Our Internal Seasons
The roots of your yin practice are grounded in the connection to our seasons. When we talk about seasons in Chinese Medicine, we aren't just talking about the seasons in our external environment but also our internal seasons.
Our unique eco-systems have their own rhythms and cycles, and if you listen closely, you may be able to notice the subtle whispers of your very own season.
You may notice yourself feeling hopeful, playful, creative, open to new opportunities and birthing new ideas. This is the season of Spring. The season of new beginnings and growth. It is the seedling that begins to emerge from the soil as the sun rises, inviting warmth and light into our souls.
Or perhaps, you've been feeling energised, prosperous and sociable. This is your inner Summer. Summer holds an upward energy that is outwardly focused, emitting warmth and joy to all around.
Some days, you may notice yourself seeking groundedness and stability, especially through moments of change. This is your inner Earth — reflected in late summer, the transition between the outward energy of Summer and the inward turn of Autumn. It is finding strength in stillness, in the in-between.
Or maybe, you've been slowing down and turning inwards. Autumn is the transition from our yang to yin. This is where we begin to organise our lives and set boundaries. It is the season of letting go of what no longer serves us. Taking time for reflection, gathering and maturing.
Or perhaps, you are hibernating at the moment. Slowing everything right down and taking time to rest. This is your inner Winter. A time where we gather into stillness, conserve our energy, so we can nurture ourselves before we rise again.
We often paint the quieter months of internal reflection in a negative light. We think we should be in Summer - always active, productive, radiant, and always on. Our culture teaches us that resting is lazy, and quietude is stagnation. But nature doesn't work this way, and neither do we. The tree that tries to bloom in Winter exhausts itself. The seed that refuses to rest in the dark soil would never grow strong roots.
Recognising your inner season is not weakness but wisdom. It is the beginning of living in harmony with your deepest nature. Each season will arrive in its own time, in its own way, bringing its own gift - exactly what you need for where you are.
Taking this away with you, off the mat, can you listen to the whispers of your inner season? Maybe at the end of each day, take a moment to notice what season you were in. You may even notice yourself shifting through multiple seasons in a day. How will you nurture this season?
In our practice this week, we will be moving through a journey of the seasons, honouring each one in turn and in time.
Whatever season finds you this week, may you meet it gently.