Winter changes everything

It can be tricky to stay connected to nature’s rhythms in our society. Electric lights keep us from slowing down when darkness comes. Warm coats and synthetic fibers keep us comfortable when the temperature drops. And our ability to travel long distances protected from the elements allows us to move about.

This all adds up to more yang in winter than nature intended. What does that mean?

Winter is a time for replenishment. Rebuilding. Repair. For going inside, both literally and figuratively.

This is the time for lower energy expenditures and slowing down.

The trees lose their leaves. Animals hibernate (or brumate, I learned this morning). Even the oil in your car slows down and becomes more viscous.

This is the slowing down piece. But what about the going within?

Winter is also a time for looking within and noticing what is ready to change. An inward time of the year, this is the time to take an educational class, to listen to the intuition, to add self-care or meditation to your routine, to get to bed earlier, to rest.

In honor of this time of year, I’d like to share a simple three step routine to ask your body what it needs this winter. Your intuition knows better than anyone else where to focus your efforts. This simple process can be done in 10 to 15 minutes, just about anywhere, with no needed props. 😊

Step 1. Create space. Take five minutes to sit down, take some deep breaths, bring your focus into your body (and out of your mind). Just be in stillness for a few moments. If this is a struggle for you, focus on your breath or heart beat – feel it, hear it, etc. The five senses get us out of our mind. Meditate, pray, be in nature, whatever it takes for some quiet to soothe your mind.

Step 2. Ask. What does your body need? In this moment of stillness, ask “What do you need from me right now, body?” And open to listen. Try to keep your mind quiet and see what comes up. An inspiration might pop in. A person you should connect with might occur to you. A forgotten piece of advice might come to your awareness. This is your intuition at work. Make note of anything that comes to you! If you don’t hear anything immediately, don’t give up. Be open to guidance coming in the 24-48 hours after this exercise; sometimes it takes a little bit to percolate.

Step 3. Take inspired action. Use the information you just discovered! It’s gold: intuition from your body and higher self. Follow up on it. It may not be the end all solution, but it may lead you to a next step that you need to take.

I invite you this winter to use this very simple process to start creating space, listening and taking inspired action. This soul-aligned process will lead you in the perfect direction for you 100% of the time.