By February we are deep into winter, it is hard to roll out of your warm blankets in the morning, the car chugs to start, and daylight hours are too few. Many of us feel low energy and yearn for summer. If we are superstitious we may cling to the hope that the groundhog will not see his shadow in the hopes that Spring will come earlier than later.
But, while we struggle with these seasonal challenges, it is important to recognize the natural rhythms of nature and how we are connected to them. Take, for example, the basic principles of Chinese Medicine: Yin and Yang. Yin and Yang exist in perfect harmony with one another, they are complete opposites. Without one, the other cannot exist. The concept can be applied in any context including weather, symptoms of an illness, emotions, etc. Yang is the energy of movement, action, warmth, building, speed. Yin is the energy of reflection, inaction, cold, nurturing, slowness. Applied to the seasons, summer is Yang because it is filled with warm temperatures and more light. It is also Yang because we tend to be more active in the summer, our gardens are in full bloom and there is life all around us. Winter on the other hand is more Yin because it is filled with colder temperatures, we stay indoors more, see less of the sun, our gardens are buried in snow (which, in a sense, is keeping the earth insulated, protected and therefore nourished).
Having Yin and Yang in nature helps us recognize that the seasons exist for a reason, that nature has a perfect plan for what it needs to grow and flourish, that there is a perfect harmony between Yin and Yang. It also helps us to understand why we might feel the way we do with the seasons. If you feel more active, upbeat, energetic, and happier in the summer, this makes sense because you are in tune with the Yang nature of summer. If you feel more introspective, slower paced and lower mood in the winter, this also makes sense because you are in tune with the Yin nature of winter. Now, this doesn't mean that experiencing depression or other serious mood disorders is normal or healthy, but think of your mood on your own spectrum and notice your own changes respective to the seasons. Remember, everything is relative and your body is unique.
Being mindful of the seasons, and your own experience of nature's rhythms and harmonies allows us to better understand how we are affected by our environment. It also helps us appreciate how balance is achieved. Keep record of how you respond and embrace it. You should not feel exactly the same year round if you live in a climate with more than one season. You will have fluctuations. It you start to notice patterns, or are concerned about some of your seasonal symptoms, seek out treatment.
