SEASONAL FOODS, TOOLS & APPLICATION - PART THREE

The Importance of Winter

Winter is a challenging season for many. Societal demands and winter are like oil and water. Nature pulls in, slows down to rejuvenate, restore and rebuild her life force for the next cycle. Her energy goes into the depths where it is stilled. She reduces the outward demands to take time for restoration and to gather energy for herself.

The kidneys and the bladder are the organ systems ruled by winter. They relate to the water element, which governs this season represents the death part of the natural cycle—the trough of the wave—the dark side of life. Our modern society does not support honoring this season, when the natural flow calls for slowing down and resting. Many find it an impossible luxury. The demands for survival are too intense. When the energy moves inward, the natural desire for inner exploration is not an option. The pace of life continues as it does the rest of the year. Unfortunately, this lifestyle is not in the flow of nature, and depletes our kidney energy, where we build and store our life force.

The wounding of the feminine influences the level of our deep-seated fear. The season and water element of winter has a direct relationship with fear. The combination of not taking the time to rejuvenate in winter and the stress caused by fear is damaging to our kidneys, depleting us of life-force energy. It is a vicious cycle. This energy that fuels our life and supports us to grow and manifest our self is not available. After a certain level of depletion, our life-force energy is insufficient to nourish the health of our organ systems; we are vulnerable to disease. This is a collective cultural issue and one of the more serious imbalances in modern society. Fear is a major factor that keeps us from being able to live by nature’s wisdom. We are running as fast as we can simply to survive, physically or emotionally.

The need to simplify our is evident and will take a readjustment in our priorities and sense of values. This is an indication of the transformation that is available when we live by nature’s wisdom. Our pace unravels our conditioned world to support natural flow. Without time to gather our energy and connect with our self at the depths of our being, we basically limp through the rest of the entire cycle and can’t access our deepest self to support growth. Some push beyond with the help of stimulants such as coffee and sugar. This forces their kidneys and adrenals into constant overdrive until they give out, never addressing the chronic fight or flight mode of our unconscious.

Winter is the season and element that supports us to take time out to go to the depths of our unconscious and meet our self. Winter supports us to explore what part of us is in fear, so that we can soothe it. It is the season that many avoid so they can run faster and faster, until they collapse.

I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to embrace this season and element. After reading this book, if you find it is possible that your kidneys and adrenals have been working overtime I suggest getting extra acquainted with the foods, tonics and energy practices that rebuild your kidney energy.

Make sure the kidney-building foods are incorporated all year long as they come into season, and find a way to nourish your self by checking out of your routine and checking in with nature when you take time to rest. You will also find the tools for soothing the fears of the wounded inner child helpful and necessary for supporting the kidneys.

I have included a list of symptoms of kidney depletion along with the foods and tonics that support rebuilding.

The cleansing meditation, which I shared in the tools section of this book, brings the Mother’s energy into your body. Allow whatever feelings arise.

Many times when I am filled with her love, I end this meditation with settling our Mother energy in my hara, or second chakra, or energy center in the reproductive area of my body. This nourishes our kidneys to radiate the energy from this center and bathe them with it.

The combination of healing the feminine wound, soothing the fears, resting, consuming nourishing foods with appropriate cooking methods, tonics and energy practices will greatly support your kidneys. This foundation gives you the force to create and sustain life—just at it does for nature.

For more information on other seasons, buy the book.