On Living in Harmony with Nature During the Winter Months
Winter is the most quiet time in nature but what most of us do during this season is the exact opposite! We holiday shop until we drop. We work hard to end the fiscal year on a high note. And we attempt new exercise and diet plans come January 1.
All of that energy is very active and creates a vibration contrary to what our souls need to stay in harmony with nature. And when we go against nature, we create a discord that we don’t often identify as the source of our anxiety or melancholy.
What we really need to do is to harmonize our actions with the natural energetic cycle of life. This is the foundation of acupuncture and Chinese Medicine and I’ve spent years helping people get back into balance with this cycle. Acupuncture definitely helps with bringing you back in balance, but you can also reinforce your energy with a little awareness.
Winter is the time when we have completed a full life cycle and the energy now calls on us to reflect. Look at the trees with their fallen leaves - there is a stillness in growth and a deep energy keeping the tree alive from its roots. Winter also calls on us to rest — the darkness during this time encourages us to be less active. Everywhere you look, nature is calling us to be still and rely on your deeper self.
So let’s follow the cues of the winter.
Give yourself time to reflect. Reflect on what’s working. Reflect on what’s not. Go deep. Take time to identify and be specific about what you may superficially call stress. Most often there is a deeper emotion. When you allow for time to be specific, then you can identify what your soul is really asking for in this lifetime. For example, if our stress is really about the fact that we feel lonely, then that is just shining a light on the fact our soul needs more intimacy and connection. We can bring that in to create more peace in our soul.
Let your body and soul rejuvenate in stillness. Give yourself permission to sleep more. Don’t feel pressured to do anything just yet. January 1st is not the end of this season so just relish in the delight of being vs. doing. Spring is around the corner and holds the energy of new life and new beginnings. We will get to that soon enough! Right now just dive into that winter energy and I promise you will feel more harmony and ease.
Strengthen your own harmony with nature by being the observer— take a quiet walk or sit for a minute in your back yard — what is happening right now? What is reflecting the energy of Winter back to you? This seems like a simple task but it is a very powerful and inspiring exercise. You can get a lot of cues for your own harmony by taking just a few minutes! If you still find yourself unable to quell your winter blues, contact me — I can help you get started on your journey to harmony!
