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TCM

nutrition + nourishment relationship + connection values + intention wisdom + love

Winter Solstice Blessings

June 21, 2022

Winter is the end of the season cycle – the pause before the birth of a whole new cycle.  It is the time of metaphoric death and renewal – the stillness (yin) just before expression (yang).  Everything in nature appears to be lifeless & to have stopped growing.  Today’s Winter Solstice (in the Southern Hemisphere), signifies the shortest day and the longest, darkest night.  This day and this season signify a time to turn inward to the stillness and darkness as a path to find the spark of light that leads us on the path back to the light and warmth as the sun’s warmth starts to grow again.  Surrendering to the stillness on the winter months allows for the potent gestation of the seeds of renewal & to new beginnings. 

To be in tune with the winter months we must become more introspective and storage-oriented; one cools the surface of the body and warms the inner core.  It is time to rest, to meditate deeply, refine our spiritual essence, and store physical energy – in the form of a little added weight for the cold season.  But we must also remember to stay active enough to keep the spine and joints flexible….

Gentle stretching

Our energy tends to become stagnant in the colder weather. Gentle stretching can help to keep the energy moving through our bodies and is a key element of staying balanced and boosting our immunity during the winter months.  Perhaps join a yoga or pilates class or indulge in a few gentle stretches before bed and first thing in the morning.

Energy conservation

Snuggle under the quilt (even if it is on the couch) and indulge in some fabulous guilt-free rest!  Like the bears in their caves, take a tip from nature and take some time out to hibernate.  Conserving our energy when it’s cold outside helps our body to rest & repair and build energy for the warmer months.

Warm, nourishing foods

During winter it is important to keep the chest and lungs warm and relatively dry.  Vegetables that resemble the shape of the lungs are particularly nourishing for them – such as cauliflower, broccoli & broccolini.  Warm hearty soups, whole grains, roasted nuts and steamed wintergreens are also great for boosting your immune system.

Listening to inner wisdom

Flowing on from the slowing of Autumn, the stillness of the coldest months gives us a chance to turn inward and reflect on our wants and needs.  Take regular moments to embrace the silence and listen to your inner wisdom.  Ask yourself where are you heading?  Does your course need correction?  What do you need?  What can you give?  

WINTER PATTERNS

With Winter comes the season for rest & deep meditation….

Element:  Water
Organs: Bladder/Kidney
Emotion:  Fear
Colour:  Blue
Sense-organ:  Ears
Taste:  Salty
Sound:  Groaning
Cultivation:  Store

Common problems

lumbar pain, hearing difficulties, fluid retention, urinary infections, exhaustion, joint ache/pain

Recommended

warming spices (cinnamon, cardamom, black pepper, ginger, mustard seed), vegetables that resemble the structure of the lungs – cauliflower, broccoli, broccolini.  Grounding vegetables like carrot, radish, fennel and beetroot.

Avoid

ice cream, yoghurt, cream, potatoes, bananas, chicken

I invite you to turn inward this Winter Solstice – to surrender to deep contemplation and travel deeply inward, listen to the whispers from the silence within.

nutrition + nourishment values + intention vibrational medicine wellness + healing

Spring Emergence

September 7, 2020

“The only difference between an extraordinary life and an ordinary life is the extraordinary pleasures you find in ordinary things” –  Veronique Vienne

This winter in the South Hemisphere has been a long one, for all of us. Are you feeling exhausted from the stress of uncertainty and being cooped up inside for months. I’m not sure that we have ever been more ready for newness and sunshine than we are right now. Spring has the energy of new beginnings, having reflected on our previous cycle in the colder months. It is a time for cleansing and clearing, a brand new start.  Are you feeling an urge to get things moving again? Start slowly, try this:

Shift those toxins – spending less time being active in the colder months builds up toxins in our bodies – especially our liver.  To aid the detox process, start the day with 2 glasses of warm water with lemon juice first thing in the morning. For an added boost, continue on with fresh carrot, celery & parsley juice to hydrate your system and cleanse the blood.

Simplify your surroundings – unnecessary clutter and unfinished business weighs us down – quite literally.  Did you realise that an incomplete task on your to-do list continues to drain your energy until the loop is completed (or you take it off your list)? Using this Spring energy to complete tasks and cleanse your body and space will help to bring focus and energy back, and fast! Shift on any unwanted items from your wardrobe, kitchen, home office, garage or wherever your clutter is hiding.  Get enthused about crossing things of that long term to-do list!

Let go of emotional clutter – clear up any relationship tensions and start afresh.  Lighten up by letting go of any unwanted thoughts or feelings that may be holding you back. Try burning the cleansing essential oil, Clove Bud*.

* Clove Bud essential oil helps loosen your attachment to material things and to your ideas about how life is or should be lived.  Burning clove essential oils in your space can support you in clearing out your clutter and creating the space for new experiences in your life, with ease and grace.

Take action – use the extra Spring energy to start on that wishlist of plans and dreams… join the local tennis club, start that art project or book an exciting travel adventure in your favourite part of Australia!  Whatever it is that you’ve been planning to do, Spring is the time to start doing!

SPRING PATTERNS

Spring is the season for growing and greening…

Element:  Wood, Organs:  Liver/Gall Bladder, Emotion:  Anger, Colour:  Green, Sense-organ:  Eyes, Taste:  Sour, SoundShouting, Cultivation:  Germinate

Common problems

allergies, chest congestion, stomach pain, reflux, nausea, dizziness

Recommended

raw foods/fasting, green & leafy vegies, spirulina, dandelion, strawberries, fresh juices (citrus, apple, pear, carrot & celery, parsley)

Avoid

rich & refined foods, alcohol, over indulgence

I invite you to gently emerge from this long, dark winter – to cleanse and embrace a brand new cycle of intention,