Winter Wellness: Ancient Wisdom for Winter
On a cold winter day, there is nothing better than sitting curled up in a cozy chair with a comfy blanket, a warm drink and a good book. There might even be a fireplace or wood-stove nearby.
For many, including myself, this deep rest is something we crave in this season. More so if we’ve been ‘sprinting’ and ‘doing’ most or all of the rest of the year. In this season, the days are shorter and the nights longer; our drive to get things done isn’t as strong and that’s okay! It’s not supposed to be. This is a season of hibernation for a reason. This is also a season when Yin is at its height. The longest night of the year (the Winter Solstice) is also the most Yin night of the year. Quite literally the opposite of the Summer Solstice and the longest day of the year (ultimate Yang).
Yin and Yang are concepts that have roots in Chinese medicine but have made their way into North American culture. Yin and Yang are often viewed as opposites (and to a degree they are) but they’re also dependent on each other, they transform from one into the other and back again (example: seasons or changing day to night) and their balance affects the other. Yin is associated with winter, north, cold, dark, moon, rest, midnight, contraction, water and more, while Yang is associated with summer, south, heat, light, sun, activity, noon, expansion, fire, and more.
In honouring the ancient wisdom that says to rest more in this season, choosing what we say ‘yes’ to is of utmost importance. Being selective and choosing to rest will help set you up for a great season and will likely help to reduce the number of colds and flus you catch. Our immune system functions better when we’re not run down and overly stressed.
The saying “you can’t pour from an empty cup” has become linked to “self-care” (I’m using quotes here because it’s been linked to the type of self-care that doesn’t really fill you up). “Self-care” in recent years has become linked to spending money on things like spa days, starting a new hobby, pampering yourself, and more, true self-care is more like self-parenting. It’s taking things off your to-do list rather than adding more. It’s feeding yourself nourishing food and making sure you get a full night's sleep. It’s reflecting on what is and isn’t working, as well as why it is or isn’t working. This is an ideal season to tap into your inner knowing and start to consider what is and isn’t working for you.
This season invites deeper reflection and is an opportunity to rest and reconnect to what’s vital in your life. It’s an opportunity to start or deepen a meditation practice. It’s an opportunity to journal about what is and isn’t working for you. It’s an opportunity to allow your inner knowing to speak.
The Water Element
In Chinese medicine, winter is associated with the Water element and is a season when your energy naturally turns inward and moves downward. This is similar to trees moving sap closer to the core and down to the roots, in winter. Consider your energy, like that of a tree, is now hibernating and protecting itself through winter. How are you going to rest and reconnect to your true self?
The Water element is considered the foundation in Chinese medicine. Your true self is the foundation of who you are. Are you acting from your foundation of your true self or have you moved away from your foundation? This is an opportunity to choose to be in alignment with your values and your true self.
Water is said to bring strength, skill and willpower, along with wisdom, stamina and endurance. Consider water dripping on a stone. Eventually, that stone will give way to the water. Water is persistent and strong, it’s also willing to change, shift and move based on what is.
Zhi is often translated as wisdom or willpower in Chinese medicine. It’s also linked to drive, determination, and persistence. These qualities are how we make our dreams and goals a reality. With wisdom comes the knowledge of when to rest and when to push. The difference between achieving and quitting is often the difference between knowing when to work and when to rest.
The serenity prayer is a great example of how we can apply this knowing - Asking for the serenity to accept the things we cannot change; the courage to change the things you can; and the wisdom to know the difference. More often than not, there is far more within our control than outside of it - how we choose to show up, what we say ‘yes’ to and what we take responsibility for are the beginning of the wisdom to know what can be changed.
Be the Seed
A seed needs to hibernate each year, to rest and wait until spring when it can grow and thrive. There is a seed in each of us that craves deep rest in this season. Honouring that can help us to thrive over the coming months.
Sleep is a critical part of rest, but isn’t all there is to rest. There are seven different types of rest as outlined by Saundra Dalton-Smith. The seven types of rest include:
Physical Rest (both active and passive)
Mental Rest
Sensory Rest
Creative Rest
Emotional Rest
Social Rest
Spiritual Rest
Saudra has a TEDx talk that outlines each of the types of rest, along with a rest quiz that you can take to see which areas need additional support. If you choose to try the rest quiz and aren’t religious, please don’t dismiss the questions referencing God, but rather consider them from the perspective of your own beliefs - perhaps that’s nature or belief in a higher power or the best version of yourself. Regardless of your personal beliefs, please answer all the questions so that you can get a complete picture of where you would benefit from additional rest.
Within Rest There is Still Doing
While this may seem like a contradiction, it isn’t. The word 'rest' is not only a noun, but it’s also a verb - an action. Choosing rest and choosing to refill your cup in ways that matter to you are important to your overall health and well-being. The World Health Organization defines health as “a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
This holiday season is full of opportunities to say ‘yes’ to so much. Rest isn’t about saying ‘no’ to these opportunities, but rather to say ‘yes’ with intention to the opportunities that will fill you up. It’s also about creating space and time to find sensory and mental rest afterwards. As with all things, there is a balance.
As we move closer to the Winter Solstice next week, know that this is a turning point. A shifting from the longest night of the year to the promise of a little more light each day. While it may not seem like much through January and February, light and warmth are incrementally growing. Take this time to dream about what is coming and begin to envision a future that will bring you joy.
Andrea
PS - Here are a few articles that you may find helpful in your pursuit of deeper rest in this season.
Improving Sleep:
Your Snooze Button and Why It’s Messing with You!
Why Sleep Matters and How to Sleep Better
Improving Mental Health:
Put Your Own Oxygen Mask on First
Glimmers: Illuminating the Path to Positive Mental Health
Pets - Unexpected Health Benefits Beyond Unconditional Love
Understanding our Habits:
How Habits Affect Your Life and How to Make them Work for You
