Blog Archives - Journey with the Seasons

Staying grounded...

1/20/2017

I just found this photo I took this time last year of a swollen, surging Dartmoor river. It reminded me of the Ko Cycle in five element theory. Water, the element of the winter season and of the emotions, is controlled by earth, the element of being grounded, nurtured and nourished. Here the rushing full river is being contained/ controlled by the solid river bank.. Water can run amok and be destructive and distressing just like surging emotions. If this is happening plug your feet into the ground, feel the earth beneath your feet and do something that really nurtures you. The flood will pass. Happy grounding, love Sarah-Jayne x

Boost your energy...

1/20/2017

So many people find that their energy levels dip after 3pm. In the Chinese Five Elements the Water element's Bladder and Kidney meridians are meant to be at their peak activity from 3-7pm,(Bladder 3-5pm, Kidney 5-7pm). This is just the time when we are needing to dig deep into our energy reserves to get through the rest of the day. If people are at all dehydrated then this is when it will show up and we will literally feel that our energy is draining away.
Now one of the obvious solutions to support our Water element is to drink more water but people often worry that drinking more water will means more toilet trips through their busy days. I always explain to people that at the start of this process your body will be a bit like a dried out pot plant; if you water it when it is dry the water simply pours out the other end. If however you water it a little at a time your body will ‘receive’ it appreciatively and absorb it more easily . Here are a couple of useful tips to help you get hydrated more easily:
Firstly, when you are wanting to build up your hydration levels try to always drink a small glass of water more than the day before.
Secondly the following technique should help you limit the amount of toilet trips you make. With your first mouthful of water take your time, hold the water in your mouth for 5-10 seconds, rolling it around your mouth and tongue and breathing over it. This will switch your body on to absorbing the water rather than letting it flood though like with a dried up pot plant. Try to carry on drinking mindfully, imagining every cell of your body receiving the water gratefully.
Have a wonderful, energy filled day, love Carol and Sarah-Jayne

Winter Seasonal Goddess Challenge...

1/20/2017

Hello lovely journeyers.... every season has such gifts and opportunities so every season we like to take the time to really embrace these and make them work for us.
So from this place of deep Winter we have our next Seasonal Goddess Challenge. This is an opportunity to explore and experience the deep, restorative energy of the Wintertime through the Water element of the Chinese Five Elements.
The Water element is deeply healing and restorative, it helps us dream-in what we want more of in our lives and to get clear of the essence of who we are and what we want to achieve in the world. It is associated with stamina, power and resilience and helps us keep our battery topped up.
We will be using the our 'Journal with the Seasons' as a guide and you can get your free downloadable copy of the Winter pages on our website www.journeywiththeseasons.com.
The challenge will take place in our women's circle so to join in go to https://www.facebook.com/groups/seasonalgoddessdaytoday
We look forward to welcoming you there, love Carol and Sarah-Jayne xx

The flowing nature of Water...

1/20/2017

We are all striving for better health and vitality and so often we see it as a goal to get to. For us health is not something we achieve but rather it is about being able to 'roll with the punches' and to have that adaptability that means we never feel floored, or at least not for too long.
It is the Water element that gives us us the quality of adaptability; this wonderful flowing element fills whatever space it comes across, from the vast expanses of lakes and oceans to the tiny spaces in the soil. Water can be solid enough enough to walk on and cover whole continents yet fluid enough to drain away in a second. It is powerful enough to erode the land yet gentle enough to restore a desert to a fertile flowering ecosystem.
In us the Water element helps us change gear when we need to dig deep and find extra energy and gets things done, it helps us appreciate the value of stillness and recharging as much as action and movement and it helps us recognise the power of gentleness and working slowly everyday to achieving our goals rather than rowing our boats up stream and push, push, pushing.
The Five Element way of health is therefore about adaptability; learning to 'go with the flow' or should I say' swim with the current' because as the Buddhist saying goes only dead fish go with the flow ...🐟 🐳🐡 🐬 have a gorgeous, watery, flowing day, lots of love Carol and Sarah-Jayne

Water, the message carrier...

1/20/2017

Morning journeyers, I have just been on a 3 day course which was deep and magical, I feel like I have travelled a great distance very fast.. and I also drank about a gallon of water I was so thirsty!
Within the body, mind and spirit the Water element is the message carrier and the connector so without being fully hydrated we are unable to join the dots and absorb new information; it's not surprising therefore that the brain is made up of at least 70% water.
So if you are using/needing a lot of brain power today keep your water glass topped up and everything will flow a little easier.
Have a flowing, absorbingly good day, love Carol xx

Finding Summer in Winter...

1/20/2017

Morning journeyers, I love this quote and was reminded of it on a course this weekend, as this beautiful bit of art was on the wall. It is easy to forget that within every element and every season we can also find all the other elements and seasons, and of course it is always good to feel a bit of Summer in the depths of Winter.
Enjoy your Monday love Carol x

Wolf moon...

1/12/2017

It is full moon tomorrow morning at 11.33 GMT. This moon is called the wolf moon, heralding in the the new year and the trackways that are available to us for 2017. The sky, garden, rooftops, trees and streets tonight are filled with beautiful silver light here in Mid Devon. Full moons are a great time to reflect on where you are in life and what has blossomed since the new moon. Emotions (water element) may be heightened as we feel the pull and strength of the moon's silver reflected light. Take some time if you can to journal, draw or just ask yourself how you are doing right now. Its a wonderful time for a check in. Enjoy the first full moon of this year- it's a doozy! lots of love Sarah-Jayne and Carol.

Tears...

1/12/2017

We are in water element season. As I sit with some difficult emotions today I remember the quote from Isak Dinesen ""THE CURE FOR ANYTHING IS SALTWATER, SWEAT, TEARS OR THE SEA"". The water element holds indeed our emotions. One of my medicine names is 'her with the wet eyes'. Tears of joy, of laughter, wracking sobs of despair, grief and injustice. Tears that show I have been deeply moved, tears of relief and fear when holding my Grandaughter for the first time out of her incubator. Tears of transition with and for my son's when life changes for them. Tears of regret, of longing. And ultimately tears of healing, of release and of will to continue to love this wonderful life, tears of gratitude for all of the miriad of emotions creating tears. Wishing you a day of good emotions. Sarah-Jayne

January 12th, 2017

1/12/2017

Morning journeyers, I was struck the other day by the starkness of Winter, the clean lines and the long shadows. There is no fluff, nowhere to hide and this sort of exposure can make us feel fearful.
Fear is the emotion associated with the Water element which shows itself so clearly in Winter, and it is also the time of deep dreaming where there is an opportunity to sow the seeds of what we want for the future.
So journeyers now is the time to feel the edges of our comfort zone, stare out at the stark beauty of that place where fear kicks in, and recognise the awesome starting place of your new dream.
Happy dreaming journeyers and 'feel the fear and do it anyway'
love Carol x

Relax with water...

1/12/2017

Evening journeyers, one of the qualities of the Water element is it's healing, restorative energy. Having a glass of water, shower or bath, swimming, having foot baths, steam session all support our Water energy.
The Bladder meridian runs the whole length of body and is concentrated up and down our backs. I love standing in the shower massaging my back and bladder meridian, wonderful!
What is your favourite way to use water to restore yourself?
lots of love Carol x