As the cooler months shift to full grace, water is the Winter season's element. As we know water to be flow and fluidity, think of its essence as quiet. In doing too much, this element metabolizes as overwhelm in the body during a time of rest. This is the time of the year to preserve your precious prana. Although, we’re challenged with the intensity of holidays rush + overworking for that end of season bonus. Water becomes easily depleted in the midst of the rush and overdoing. Let this be a moment to lay down to rest in the pillows of winter’s white snow.

Mother Ayurveda suggests ebbing and flowing with the seasons how our ancestors before us did and in fluidity with nature. Before us, our ancestors lived in a time without the pleasure of heat and electricity. Their internal clocks dialed into the rise and fall of the suns rays, which often meant more time for slumber. Winter is the season that all parts of nature lay down to rest and some to experience death. Beginning Winter with the last month of the modern calendar, this is often the close to our years happenings. Death doesn’t always mean of the body, but in this sense, of the things in our past that aren’t needed any longer so that we can be liberated from all of the stories that don’t have to determine our identity, so long as we choose. Death is our metaphor for receiving the messages we need and know with the willingness and ability to let go.

Like the past stories of the trees laughter and pain fall down to the earth, their leaves become the fertilizer to grow new again.

I hope you ease into these offerings and welcome them into your sacred life-landscape as new rituals of the innate divine, while knowing these are just forgotten wisdoms that you might have already known. Find what works for you. Go Slow.

Mother Ayurveda DO’s:

~ Self Oiling, or in Ayurveda, Self Love. Oil translates to love in Sanskrit. Take time out of your morning or evening to warm up some organic, sesame oil and massage the lymphatic system throughout every part of your body. This practice stimulates all of that stuck prana in the system, slow movements help calm the nervous system as well as soothe that wonderful vata depleting dryness that our skin can become. Preferably before or after a shower, depending on your preference. The absorbed oil residue can be uncomfortable for some, some might enjoy the moisture.

~ Try not to do two things at once. For instance, drink your tea slow and by itself, eat your meals without distraction of external stimulation such as working or electronics. The essence is to enjoy what you are doing, slower.

~ Go Slow and preserve your prana. Take a little extra time and care when cooking, working on a creative project, taking a shower or bath, and/or your morning/evening rituals, etc.

~ Keep your womb warm alongside your belly. A cold womb isn’t a space where healing is met because our wombs, for both men and woman, are where our stories and creation live. The womb is our seat to our greatest life’s potential and information. Hold her between your palms and wear warm socks. Optional to sit and work with a blanket or heating pad over the stomach to hold in the heat of the womb.

~ Drink filtered warm lemon + ginger water first thing in the morning and throughout the day. This enlivens the digestive agni, softly, preparing your gut for the day. Powdered is wonderful, or steep slices of ginger for a bit longer.

~ Adopt a flavorful decaffeinated tea collection (preferably loose tea)! Caffeine, although some believe after having it monotonously has no affect, actually does stimulate us to be unnaturally capable of more. Think of this as a time where your ancestors give you permission to do less. Spice it up and have tea for your mood or to soothe your heart during these cold times.

~ Layer up ‘cos baby, baby it’s cold outside. Let’s be real, some of us want to pretend in our wardrobe that it’s summer all year round but mamma Earth tells you to listen to the cold and break out those ugly sweaters. Acclimation doesn’t begin with shocking the nervous system, so live this time feeling cozy, and keep your body warm. Constantly feeling cold can cause the muscles to tense up, which can lead to old injuries and pain discomfort resurfacing. Relax your shoulders, take a breath out and soften the back.

~ Wear less makeup and looser fitted clothes or comfy shoes for enhanced circulation and endocrine health.

~ Bone broth is your best friend! Save your dinner meals bones and find simple recipes online, then sip on this sunshine throughout the day.

~ Cook your vegetables instead of drinking smoothies or juicing. Yummy Vata reducing suggestions are acorn squash, butternut squash, sweet potatoes, onions, carrots and rooty vegetables in thick sauces or broths. Salads are out or very minimal for the season to keep your belly warm.

~ Introduce Kaphic or warming, heavy and dense foods to your diet such as broths or soups with carrots & potatoes, gravies with ghee and grains such as amaranth, oats, quinoa or basmati rice.

~ Spend evenings reflecting on the day by curling up with a journal or cozying up in a blanket getting lost in a good book.

~ Meditate in the morning or the evenings.

~ Invite in a prayer of gratitude before meals and before bed.

~ Indulge in deep conversation with friends or your romantic partner.

~ Incorporate box-breathing throughout your day and before bed to slow down the thinking mind.

~ Turn off the TV, cell phone, and any artificial light at a decent hour to let the eyes heal. Light candles or invest in salt lamps to purify the environment. This will adjust the body with the circadian rhythm of the sun, preparing for earlier, longer, fuller sleep.

~ Become a homebody. Enjoy time spent indoors and at home, especially during inclement weather, with those you love.

~ Enjoy the peace of silence or listen to music that lights up your internal flame.

~ Practice gentleness with yourself.

Mother Ayurveda DON’Ts:

~ Keep the body warm by avoiding ice cubes in water and cold drinks, salads, ice cream, and light, airy clothing. (You’re thinking, She’s suggesting no ice cream— I know. Within moderation, friends.)

~ Lessen people that do not light your fire within and social media use.

~ Refrain from a high intensity yoga practice and bring in the softness of yin and restorative.

Take what feels intuitive and right in your heart to bring into each day and let your soul soften during these times of less light. The foreignness of stillness can awaken deep and heavier emotions that often we’d prefer to avoid confronting. The beauty in this time is feeling the darkness just before the sun rises back up again, a little warmer each day.

Xx,

Ray of Light

Feel free to comment below on anything you look forward to incorporating into your day or how it went for you to try out some of these suggestions.

Feel Slow. Heal Slow. Love Slow.

Until next Tuesday. <3