Winter…

A time to retreat, replenish and re-energise.

It’s winter! I am celebrating the arrival of Winter – not because I like the cold, but because it means I’m allowed.. no, implored to restore and re-energise.

It may feel like we have been hibernating for a year or so now… our lives have been so effected by ‘the virus’ that even staying at home can be stressful and depleting…and so, how do we ‘do winter’ with it’s seasonal imperative of ‘hibernation’ without going mad?

Winter is the season to rest and reflect, so that you have the energy and flow ready for action in spring and summer.

Winter is the for dreaming, creating, playing… ready for the blossom in spring…

Winter is the perfect time to reflect on what has worked for you and what hasn’t worked for you over the past year… a time for quiet contemplation that will then give over to compassionate heart flow.

Winter is ruled by the Water Element, with the power of water to flow and overcome obstacles.. as in nature, so in our selves, water can flow like a mighty river, a trickling stream, gentle rain, crashing waves, a quiet lake, like rapids over rocks, the destructive force of a flooding torrent or the shrivelling effect of drought…

What does all this water talk have to do with You and Winter 2021…your second Covid winter?

It’s all about Your Invitation – to offer and to receive the rest and restoration needed.
You Invite your essence, energy, and breath to flow in the only way you can – with creativity and mindfulness..

• This invitation to ‘restoration’ may look like being with others, reconnecting and rebalancing relationships that have grown apart.
• This invitation to ‘rest’ may look like gentle movement to encourage energy flow through your veins.
• This invitation to ‘restoration’ may look like re-imagining those creative projects through the quiet and stillness.
• This invitation to ‘rest’ may look like giving your body a break from the stressful food found all around you, such as processed food, alcohol or even out-of-season fruit/vegetables.

This invitation to ‘flow’ through winter allows your mind, body and spirit entry to the party…

We all know how easy it is to get stuck  – get stuck in a thought field, a body feeling or situation that drains the life out of us… well, this winter season is your friend!

It is the perfect seasonal time to retreat, reflect, re-energise and adapt!

How do we allow our flow to return?

Rest in the practice of giving and receiving in equal measure… you give and give and give… now is the time to balance that and replenish – offer yourself that retreat from the world each day – it doesn’t have to be serious, lengthy or heavy… but you MUST prioritise the RSVP to the Invitation – allowing time and energy for you to reconnect, laugh and rest.

Give and receive in equal measure….
Give of yourself, but don’t forget to replenish!
This is the flow of winter!

Let’s look at how to retreat, rest and restore..

The first step is to simply acknowledge that you do need to rest and restore!

Yes… how?

ADAPTING and allowing FLEXIBILITY for the season – rest and quiet may not come easily to you… but you NEED it… your nervous system NEEDS it… your mind NEEDS it…your spirit NEEDS it. Learn and create new habits that incorporate rest and recovery…if you need help learning this strange thing called ‘rest’ reach out to a friend or professional – or me!

Learn to say NO sometimes – it is ok to put your needs on the top of the list now and again! There are times that ‘no’ is unavailable, but most of the time we do indeed have a choice… this is the season to choose quiet and retreat. This may take practice and even new strategies – get help, reach out if needed!

SLOW DOWN – impossible you say! NO I say! Build ‘clear’ time or ‘nothing’ time or ‘rest’ time into your routine… this is not dead time or wasting time.. this is doing what the season demands of you. Re-create your to-do list that enables less ‘scramble’ and more ‘restoration’.

CREATIVITY is the key for heart-led-energy abundance – what makes your heart sing? Creativity is the dreaming, the idea, the experimenting, the trying, the failing, the trying again, the flow of mind, body and spirit – nurture and allow the energy flow from your heart – create colour, movement and music – create what you need for rest and restoration!

Winter is ruled by the WATER ELEMENT –

Your wisdom, innate knowing, cleverness, concentration, focus, intuition, hearing and basis for vitality.

Composed of the Kidney and Bladder Meridians…

The Kidney Meridian holds your essential energy or Qi.. that energy you were born with.. that energy that can be depleted and difficult to restore.. that energy that controls the bigger cycles in life… that energy is your essence, your individual entity, your force and steadiness.

The Kidney Meridian begins at the bottom of your feet and heads up the inside of your legs and up to your collar bone. Here is one Kidney point – Kidney 10 – that will be useful to built up your reserves again…

The Kidney Meridian effects your hearing, development, spirit connection and the vitality that underpins brain function.

The Kidney Meridian emotes with and through fear, anxiety, trust, stillness, disconnection from self, instincts, aloneness, numb to self, potential and wisdom.

When you put your hand over your heart in shock or sadness, you are holding Kidney Meridian points on your chest – reconnecting your heart and the fear, so that you can feel support and guidance from your innate essence and wisdom.

Here is one Kidney point – Kidney 10 – that will be useful to build up your reserves again…

The Bladder Meridian is the ‘official’ in charge of our energy reserves…

The Bladder Meridian begins as the longest meridian in the body – with 67 acupressure points, the Bladder Meridian runs from the inner eye down the back to the outer edge of the little toe.

The Bladder Meridian effects your heart brain, eyes, coordination of brain function, concentration, focus and the deep brain, sense organs, sleep and movement.

The Bladder Meridian emotes with control, drive, knowledge, safety, security, patience, can’t rest, disconnection from others, and will.

Here is one Bladder Point – Bladder 1 – that will be useful to help you with illumination, compassion, radiance, clarity and wisdom.

What will be your Invitation into and through Winter?

If you would like help with any of the elements of Winter Health for your mind, body or spirit, simply contact me and we can begin the flow now.