Winter Ritual & Self-Care

Here is a little Winter Solstice Blessing that I wrote for the Earthtonics newsletter last month:

Close your eyes and take a deep breath. Breathe deeply into your heart space, feeling your connection with yourself. One of the many blessings of Winter is that it is the most feminine and receptive time of the year. “Yin within yin” as we call it in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). 

Are you ready to receive the gifts of connecting with your inner stillness and darkness? The quieter we become, the more we can hear and see. 

Fear is the emotion of Winter in TCM, which corresponds to the water element, as well as the kidneys and bladder. We encourage you to find comfort in sitting with your fears and shadow. Only by truly diving deep into our inner darkness can we emerge fully illuminated and ready for Spring.

This time of year, it’s important to move our bodies, therefore our qi, but be sure not to over-exert. Dress appropriately (even in southern California!).  In TCM, we believe that the shoulder and neck areas contain the “wind” points where external pathogens can enter.  Keep these areas protected by wearing a scarf and keeping covered.  It’s natural to want to sleep longer in the winter. Give yourself permission to rest.

You are worthy of exquisite self-care. 

Here are some of my rituals this winter:

*Dry brushing (I also like wet brushing in the shower): this supports lymphatic flow and also exfoliates the skin. This practice is quick and easy and definitely energizes me.

*Epsom salt bath with marjoram, fir, or eucalyptus oils: slow down and let the plant medicine support you.

*5 Minute Journal: if you feel like your life is too busy to have a practice, this is a good start. I am a broken record when I share that I believe a gratitude practice is possibly the most important practice we can offer ourselves and the world.

*Face Mask: Even though I am constantly mixing and creating little potions, the most consistent face mask I use is the combination of the Earthtonics cardamom cream cleanser with the honey and bamboo facial scrub. I mix the two, put all over my face, neck, and chest, and then leave on for fifteen minutes or so before I shower and rinse it off.

*Gua Sha: I gua sha my face every day, or at least nearly every day. Not only is this important for facial rejuvenation, but it also has supported my TMJ and I feel better in my body from this practice. Come see me for a session, and receive this glorious treatment, and learn how to incorporate it into your own routine.

* I have been trying to get to the infrared sauna a few times a week. My husband and I plan to purchase our own this year. I can’t tell you how great I feel when I am consistently using the sauna!

*Switching from coffee back to tea. I consciously eliminate things from my diet multiple times a year just to give my system a reset. But, a couple of months ago I noticed that my body wasn’t craving or needing the coffee like I usually did. Replacing coffee with herbal tea has really made a difference in how I feel throughout the day. I will get a fancy coffee occasionally, but tea is really where it’s at for me right now. I have been loving the teas from Magic Hour in Ojai, where you can refill the beautiful violet bottles without using any plastic or excess packaging. I’m so grateful to be sitting with tea medicine multiple times a day again.

Sending you love and good health.

Blessings,
Lyndsey