We are moving into the season of the Water/Winter element in Energy Medicine teachings. The Water element supports resetting your energy flow. Like water in a stream, energy is the vital life force (or qi) and it feeds all of the “streams” in the body. The energy of Water feeds your inner sense of knowing, your inner confidence and sense of self, and is also a wellspring of creativity. It is a place to come to float, dream, and hear your truth. It is a place to find balance–between yin and yang, being and doing. To find renewal. This element asks you to confront fear as you release the old and birth the new. 

Water element energy asks us to slow down and not be in such a hurry. People with Water as their primary element move to a slower rhythm. The word “hurry” is not in their vocabulary. They speak, walk, act, react, and live at a slower pace than the rest of us. Anybody who knows me will believe me when I say, “I have less Water element than any other.” But it is something that I work on. Each element has a gift to give us and moving slower is one aspect I aspire to.

In addition, the Water element can be expressed by seeking comfort, living your life fully aligned with your values, exhibiting patience, seeking creative outlets, and finding meaning in rituals, symbols, and traditions. Many poets, writers, musicians, and actors have a primary Water element, such as Nicholas Cage, Kevin Costner, Stevie Nicks, Janis Joplin, and Kurt Cobain. Did I say that Water elements may tend toward having depression/anxiety?

Water element types tend to represent the archetypes of the Philosopher, the new Baby, or both. The Philosopher spends time inside the mind and alone–reading, writing, journaling, creating. Often they are interested in the past. The newborn Baby is full of wonder, playfulness, and creativity. Both types need their alone time, and they live on their own schedules (which may seem a little unpredictable to others).

To support your Water Element tendencies during this season, here are some things to consider.

• Give yourself downtime to rest and reflect
• Schedule play time and interactions with others
• It’s okay to move slowly
• Give yourself plenty of time to work on projects so you don’t have to rush
• Finish a project–(Waters can often start, but not finish something)
• Be more open and communicative with friends and family
• Watch the tendency to hibernate like a bear in the Winter, take a shower, and go out!
• Do physical activity at least three times a week

This month in my Energy Medicine Yoga classes, the focus will be on the Water Element. As with every element, there is a yin organ (Kidney) and a yang organ (Bladder). We will focus on these aspects of the Water element and end with an exercise to help you go inside and receive gifts from your heart. Instead of setting New Year’s intentions with your mind/brain, we will focus on listening to the heart/brain and what it has to offer. As you can imagine, you might get very different responses from each.

Registration is now open for the month of January or individual classes. Note: January 8 and 29 are by recording only. https://tasting-mindfulness.square.site/. If you’d like to know more about your primary and secondary elements according to Chinese Medicine, go here to take an online quiz.

Happy New Year Everyone!