Winter Soother

By Kimberley Jones

I don't know about you but there is one word that sums up how I feel every Winter: TIRED!

It has taken me years to realise that this happens every single year, that it is seasonal & natural & that it is in fact OK. For a long time I fought hard to keep going, pushing myself, judging myself. A combination of stoical parents & being ungrounded meant that I just did not listen to my body when it asked me gently to slow down & rest. I like to think I'm getting better at honouring my body & its cycles.

This tiredness really starts to kick in for me at the end of October. I also just start to feel different somehow. It was only this year I realised that my diet needs to change at this time for example, along with a few other things.

Winter asks that we hibernate, keep warm & conserve our energy until Spring comes. It is a programme deep in our human/animal blueprint. Modern life doesn't easily allow for this part of us so we need to find our own ways to honour it, ways that fit into our often busy lives.

I tend to feel a strong pull to retreat deep within myself. I get clear intuitive images of a cave every Winter, it feels like more of a sanctuary. It invites me in each year & I'm learning to honour that pull & allow myself more rest & 'me time' snuggled under a blanket. I can also go into my 'Winter Sanctuary' using my intention & imagination or during a consciousness shift while I'm healing or meditating. I feel very nourished in there.

Of course each of you may experience winter differently, I have a particularly sensitive & highly responsive system, so please do what feels right for you. For those of you who feel it like I do I hope it helps for me to share what I've learned (so far) that really helps me.

Here are some ideas:

Warm it up
If like me you drink lots of mineral water you might benefit from starting to warm up your drinking water as Autumn ends. I am endlessly surprised by how satisfying I find a mug of plain hot water, but if that doesn't quite float your boat herbal teas are obviously very
good or you could try a splash of natural cordial or fruit juice in hot water.

Going underground
Root vegetables tend to be in season during the winter. Eating what is in season helps your body synchronise & harmonise with natural, seasonal energies & forces. If you are in harmony with nature you are more likely to feel balanced & centred within yourself.
So, lots of warm soups & stews!

Brush, brush, brush!
I feel my system really slow down as winter approaches & that includes my ability to flush away energy, toxins & fluids etc that build up naturally but might not serve me if they hang around too long. Something I have found that REALLY revitalises me when I feel sluggish is dry brushing all over my body before my shower. If you haven't tried it I recommend it. It wakes me up, brings me into my body after a night of usually intense dream work & gives me a bit of zest (It's also great for getting rid of cellulite...ladies).

The general rule of thumb with dry-brushing seems to be to find a brush designed for the job to avoid scratching yourself. Using long, gentle, sweeping strokes always towards the heart area, start from the backs of your hands sweeping along the arms. Working slowly down the body & finishing with the legs. I avoid sensitive & personal areas.

Pressing the 'PAUSE BUTTON'
Surrender to the snooze as often as you can. You are supposed to feel tired at this time of year, we need to make allowances & adjustments for this & listen to our bodies. If you are really busy & cannot lay down to snooze when your energy drops (usually mid afternoon) it can be just as rebalancing to 'PRESS THE PAUSE BUTTON'. Those of you who have worked with me will be familiar with the PAUSE BUTTON technique. For those of you who aren't it is a quick, simple tool to be used when your energy is flagging.

Simplify & listen to yourself
When my energy is low or just in Winter mode I find it impossible to do as much as I do in the Spring & Summer months. My intention this year has been to simplify, declutter & cut back. Of course in the current financial climate this is doubly useful. I'm not rushing around as much, I'm not going with my regular urges to do the latest workshop, visit all my relatives or rush around shopping. Basically I am not expecting as much of myself, not pressuring myself. I catch myself organising my 'to do' lists & adding to them occasionally but I can feel I am sitting back more & letting myself off the hook.

It has been a busy year & I give out a lot every day. I'm listening to my body & soul, I'm learning all the time how to manage & balance my energy. Winter is a time to rest & take stock. I am nuzzling in with nature & allowing myself to receive more from life, from others. I am responding to a call from deep inside me to spend more time working from home & creating a nurturing home environment. I have yet to see what will unfold for me working solely from home, it's exciting, a bit daunting but I know I am following the messages from deep inside me, from my soul & I trust that guidance more than any other.

I hope this has given you some useful starting points on how to nurture yourself this Winter?
Please do email me with any other suggestions that really work for you.

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Blessings,

Kimberley Jones

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