Let Go and Be in the Wintertime Sleep

So the last leaves have drifted off the trees, and the cold winds are blowing…the snowbirds are off to the Southern sunshine and the snowbunnies are off to their slopes and rinks. And you may be wondering – in this season of cold and flu, frenetic holidays and this business of the season how can you and your family stay healthy?

You’ve probably heard all the basics that mainstream Western doctors recommend – dressing appropriately for the weather, washing hands frequently, etc., etc. – so let’s move on to the deeper issues that most winter wellness articles don’t even touch.

In Chinese medicine, winter is associated with the element of Water, and the colors of deep blue and black. Surprising, no? You might have expected the crystalline white of snow or the frosted green of water under ice…but in Five Element tradition this time of year represents the deepest Yin qualities, and these are as dark as the longest night.

And while popular wisdom prescribes bright, shiny, active practices to counter the lengthening nights, Five Element practitioners recommend quieting down. Of course this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t go off for an occasional jaunt to enjoy skiing or skating or snowshoeing – but with the harvests of the spring, summer and fall activities gathered in, winter is the time to rest, clear and cleanse your system, conserve your energies, nurture yourself and your loved ones, and gather strength for the next cycle of growth.

According to the Five Elements path of traditional Chinese medicine, winter is the time to pay attention to the root chakras. The Kidneys and Bladder, Storehouses of the Vital Essence, are particularly associated with this time, signifying flow, purification and adaptability. Are you drinking enough pure water to flush toxins out? Are you taking in healthy, organic whole foods and getting enough vitamins and minerals? Remember that the food you eat nourishes not only your body, but also your mind and soul…so choose your foods with care, and bless them in the preparation and the eating.

Fluids generally lie in the domain of Winter…and this is also the season of dry, chapped hands, feet, face, and lips. When you’re indoors for long periods of time, breathing recycled air and staring at computer screens, you’re also liable to experience dry nose and mouth, and dry eyes. Again, by drinking enough water, you can reduce all of these problems. If you need additional moisture, however, be sure that it’s from organic, plant-based sources; stay away from petroleum-based moisturizers, which close your pores, thus drying your skin and preventing it from breathing naturally.

 On a deeper level, most people are aware of the “winter blues” as Seasonal Affective Disorder…and the winter holidays are a notoriously difficult time if you’re dealing with SAD plus challenging family situations, career challenges, or other difficulties. Depression, grieving, loss and tears (fluids again) are a common experience at this time, even though popular mythology claims it’s “the most wonderful time of the year.”

But traditional Chinese medicine recognizes a deeper emotion associated with Winter: fear. From humanity’s earliest days, we have feared the encroaching dark and the dangers it held: the shorter days, the dying vegetation, the hungry bellies and hungrier predators, the cold winds and the bitter cold of death. Today, while we know that the days will lengthen, we are still, subconsciously, sharing an experience similar to that of our early ancestors: as the planet’s species and food sources are collapsing, we unconsciously feel an underlying loss and fear as we enter the winter darkness, not knowing if lush, healthy life will return.

But just as popular culture insists that we should remain Yang – bright, happy, outward-looking, and active – throughout the year, we’re expected not to show either our sadness or our anxiety, whatever its cause. This is where traditional Chinese medicine can help: by recognizing the Yin of this season, naming and allowing rather than suppressing our feelings of loss and fear, we can free ourselves from their paralysis.

What does that look like? Let’s look at Five Elements tradition again. The bones and bone marrow are associated with the element of Water and the season of Winter. That speaks of structure as well as flow: the flow of chi and kundalini as we sit upright in meditation, hearing our innermost thoughts and the silent voice of Spirit; the flow of movement as we stretch and bend in yoga or other mindful movement practices, connecting with our body awareness and the Earth.

These practices may arouse emotions…the trembling of pent-up tension…even tears. Let these healing waters flow! They’re flushing out both physical and energetic toxins, and opening the doors to healing, wisdom and clarity.

 Even more important, they are opening the door to the spiritual resource of Winter: Power and Ambition, the strength to pursue your vision. Once you have allowed yourself to experience your deepest loss and fear, touched the pain that lies beneath it, and released the tears holding that pain, you unveil the strength, passion and power at your core. This is the new hope that you can nurture into bloom next spring! Do you want your mind, body and spirit to be nourished doing this yin time of year, if so join me on Jan 7 and 7:30 p.m. EST for Winterize Your Wellness and Blossom Into Spring Webinar. Click here to register.

In this webinar you will learn the following:


1. The importance of allowing time for stillness
2. How to nourish your kidney, bladder and root chakra
3. Tips to prevent cold and flu
4. The importance of a holistic cleanse

You will also learn how to make elderberry syrup and fire cider.

 

 

 

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