Winter – the Time of Water Element
Photo by Josie Lopez on Unsplash
The energy pathways most active this time of year are Bladder and Kidney. Winter is a time of quiet reflection and nurturing our bodies to ready them for the increased activity of spring. If we do not rest and renew our energy, we will be exhausted when the increased energy demands of spring are upon us.
The emotion associated with this season is fear. In this difficult time in our country, fear is quite palpable. People are afraid to leave their homes and meet with friends and family. They are confused and frightened about taking a vaccine and about their future freedoms.
Everyone must make their own decisions on these matters and do what they are comfortable with, but we must remember that nurturing ourselves is vitally important. When we live seasonally according to nature’s example our health improves.
During Winter it is important to:
- Get plenty of rest (7-8 hours a night). This will support our adrenals and our immune system.
- Not overdo activity, take time to rest during your day.
- Eat warming, hearty foods such as soups and stews.
- Dress for the weather, avoid overexposure to cold.
- Include some type of exercise into your routine. Yoga and Tai Chi include movement with a meditative mindset.
- Renew your faith, whatever it may be, and replace fear with hope.
Find ways to connect with family and friends, if not safely in person, then through facetime or zoom. Support your immune system with healthy supplements, such as vitamin C, D, and Zinc. Remember one thing to count on is that our situation will change. We must remain positive and not give into fear.
The Bladder Meridian is the longest and most influential of all the energy pathways since it crosses all the other meridians. During winter the energies are most active in Bladder and Kidney Meridians; this is the time of the water element. When the Bladder Meridian is out of balance both physical and emotional symptoms can occur.
The holiday season can be joyous but also challenging. There is so much to do and so little time. Spending time with family and friends can bring up wonderful memories and memories that are not so wonderful. Keeping our emotional balance is most important. Try not to overdo, stay in the present moment, get plenty of rest and know your limits. At the end of another year, it is time for reflection. Not just on the past but also on how we want to live our lives going forward. It is time for letting go of that which no longer serves us. Old grievances or hurts only bring us down if we hang on to them. Forgiveness frees us.
We’ve spoken about the progression of the seasons with winter being the time to rest and conserve our energy and spring a time of activity and expanding our energy. If you are a person who was unable to rest and recharge during the winter months, you may be feeling worn thin by now. When our bodies are continually exhausted our immune system is weakened and we can easily get sick.
Now that the weather has finally changed it’s time to prepare for autumn. In nature, the energies begin to pull back and go deeper into the trees, shrubs, and earth. In our bodies, our vital energies also begin to circulate deeper into our organs to protect us from the cold.
The weather in late summer is usually hotter and heavier with humidity than the rest of the season. Dampness is associated with the earth element which is most active this time of year. Late summer is a time for slowing down and gathering in. The earth element gives us the ability to nourish and care for ourselves.