cool the Mind with Lunar Practices
Ketu works deeply on the subconscious.
Cooling practices help integrate the clearing.
Favourites:
• moon gazing
• yoga nidra
• alternate nostril breathing (but exhale left side for cooling)
• journaling on identity + truth
• meditation with a bowl of cool water beside you
7. Simplify Your Life
Both Pitta imbalance and Ketu influence reveal the same truth:
Anything unnecessary becomes heavy.
Simplify:
• your schedule
• your commitments
• your consumption
• your to-do list
• your emotional labour
• your relationships
• your expectations
This summer is not about doing more.
It’s about being more you
Pitta season + Ketu in Leo invites a profound inner cooling —
so you can meet the fire with sovereignty, clarity, and emotional steadiness.
This is a time to:
• release outdated identities
• soften ego-driven pressure
• let go of urgency
• embrace authenticity
• act from inner truth, not external validation
• nourish your system so your radiance is sustainable
When you cool the body,
the soul can rise.
When you balance the fire,
your leadership becomes pure.
When you regulate your system,
your destiny becomes clear.
This is a season of refinement — physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
And with the right rituals, you can move through it feeling clear, grounded, luminous, and deeply you.
If you’d like a personalised Ayurvedic health upgrade
I can map your health and create a personalised plan for clarity, vitality, and inner calm.
