by Stephanie on December 21, 2011
Greetings on this shortest day of the year!
Hope you are warm, well, and enjoying some quiet, peaceful time during this day of introspection.
Winter Solstice marks the shortest day of the year and officially begins at 9:30pm(Pacific time).
It marks the day of a late dawn,an early sunset, a short day, and a long night. It marks the season for introspection and renewal. A time to strengthen bonds with family and friends by visiting and exchanging gifts and greetings. Decorate your home with lights, greens, and holiday colors. Bless your home with a wreath on your front door and add sprigs of mistletoe inside your home to symbolize peace and love.
If you are part of a group, take up a collection of food and clothing and donate to a local charity of your choice. Place sunflower seeds outside your home for wild birds to feast on. Remember this solstice marks the coming of the renewal of the Earth in Spring and it symbolically can mark a time of renewal for you as well. Maybe visit or contact a friend or family member you have not spoken with in a while. Make peace with somthing or someone in your professional/work life. Slow down and enjoy the beauty of the earth all around you. Whether it be the quiet stillness of snow falling or the patter of rain on your window. Take the time to slow down, breath in the crisp air, and find some peace within.
Many Blessings!
S
by Stephanie on November 15, 2011
Happy Autumn Greetings,
Autumn and the upcoming Winter season are both seasons for releasing, letting go, and death. With the change in weather you may feel gloomy or down and this is quite normal. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is the season of Grief. A time of death that is needed in order to birth new life in the Spring and Summer Seasons. So, this yucky feeling not only affects your emotions but also the main organs of Autumn, your lungs and Colon. This is why you will see more people with stomach viruses, bronchitis and viruses of the upper respiratory tract. But you need not be one of them!
One of the best things you can do is to BREATHE consciously and with intention, in thru your nose and out thru your nose. Another easy way to keep your wellness in balance is to eat seasonally. If you live near a farmers’ market, go check out all the amazing winter squash and yummy pears and pomegranates that are in season. Your local grocery store may also carry a plethora of seasonal fruits and veggies. Stick with eating warmer foods like soups and teas. Take your cue from nature, just as the Earth moves internally, so too should you feel the desire to be more introspective and inside during these months. Yoga is a perfect form of movement and exercise to start, especially if you live in the snow and cannot be as active outdoors.
Finally, be kind and compassionate with yourself as with the change in Seasons can come the stressful “hustle and bustle” of the holidays. Breathe, Movement, & Healthy eating are all attainable with a little effort.
How do you care for yourself during this season?
Sat Nam
S
