Warm winter love

Henri Fantin-Latour, expert painter of roses

Winter can be challenging with the shorter days and colder temperatures.  The winter season would have been intensely challenging for paleo humans with the paucity of food and basic shelter.  We, of course, don't face such challenges so winter for us offers different issues with our artificial environments.  While I have no desire to be scratching about for meager food sources, or huddling by a fire to stay alive, our overheated, overly bright interiors filled with artificial light can wreck havoc on our natural rhythms. Add to this the fact that the lack of natural sunlight sends some of us into a more depressive mood and the winter can be quite unpleasant.  I've come up with some ways to inculcate some good practices and introduce/revive some good habits that will make winter easier to bear, and that will set you up for a lovely spring. I actually invite hibernation by trying my best to go to bed earlier and establishing cozy rituals.

1. My first nightly habit is an early warm shower, followed by a thick application of almond/honey shea body butter.
2. A cozy bathrobe can make a huge difference in terms of hibernating comfort.
3. A diffuser (cold mist) with Four Thieves essential oil blend to ward off infections.
4. A rubbing of oil in the nostrils to moisturize.
5. Flossing!  A great habit to establish.  If your gums are sensitive then use Glide floss, worth the extra money.
6. An application of facial moisturizer followed by a couple of minutes of using a Chinese jade roller (upward, outward strokes) to absorb it into the skin.
7. Vitamin D, 3,000 IUE, with a meal
8. I read in bed with an amber light in my reading lamp.  Warm and soft!
9. In the morning, while it is still dark, I take a few minutes to meditate.  I don't worry anymore about setting aside 20-30 minutes, because then it doesn't happen and I feel guilty.  Instead, I light a couple of candles, along with some incense, I choose a 5-10 minute song on my phone and just sit.  I don't fret about the day's quantity or quality of meditation, I just let it be what it is.
10. I read a poem, while having my first hot beverage of the day.  (See below).
11. Drink lots of hot water throughout the day.  I start the day with a cup of boiled water spiked with a lemon wedge, then throughout the day I add either a fresh ginger coin or a shake of powdered ginger.  Warming and cleansing.  Vanilla tea is lovely later in the day.
12. On the weekends, I walk at our local park, 4 miles each time.  I supplement my exercise throughout the week with indoor walking and weight workouts.

And, of course, I recommend you give your self some love by signing up for our February course.  In it, we look at three of the most romantic things in the universe: roses, chocolate and perfume.  We'll study their history, their uses, how they can make our lives more healthy, and how we can enjoy them more healthfully for the environment.  Or, go deeper--sign up for our Healing Traditions course.  Five traditions, Ten weeks, A lifetime of knowledge. 
http://www.yourartofliving.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html

With cozy love and comfort,

Lisabeth