Living by the Seasons
Winter is the time to rest and dream. It is a time for bringing our energies internal and being in receiving mode. In Traditional Chinese Medicine it is believed that people should follow the ways of nature and avoid excessive activity at this time. Winter is the season when everything in nature moves inward. The seeds lay dormant in the earth. It is a still time. A time for our body to rebuild our energy stores and draw upon the energies of life to build our deepest Qi (energy). By doing this we will be able to move out of winter with the motivation, strength, courage and endurance to bring our visions and dreams into fruition. In winter we are building the foundations for the life we want to birth in spring.
Winter is all about nurturing and nourishing. Plenty of sleep, gentle exercise, and proper breathing techniques are beneficial for this time of year. Eat lots of warming foods using local seasonal ingredients. When we eat foods that are in season we are showing our trust in Mother Nature, and we can take comfort in knowing that she is providing us with the foods that are perfectly matched to our nutritional needs during each season. Winter is the time for slow cooking…..meditation cooking. Enjoy a warm bowl of soup or stew made with plenty of root vegetables, while curled up on the lounge with a blanket and your favourite book.
When we honour the energy of the seasons we become more aware of our own nature and our connection to Mother Nature.
Use this winter to practice the art of being.
By Sally Drinkwater
Quote:
‘The three months of winter are called the period of closing and storing….People should retire early at night and rise late in the morning and they should wait for the rising of the sun. They should suppress and conceal their wishes as though they had no internal purpose, as though they had been fulfilled’ (The Yellow Emperor’s Classic)
