Winter is a time for turning inward and exploring ourselves. Self-reflection, releasing stress, and reconnecting with our deepest truths these are a few of the intentions that winter invites us to focus on.Winter is abundant with Yin energy, which is about being, resting, rather than busy and doing. All around us we can see signs of nature resting and being, as humans, we can learn to embody natures energy and lessons in our own lives. Resting, restoring so that we feel renewed and ready for the Spring and Summer, the Yang, doing, seasons ahead.
Each season is related to an element and organ system in the physical body. Water is the element that is aligned with Winter and Kidneys/Adrenals/Bladder system, are governed by the Water element. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) the Kidneys is where our foundational life force, referred to as JING, comes from. The Kidneys and adrenals are also where deep fatigue and loss of energy can be experienced. It is important to avoid “depletion of this vital energy” and Winter is an opportunity to really replenish and nourish are kidneys and thus our vital energy.
Every organ corresponds to the energy of certain emotions as well as virtues (beneficial qualities).Water/Kidneys are most associated with the emotion of fear. We are born with innate wisdom, inner knowing – an intuition which guided us through life, that is still there in all of us, underneath our thinking that it isn’t. We forget over time that we were born with this water energy, as we lose trust in the world and begin to fear things.
Emotional symptoms of this might include panic attacks, fear of failure, phobias, workaholism or lack of drive, feeling overwhelmed and unable to cope, depression, feeling sensitive, anxious, worried or nervous, and we may cry a lot.Overthinking things, feeling restless and having a general lack of trusting in yourself and your external environment can indicate a kidney water imbalance. Physical symptoms can include finding it difficult to rise in the morning, lower back pain, muscular tension up either side of the spine, sacral pain, bags under the eyes, low libido, kidney infection, reproductive disorders, swelling, aversion to cold and poor bladder control, or UTI’s, as well as general fatigue. In particular, this might occur at 3-5pm or 5-7pm, which is the Bladder or Kidney time in the Chinese clock of ailments (which helps see the time of day you experience symptoms to work out the elemental imbalance).
If any of these symptoms are you, then it could be that your Water element needs a little balancing! Though, it is important to remember that underneath, we are always connected to our wisdom, and fear is just a natural human response to things. Water cleanses, nourishes and reflects, and reminds us that we have all we need – just like the ocean knows how to move, we too know how to be ok; we have wisdom within.
The virtues of Water are willpower, ambition, purpose and destiny. The lesson of the Water is to tune into your inner knowing, learning to trust yourself and your innate instincts, rather than reacting with the feel of fear that stems from the mind.
Essential Oils for the Water Element
To support and re-balance, emotions and the physical symptoms that manifest from these emotions. They are also supportive to the kidneys and adrenals:
- Elemi
- Cedarwood
- Geranium
- Vetiver
- Bergamot
- Juniper
- Ylang Ylang
Essential Oils for Winter Aliments
These essential oils are good for supporting physical symptoms associated with winter ills, they are good for the warming the body and for the immune, circulatory and respiratory systems and post viral recovery:
- Ginger
- Thyme
- Rosemary
- Fir Needle
- Spruce
- Tea Tree
- Eucalyptus
- Peppermint
- Cinnamon
- Cardomon
- Black Pepper
- Tumeric
How to use Essential Oils for Winter Wellnness
1. Have a bath with Epsom salts to relax and restore. Mix half a cup of Epsom salts with 3 – 5 drops of chosen essential oils. NB some oils should not be used in the bath as they are skin irritants. Run a warm bath, and add the salt mixture into the running water, and then sit back and enjoy the nourishment. Notice how you are always okay in this moment.
2. Create a Water element massage blend. Mix a base oil such as apricot and add essential oils – 15ml of base to 5 drops in total of essential oils. Massage into the body in the direction towards the heart. Blends could be for after a morning shower, to re-energise whilst creating calm or for settling and relaxing before bedtime.
3. A chest rub is a good option for cold and flu symptoms.
Lifestyle Practices for Winter Wellness
Meditation
Gentle Movement, slow walks in nature
Restorative Yoga
Journalling
Priorities Rest
Breath work
Keep your Kidneys covered and warm also your ears and Kidneys are related
Eat warm, Hearty, Slow Cook Food
Stay Hydrated – warm water is excellent
Drink Herbal teas
I encourage you to fall in love with the stillness and quietude of winter, to rest deeply, to do less in order to me more..
Aromatic Blessings
Sharyn