Winter Season
Winter, the deep call to nourish our Yin.
What is Yin, most of us know the Yin & Yang symbol, but what does it actually mean?
In Chinese medicine Yin & Yang is a fundamental principle of how we diagnose and treat disease. Simply, it is balancing opposite forces to create harmony in our bodies.
Yin as a substance is the fluid and tissues of the body like blood and fluids. As an energetic force, it governs our subtle inner landscape and the quiet meditative space in which we can hear the voice of our inner knowing or intuition. It could be associated with the feminine and taking rest. It is said to be the time of the new moon and darkness in nature.
Yang is the outward force of our energy (Qi), the sun, big movements and outward expressions of vitality, like laughter and play. It is said to be more masculine in energy.
We need both to feel well in body, heart, and mind. If we overdue one we can tip the balance into disharmony (or illness).
Thinking of it really simply…
Too much resting will cause either stagnation or depletion and too much movement will stagnate or deplete us. It is dance to find our own unique, dynamic and ever changing balance of this in relationship with nature’s seasons and cycles.
Winter is Kidney organ season and Water element time. When we are in the deepest Yin time, with the greatest darkness and inward pull. But remember we must incorporate Yang to stay well. In this dark time we can access our ancestral blood line through the connection of this season with our essence and bones as well as our ears for deep listening. Moving fluidly like water in our exercises can create room for the gently expression of Yin to guide us to a inner space of knowing what we truly desire. Warm and nourishing foods will strengthen our digestion to build Yin and Kindey Qi for the uprising of Yang in spring time.
Living in a place surrounded by oceanic energy and salt spray I have a beautiful benefit of being able to spend time near the sea and listening to the humble wisdom she offers, for this I am deeply grateful. Wherever you are seek water in all her shapes and forms.
Fear is the emotion of this season, it is balanced by strengthening trust. Past experiences or memories can arise for healing and gentle care through this season. Tend kindly to the memories and allow them to be released through or into the water for clearing and releasing.
From the classical text Nei Jing Su Wen:
“During winter all things in nature wither, hide, return home, and enter a resting period, just as lakes, and rivers freeze and snow falls. This is a time when yin dominates yang. Therefore one should refrain from over using the yang energy. Retire early and wake with the sun, which rises later. Desires and mental activity should be quiet and subdued. Avoid sweating. This philosophy of winter season is one of conservation and storage.”
Be well and nourished this season.
Love Melody
