HE ALTH
The lessons of winter
There is a lot to learn from winter. Go slow, tune in, and plant your seeds for growth in spring.
by Michelle Teunon
H
ave you ever considered what it must have been like for our ancestors pushing through a
long, cold winter before the creation of electricity and gas? For them this time of year held the very real threat of death by cold or starvation if they weren’t properly prepared. Prior to the existence of readily accessible energy and implements to warm them, cook their food, or light their homes at the flick of a switch – surviving winter’s extreme conditions was something that was worthy of celebration. Although our modern lifestyles aren’t
impacted as much as those of our ancestors who didn’t have the luxuries of instant heating, we too are influenced by the changing seasons as our body and mind respond to the shifting temperatures and phases of nature. Just as nature accepts and adapts to these changes, it is a good time to remember that we must also adjust. Life is in a constant state of change. For our greatest success it is essential that we work with these natural cycles to evolve.
ALLOWING STILLNESS Winter is the time of year where the pace of life slows down and we become less active. With colder temperatures, fewer daylight hours, and wetter days, we naturally want to spend more time indoors. The darkness and stillness surrounding us in nature offer an opportunity to rest, look within, and reflect on our lives. We are invited to become aware of where we are physically, mentally, and spiritually and
16 JUNE 2017
consider where it is that we want to be going when the time for movement comes. Our truth can be revealed when we allow ourselves to surrender to this natural cycle of finding stillness.
WINTER SOLSTICE The winter solstice, falling on June 21st this year, marks a turning point. We have experienced a descent into darkness. Trees have shed their leaves, nature’s growth is in a state of suspension, temperatures have dropped and we encounter the longest night and shortest day of the entire year. From this point on the days will become longer as the sun shows promise of returning to its full strength in the coming months. For our ancestors who lived off the
land, making it to another solstice was a reason to celebrate. For them it was a time to acknowledge their survival of the darkest time of year and the rebirth of the sun. It was a time to rejoice at the start of another cycle and show their gratitude for the community and resources that had contributed to their continued existence.
THE CYCLE OF LIFE The winter solstice was also seen as an opportunity to honour the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Death is a natural part of any cycle. In nature, the trees have recently discarded their leaves, ready to grow new ones in the spring. We too would benefit from releasing any ‘dead wood’ in our lives, to enable new growth in the approaching months. When we accept death as a necessary part of regeneration, we can more easily welcome the changes that occur as we embark on new beginnings. While we no longer face the same
threat of starvation or illness because of extreme weather, winter solstice still represents a turning point for us each year. It offers an opportunity to pause and reflect on where we are in our lives and what we want to see blossom in the coming months.
WINTER AND TRADITIONAL CHINESE MEDICINE In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), the season of winter relates to the water element, which includes the bladder
©DEATHTOSTOCK
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