The difference between happiness and joy is that happiness depends on external circumstances. Joy is a deeper upwelling that comes from within ourselves and is not limited to what is happening around us.

Summer is the pitta time of year—when pitta dosha, consisting of the fire and water elements, rules. Pitta is one of the three Ayurvedic doshas, or qualities, and each person’s unique constitution contains all three—although typically one quality predominates.