According to the Eastern philosophy, the yin energy, alongside with the darkest day of the year, reached her peak this weekend. It’s time to store our energy, to refuel, instead of expending our energy. So don’t be tough on yourself when you have been longing to do nothing else but to cozy up inside these days. It’s what you, as a nature being, are meant to do; to undo.
Slow down now and be generously rewarded in spring
Make nourishing your yin side your number one priority from now on, all the way through January, and you’ll be rewarded. However, if you choose to exhaust your energy by being over active, your energy storage might be drained by the time spring arrives, which is naturally the time for our outward energy to expand again. With fatigue, low resilience and a lack of decisiveness as a possible result.
Winter: the Dao of storage
~ Nei Jing ~
The three months of winter are called closing and storing.
Water freezes, earth cracks.
Do not disturb the yang at all.
Early to bed, late to rise.
(One) must await the daylight.
Make that which is of the heart/mind as though hidden, as though concealed,
as though (one) has a secret intention, already obtained.
Leave the cold, seek warmth.
Do not leak the skin (sweat).
Urgently hold onto the ki.
This is the winter compliance of ki and the cultivation of the Dao of storage.
To oppose these principles injures the kidneys.
(Consequently) spring will bring paralysis and fainting.
There will be little to offer one’s sprouting.
It’s all about resting and finding comfort and warmth inside
11 ‘how to’ tips…
The yin energy, being our warm and calm feminine energy, is all about resting and finding comfort within yourself, snuggling up inside. This doesn’t mean that you cannot go out with friends, go to work or celebrate Christmas and New Years, it only means that you have to take extra care of your recovery days.
So here is what you can do to nourish your yin side and to silence down your masculine, outgoing yang side a bit:
- Cozy up your house with candles, gentle lights and blankets. If you’re normally struggling to keep your frequency positive during winter, make sure you have some pretty green plants to look at, this (spring color) will positively affect your mind during the darker days.
- Keep most of your evenings free during the week and go to bed around 10 pm. Power naps are also great. Don’t feel lame or guilty, see if you can start to love this quality time you give yourself. Be grateful for the opportunity.
- Winter is the time of the kidneys in Eastern medicine. They long for some protection and nourishment after a period of yang energy. Being over-active, drinking alcohol and eating sugar exhausts the kidneys, so you might want to go slow on these things. Starting from January 😉
- It’s important to keep your body moving, in order to prevent blockages in your energy circulation and digestion, but choose to move slow. Choose practicing yin / restorative yoga or qigong, instead of yang energy activities that make you sweat a lot or involve much muscular strength.
- Gentle massages or energy clearings are also a good way to keep the energy within the body flowing, and at the same time to help you find full relaxation. In addition this will stimulate your body awareness, making it easier to feel your bodily needs.
- Become still for a moment every day. Think about meditation, yoga nidra or a long bath. Use some Meine Base bathing salt (tip within the tip!) and/or lavender essential oil for some extra relaxation.
- Wrap a blanket around your waist while working or randomly sitting. This will keep your home-base (hara) and the kidney area warm, which mentally provides your with a sense of security and grounding.
- Speaking of that, dress warm, drink warm and eat warm. Every meal of the day.
- Although going outside might not feel that appealing these coming weeks, try to go for some fresh oxygen everyday. Preferably during the brightest hours of the day. This will help you to keep your energy level and emotional mood stable and clear.
- Take time to reflect and to train your intuition, for example by writing or creating a vision board for 2020. It’s a good time to set intentions and goals, but not to actively act on them. Instead, write them down and hand them straight over to the universe and fully trust that everything will come to you when the time is right.
- Use affirmations to get your mind along in this slowing down movement. “I nourish myself by slowing down. My body and mind are in peace and harmony. I have full faith in the guidance of my intuition (the universe) and trust that everything will come to me at the right time. All is well.”
I wish you a beautiful warm winter. Full of light!
xx
