I hope you’ve had a good seasonal transition settling into the cold. Here in Chile’s Region V we already started lighting the wood stove a few days ago, enjoying sitting by the fire at night—and today, watching the rain and listening to the water falling abundantly...
So winter is approaching, bringing with it a time of inner stillness and receptivity, like plants drawing energy down into their roots. (The hexagram with its six broken lines symbolizes this opening of the Earth, ready to receive and store.)
Looking through the book, I found the right advice for the season:
In this time of closing and storage, it is crucial to nourish our inner Yang. Begin to develop winter habits: eat warm foods, avoid cold drinks, and embrace warmth in general. Remember that iced coffee, though common in winter, is especially inadvisable for its cold effect and for stimulating sweating, which in turn weakens the Yang.
Meet winter with a serene attitude, as if all your expectations had already been fulfilled. Let the spirit rest within the body, keeping emotions, desires, and expectations from throwing it off balance. It is especially important to avoid anger, since in this season it can be very harmful. Anger makes Yang Qi rise, which goes against the natural descending (Yin) and storing movement of Kidney Qi. So it can damage not only the liver / gallbladder but also the kidney... It’s not about repressing anger, but about finding emotional balance by working with the gallbladder and kidney organs.
Embrace stillness and inner warmth this winter. Adopt healthy habits, stay calm, and strengthen your body with appropriate exercise. That way, you’ll be ready to meet the season with harmony and vitality.
Want to practice this in your body? Each course works with one element at your own pace, with immediate access. And if you don’t know where to start, write to me.
