Today is the start of a new Seasonal Node. Each of the four seasons can be broken down into six smaller segments, called "Seasonal Nodes" (or "Solar Terms"), which come with specific instructions about what to do (and what not to do) to stay healthy and happy and harmonized with the natural world (which is really the same thing).
We've reached the last Node of winter.
Fifteen more days to go until spring.
The name given to this last winter period is "Great Cold," surely a reflection of outside temperatures, which tend to dip during this time.
However, the name tells us more than what's going on outside.
The word "cold" is a symbol of protection and storage in Chinese philosophy. Imagine an igloo, which is able to block winds and contain internal heat to keep it from escaping into the atmosphere.
Inside is our Qi. Our life force. Our physiological and creative fire!
Ignited at the Solstice from embers stored before winter began, our fire has been growing for the last thirty days. Soon it will break free of icy shackles and burn on into summer.
But for the next fifteen days, we must keep it inside. Protected. Stored. It's still not quite strong enough to light up the world.
Nevertheless, it is no small flame anymore (hence Great Cold to contain it). It burns quite warm internally.
So this tends to be the time of year when people start to feel a bit restless and stir crazy. Some express feelings of depression.
To manage this, keep three ideas in mind.
One, make sure to get some gentle movement, distributed throughout the day. This keeps the internal heat circulating.
Two, eat light meals (volume and content). Too much and too rich foods block circulation and cause more internal heat.
Three, be very careful to avert or avoid confrontations with others. Small annoyances can easily turn into wild rage while internal temperatures run high.
Spring will come. Confrontation not required.
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