Don’t be afraid to hear what your heart really desires and be ready to take action to bring it to life.
foods can be beneficial as they promote a descending, grounding quality and help bring heat deeper into the body. Salty foods include miso, soy sauce, seaweeds, millet, and barley. Emotionally the water element in TCM
and kidneys. The bladder and kidneys store, balance, and distribute our bodies' fluids and maintain our energy reserves. When the water element is depleted we may experience exhaustion or feel overwhelmed as we struggle to cope physically and emotionally without healthy energy reserves to fuel us. Stimulants such as caffeine and sugar can deplete the kidneys and disrupt our energy flow. Overwork and not giving ourselves enough yin (receptive, quiet, passive) time will also deplete the kidneys. Just as you wear suitable clothing
during winter to help cope with the cooler temperatures, there are certain foods that are better for the body at this time, helping to boost the immune system and fight off colds and flu. Avoid eating raw, cooling foods and instead focus on warming and grounding foods such as soups and stews, broths, lentils, and beans. Foods that naturally grow during this season are most favourable, such as squashes, potatoes, root vegetables, winter greens, cabbage, mushrooms, apples, and pears. Adding small amounts of salty
is associated with fear – especially fear of the unknown. Sometimes the prospect of simply sitting quietly with our emotions can trigger all kinds of fears as we try to regulate or resist our responses to different experiences in our lives. This fear of what we will encounter can use up our energy reserves in a desperate attempt to control, manage, or run away from these feelings. When our minds take over, we can no longer hear our intuitive wisdom. The lesson of the water element is to listen to and follow our intuition – to go beyond our limiting beliefs and allow ourselves to be guided by our higher consciousness. This is what keeps us safe and aware of opportunities, helping us respond to life and able to utilise our resources appropriately.
DON’T BE AFRAID OF THE DARK Sometimes we avoid the dark within ourselves – our fears, our shadow side, our less favourable qualities. But once we realise that it’s these parts of self that can offer our greatest gifts of learning, then we will realise they are what make us perfectly whole. These are the things that keep you searching for new growth and understanding about your place in the world. It helps you get clear on where you are now and what you need to do to move forward in the direction you wish to go. Now is the perfect time to tune into your inner truth, become clear on what you want your life to be like and what you need to do to strengthen and grow the part of you that you want to bring out to shine. Don’t be afraid to hear what your heart really desires and be ready to take action to bring it to life. Take this time to rest, recharge, and let go of what no longer serves you, ready to
begin the new cycle ahead. Enjoy the winter for the stillness and awareness it offers. Don’t be afraid to hear your inner truth. It may mean making changes, however the rewards will be worth it. You can live the life you’ve always dreamed of.
WINTER IDEAS • What do you need to let go of at this time to allow you to reach your full potential?
• What resources and support are you grateful for in your life?
• What fears are preventing you from living your life more fully?
• What strengths can you draw on and begin to bring to life with the increasing light?
• Make use of this time of stillness to rest and recharge
• Gentle exercise such as qi gong, tai chi and yoga can help support the body and mind
• Increase grounding and warming foods and limit cold, raw foods
• Make time for meditation to listen to your inner instincts
• Appreciate the cycle of life, recognising that death is an important aspect of new growth
• Create a vision board to represent what you want your life to be like and keep you on track to the success you have always dreamed of “Don’t be pushed by your problems. Be led by your dreams.” [Anonymous] n
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www.livingnow.com.au
Working with the elements to create harmony in body, mind and spirit, Michelle Teunon is a Melbourne-based personal transformation mentor,
kinesiologist, bodyworker and qi gong facilitator passionate about supporting people to live life to their fullest potential.
JUNE 2017 17
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