Winter Yin Time - Slow Time in The Water Phase.

Tuning into what energetics the seasons are guiding us through, allows us to harmonize with our natural vitality and the rhythms and cycles of nature. I find winter time to be so sacred, I feel my body turning inwards and wanting to nourish my essence on a deep, slow, mindful manner.

It is such a beautiful time to create spaciousness to tap into the deep mystery and the great unknown, to allow the liminal to distill down from the celestial realms in it's slow, feminine, mysterious ways.

Like the mystery of darkness, the stillness of winter has so much to offer us. It is the gestation time, our seeds for spring being deeply nourished until they are ready to come into the material world.

Water phase, when out of balance is associated with fear, fear of the unknown, the darkness, the aloneness. But when we allow ourselves to be open to the Great Mystery, to connect with faith, and practice being present and listen in the darkness, we build a relationship with our own inner knowing and courage to be with the unknown and grateful for it’s gifts.

“THE EMOTION OF THE KIDNEYS IS FEAR, WHILE THE VIRTUE OF KIDNEYS’ SPIRIT- MIND IS WISDOM. THINK OF MOMENTS IN LIFE WHERE YOU EXPERIENCED FEAR OF THE UNKNOWN BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS TRANSFORMED INTO EXPERIENCE-BASED WISDOM. WISDOM DEVELOPS OVER LIFE AS WE LIVE OUR EXPERIENCES.”

— THE WEB THAT HAS NO WEAVER

JOURNAL PROMPTS

WRITE A FEAR THAT IS HOLDING YOU BACK. WHAT ARE THE STORIES THAT COME UP AROUND IT. IS IT EGO, PAST EXPERIENCE, SOMEONE ELSES FEAR (INHERITED)? IS IT TRUE?

WHAT WOULD BE AN EXPANSIVE POSSIBLILITY? WHAT WOULD COURAGE LOOK LIKE FOR YOU WITH THIS? WHAT

WOULD BE THE OPPOSITE OF THE FEAR?

“THE YIN WILL IS RELATED TO OUR DESTINY OR FATE - OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH AND JOURNEY INTO THE UNKNOWN OF THE FUTURE - IT INVOLVES TRUST AND FAITH.”

— TED KAPTCHUCK - THE WEB THAT HAS NO WEAVER.

• Prioratize stillness, meditation & self -care

• Self inquire & allow for dream time

• Bundle up and connect with the snow

WINTER YIN COOKING

Warming foods to strengthen the kidneys, blod and qi energy.

Stews, chillies, congees, hearty soups- slow cooked foods

Roasted vegetables , squash, beets, carrots, parsnip, mushrooms, garlic, onion

Warming spices, cumin, garlic, ginger, turmeric,

Hearty miso soups and bone broths

Kidney, aduki & black beans

Seaweeds, black sesaem seeds, burdock, walnuts

Whole grains - quinoa, brown rice, buckwheat

Steamed winter greens - chard, rapini, kale, cabbage,

Cook foods longer, at lower temperatures, with less water

Warming teas

Chaga, astralagus and gogi berry tea

Ginger tumeric

Ginger, Tulsi, Cardimon

Chai

Rooibos

Fennel

YIN TIME PRACTICES

Yin Yoga

Qi Gong

Snowshoeing in the forest

Yoga Nidra

Walk to the river and send a prayer through the waters

Mindful movement

Embodied dance

Cuddling by the fire

Reading a beautiful book

Meditation

Journaling - for year change, I like to explore Year Compass which offers a free download to close out the year past and dream into the year future for your intentions.

ENJOY MOVING INTO THE STILLNESS OF WINTER.

Peacefully,

Sonja Denelzen L.Ac