Hello friend!

Winter❄️is settling fully around us now: the deep‑cold days, the softer light, the slower rhythm. This season asks us to care for our bodies, our energy, and our inner world with a little extra tenderness.  

As you look at the seasonal calendar, we are entering Daxue (Great Snow) and approaching Dongzhi (Winter Solstice). This is the deepest, darkest, and slowest part of the year. Seasonal traditions remind us that midwinter is a time for rest and self‑care: slowing down, eating warm and nourishing foods, practicing gentle Qi Gong, receiving bodywork, spending time in the sauna, and engaging in reflective meditation and dreamwork.  

Let’s explore some of these deep‑winter themes together.

Warming Foods for Deep Winter  

I just made my first batch of winter wines: walnuts, longan fruits, or mulberries seeped in rice wine. In your own cooking, you might bring in warming spices like cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and orange peel. They pair beautifully with root vegetables, butternut squash or kabocha, and add a comforting touch to winter desserts.  

This is the season to limit cold or raw foods. Yes, you can still enjoy a salad, but your body may feel better with warm, cooked meals. Water‑element foods such as nuts, seeds, seaweed, and whole grains are wonderful year‑round, but especially supportive during deep winter.

Gentle Winter Movement  

Have you heard of ‘exercise snacks’? These are short bursts of movement sprinkled throughout your day. They don’t require special equipment or a trip to the gym, just quick, simple activities you can do at home. 

I’ll share my list with you here that includes standing stretches, seated movements, small jumps, strengthening exercises (3 to 5 minutes at a time), several times a day. 

My suggestion is: make it playful. Create your own list, cut it into slips, put them in a jar, and draw one every hour or two. The novelty and mix of movements can even support neuroplasticity and help keep your energy steady.

More broadly, winter calls for gentle, consistent activity without overexertion. Qi Gong is perfect for this season. Movements like Gathering the Qi of Nature or any Water‑based forms help support the quieter pace of the months ahead.  

And don’t overlook everyday winter‑friendly movements: shoveling snow, tidying the home before the holidays, or running small errands can all keep your energy moving.

Winter Rest and Incubation  

I’m also sharing two reflection resources you may want to print and use at home. The first is the Winter Dreaming Deck, with invitations such as The Dark Rest, Quiet Moments, and The Still Water. The second is the Deep Winter Expanded Deck, which goes even deeper, with prompts like:  

🕯️ Where do you find pockets of quiet this season?  

🦉 What part of your life feels ready for a pause this winter? 

Set aside a moment each day to draw a card. Let the question accompany your meditation practice, your journaling, or even your dreams at night. Let winter incubate the answers. No expectations, no hurry. Just a quiet, spacious invitation.

Midwinter is a time for conserving energy, gathering warmth, and listening inward. May these practices support you as we move through the darkest days and toward the returning light.

with Love,

Judit