Finding Light Within The Dark
I’m sure you’ve noticed that the days are getting shorter and colder. For some of us, we are starting our days before the sun is even up, and arriving home well after the sun has set. The shortest day of the year has crept up on us, and happens to be today. These short days can take their toll on us. The holidays can stir up feelings of anxiety, loneliness, overwhelm, and grief for many of us. We can feel like we are moving in slow motion, or downright stuck.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine there is always the ongoing dance of balancing yin and yang. Wintertime is the most yin time of the year, and December 21st is literally the most yin day of the year….the shortest day with the least amount of sunlight. I do have some good news for you…after December 21st the days will start to progressively get longer and we will get more sunlight. We often attribute darkness, cold, low energy, negative, even death to the yin energy. I tend to think of yin as slowing down toward stillness, turning inward, softening, nourishing, moisture, contracting, structure, support, holding, restful, receptive, intuitive, imaginative, replenish, bending, and contemplative.
Here are some practices that embrace the yin energy:
Eating well. Try incorporating soups, broths, and stews in your diet. Winter squashes, sweet potatoes, seaweed, and asparagus are great additions to your recipes.
Meditation. It doesn’t have to be very long, just consistent. Simple guided meditations are a perfect starting point. Another method is mantra meditation. Select a word or phrase to repeat during meditation.
Journaling. Journaling after meditation can be very motivating. Make a quiet space for your meditation and journal sessions. Just write what ideas and thoughts come. Don’t be overly critical of yourself. There will be times when you literally write down one or two words, and other times you’ve written several pages out of nowhere.
Keep moving. We are slowing down, but we want to keep ourselves pliable. Light stretching and simple movements such as spinal circles from a seated position, forward folds from seated or standing, moving through cat and cow positions with the breath, supine twists, or a 20 minute walk in the sun are perfect.
Oil rubbing or abhyanga. This Ayurvedic practice is a self massage performed with warmed oil from the scalp to the soles of the feet. Typically sesame oil is used. It feels amazing, and takes about 10-15 minutes. It improves circulation, skin texture, skin moisture, and tone. It lubricates the internal organs, bones, and joints. It can improve sleep quality, and overall well being.
Breathwork. Taking time to breathe can help reset the nervous system and ground our energy.
Here are my two favorite breath practices at the moment:
Belly breathing: lay on your back, initiate the breath from your abdomen, inhaling through the nose on a count of 4, filling the abdomen then the chest, pausing, then exhaling through the mouth on a count of 4, releasing the breath from the chest first then moving toward the abdomen. Repeat at least 5 breath cycles.
Alternate nostril breathing: sit in a comfortable seated position, place the left hand on the left knee, lift the right hand toward your face, place your right index and middle finger tips at your third eye. Exhale completely, close your eyes, use your right thumb to close your right nostril, inhale through the left nostril, then close your left nostril with your right ring finger, open your right nostril and exhale. Then, inhale through your right nostril and close your right nostril, open the left nostril and exhale through your left nostril - this is one complete cycle. You can continue this for 3-5 minutes. Make sure to complete the practice with an exhale on the left side.
Start a new project or learn a new skill. Creativity can be abundant during this time. Make time to study an interesting topic. Pick up a book you’ve been meaning to read.
Take time now to contemplate what intentions you want to set. What a perfect time to turn inward, and plant the seeds for what you’d like to see come into fruition.
