The light, the dark, we need them both. And yet, sometimes the dark season seems long and hard. When we’re in the winter season, it’s time to slow, down, turn inward, become more quiet and introverted. And with this time for quiet, can also come a heaviness especially since, although the days become lighter after the Solstice, it still seems a long trek to the Spring.
So what can we do to bring a little bit more light & lightness into our wintertime to make it a little bit easier?
Warming Spices:
Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Cardamom, Ginger, Cloves, Allspice, Turmeric, Rosemary, Garlic…
There’s a reason we use some of these “holiday spices” this time of year. They bring literal warmth into our bodies, minds and spirits! Up your spices in all of your cooking and check out this delicious nourishing night time toddy.
Smelling Salts:
We don’t hear about smelling salts nowadays, but man are they effective. Don’t know what they are? Well there are varying recipes, but I like to use a glass vial of rock salt and a few drops of my favorite essential oil to sniff when I need a little up lift. Citrus is my favorite to lift the heart and spirit but scent is a very personal thing so go with a scent that makes you feel light & free. Having a little vial of sunshine is perfect for travel and all you need to do is uncap and sniff deeply. The cool think about sniffing essential oils is that you’ll also benefit from their antimicrobial effect during the season and fight the cold & flus that about- especially on buses, trains and planes during holiday travels. Making your own room spray with your favorite scent is also a wonderful way to lift the spirit and create more light in your heart & space.
Uplifting Essential Oils I Enjoy:
Bergamot, Mandarin, Chamomile, Rose, Palo Santo, Silver Fir, Balsam Fir, Frankincense, Grapfruit…
St. Johnswort-Lemon Balm-Tulsi Tea
St. Johnswort, most well known for it’s “mood lifting” qualities, also has many other therapeutic qualities including, nervous system soother & anti-viral. Combine it with the lemon-y goodness of another anti-viral, antimicrobial fighter that calms the nervous & anxiety ridden mind and top it all off with an adaptogen that is soothing to the soul, & warming to the heart and you’ve got yourself your own personal Sun in a mug.
You can find these herbs at any local natural food store. Buy equal parts of each herb, combine & mix well, storing in a mason jar. Then add 1 heaping tablespoon (in a tea ball or throw away fill-your-own teabag) and let steep for 15min. Add sweetener if you’d like and enjoy… again and again all day long:)
*Tulsi is contraindicated when trying to conceive. Replace with Rose petals for a similar effect if that’s you:)*
Flower Essences:
Flower essences are just pure MAGIC. If you’ve not used them before, now is the time to try. Flower essences are completely gentle, can be taken internally or applied externally- even safe for pets. Add them to tea, your tub soak, your room spray… The sky is truly the limit with flower essences. There are gazillions of different kinds of essences on the market to suit your mood & emotional needs during the Winter. So, as with many things, I say go with your gut. But here are a few of my personal favorites for lifting the spirits & bringing in light: Foxglove, Sunflower, St. Johnswort, Rose, Rescue Remedy, Pink Yarrow. Have fun exploring!
Get Outside, Connect To the Green
It’s always so amazing to me to realize how much life still exists in the plant world even through the Winter. The evergreens, moss, lichen, Wintergreen, Partridge Berry… Go out and soak in that life. Grab your snow shoes or hiking boots, bundle up and go explore the nature around you. Listen to the birds or linger in the quiet. Find a cozy little spot to sit and notice your surroundings. Look up at the sky and the skeletons of the hardwood trees. Breathe. Despite the dark & cold, nothing will fill you up more with light than that of the Mother Earth. Try to take nature visits everyday even for a few minutes. Or at least once a week:)