Chinese medicine argues about this one, and I think that’s worth saying upfront rather than pretending there’s a tidy answer.

Some of my teachers use Earth strictly as a pivot: eighteen days tucked onto the end of each of the four seasons, winter into spring, spring into summer, summer into autumn, autumn into winter. Four small course corrections a year, not a season in its own right.

In my own practice I tend to reach for Earth this way mainly when a patient is struggling to adjust, and honestly, winter into spring and summer into autumn are the two that cause my patients the most trouble.

But late summer is different, and this is closer to how I’ve come to think of it.

It earns a whole season name of its own because it’s the biggest pivot of the four, by a distance. Every other seasonal change is a shift in direction. This one is closer to a U-turn. Everything Fire has spent all summer pushing outward and upward has to reverse and start moving down and in, ready for Autumn’s contraction.

That’s a bigger ask of the body than the other transitions, which is probably why it gets more room on the calendar.

Where exactly the debate lands doesn’t matter that much for what you actually do about it. My advice, ever the pragmatist: tune into your own body, and tune into the nature around you. Some years that pivot starts in July, some years it’s still going in September. No two bodies (or gardens, or summers) run to exactly the same script. Chinese medicine was built on observation, not fixed dates. Use it that way.

There’s a word for what tends to go wrong during this pivot: Si. It roughly translates as “overthinking,” but the older meaning is closer to “stuck in the loop of trying to work something out.” It’s the emotion of the Spleen, the organ that runs Earth.

If you’ve spent the summer saying yes, to plans, to people, to the version of yourself that shows up and copes, there’s a good chance you’re now walking around with a backlog. Conversations you didn’t finish having. Decisions you’re still turning over. A holiday you needed a holiday from. None of it urgent. All of it sitting there, undigested.

That’s not a metaphor for your gut, by the way, though your gut is probably also unimpressed. It’s what Earth actually governs: taking something in (food, an experience, a piece of news, a summer) and turning it into something usable. Energy. Insight. A settled stomach. Peace with a decision.

When that process backs up, you don’t get a dramatic crisis. You get low grade fog. A stomach that’s “fine” but not quite right. Sleep that’s fine but not restful. A mind that circles the same three thoughts at 2am as if it’s going to find something new down there.

This isn’t a failure of willpower, and it isn’t a sign you need a bigger reset. It’s just Earth telling you its inbox is full.

Full members get the rest of this one: the actual physiology of why “overthinking” lives in your digestion, four specific practices to move a backlog rather than just soothe it, the instincts that make Si worse even though they feel productive, and what to do about the thought that keeps circling back no matter what you try.

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We are officially heading into the school holidays. If you have children or grandchildren, you’ll be feeling it in every possible way. If you have neither, you’ll know it from the lighter traffic, the fact that everywhere you actually want to go now costs about three times what it did last month, and the general sense that the whole country has collectively lost its mind for six weeks.

Either way, holidays are on everyone’s mind. So it’s worth asking: even with the 4–6 weeks most of us in the UK get a year, why do so many of them fail to actually rest us?

You know the feeling. You’ve spent months waiting for this break. You book the flights, you pack the bag, you arrive somewhere warm - and by day four you’re lying by a pool doing the thing where you scroll your phone anyway, feeling vaguely guilty that you’re not “relaxed enough,” and privately dreading the inbox that’s waiting for you at the other end.

That’s not rest. That’s just work with a different backdrop.

Chinese medicine has a lot to say about why this happens, and it’s got nothing to do with needing a better itinerary or a fancier hotel. This isn’t folk wisdom or a wellness-account soundbite - it comes from a documented medical tradition going back to the Huangdi Neijing (the Yellow Emperor’s Inner Classic, compiled around 2,000 years ago), which is still the foundational text underpinning how licensed acupuncturists and Chinese medicine practitioners are trained today. It’s about what you’re actually doing to your Qi when you go from full sprint to sudden stop - and why the crash you feel on holiday, or right after it, isn’t bad luck. It’s physiology.

This is the bit my free subscribers get. Paid subscribers get the rest of the piece below - what the classical texts actually say about rest and the seasons, the Five Element breakdown of what’s happening in your body when you “holiday badly,” the three things practitioners have done for centuries to transition properly, and why the first 48 hours of any break matter more than the other twelve days combined.

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At 12pm on Sunday, Something Shifts

We’re at peak fire. Here’s what that means — and a qigong practice to meet it.

We are deep in the fire season.

In Chinese medicine, summer is ruled by the fire element — the season of the heart, of joy, of expansion, of being fully seen. Everything that was seeded in spring has pushed up through the soil and is now reaching towards the light. This is the nature of fire. It rises. It radiates. It illuminates.

And this year, we have a double dose of it.

2026 is a Fire Horse year in the Chinese calendar. Which means the elemental energy running beneath everything — the mood of the year, the undercurrent — is already fire. Passionate, unpredictable, fierce, alive. The Horse gallops. It doesn’t do subtle. Add summer into the mix and you’re sitting inside fire within fire. It’s a lot. It’s also extraordinary if you know how to work with it rather than burn out inside it.

What fire season asks of you

Fire season asks you to be present. To show up. To let yourself be seen and to connect. The heart, in Chinese medicine, is the emperor of all the organs. It governs not just circulation but consciousness, joy, and the quality of your relationships.

When fire is in balance you feel warm, open, clear, and genuinely joyful — not performed happiness, but a quiet aliveness. You sleep well. Your mind is settled. You feel connected to the people around you.

When fire is out of balance — too much, too little, or disrupted — you might notice anxiety, scattered thinking, difficulty sleeping, a tendency to over-talk or over-give, or a strange flatness underneath a busy exterior. That’s fire asking for attention.

The moment

Sunday 21st June is the summer solstice. The longest day. But within that day there is a specific moment that Chinese medicine points to — and it’s worth knowing about.

11am–1pm is heart time on the Chinese medicine body clock. The two hours when heart qi is at its most active, most available, most alive. At 12pm on the solstice, the longest day of the year meets the peak of heart time.

Fire at its absolute zenith.

For paid subscribers — how to work with it, what to expect energetically, and a full fire element qigong practice to do this week:

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If you’ve been sailing through spring feeling almost like yourself again, only to hit a wall the moment the temperature rises — you’re not imagining it. Summer and perimenopause are a notoriously uncomfortable combination, and Chinese medicine explains exactly why.

But first — a question worth sitting with.

Do you recognise yourself here?

You feel warm when others don’t. You wake between 1 and 3am, or perhaps 3 and 5, heart fluttering, mind racing. Your skin feels dry lately, or your hair a little thinner. You get tired in a way that sleep doesn’t fully fix. You feel irritable or anxious without an obvious cause. Your feet or palms sometimes feel hot, especially at night.

If any of these sound familiar, there’s a good chance your Yin energy is depleted.

The Root of It: Yin Deficiency

In Chinese medicine, the menopausal transition is fundamentally about the gradual decline of Kidney Yin — the cool, nourishing, moistening force in the body. Think of Yin as the wax in a candle. As we move through our forties and into our fifties, the flame of Yang activity burns on, but there is less wax to sustain it. The result? Heat rises. And when summer arrives and the world adds its own heat on top of yours, that already-depleted Yin simply cannot hold it.

This is a natural transition — one that Chinese medicine has been understanding and supporting for thousands of years. Knowing the pattern means we can work with it rather than against it.

The good news is that you don’t have to navigate this blindly. One of the most beautiful tools Chinese medicine offers is the Body Clock — and it can transform how you understand the way you feel throughout the day.

The Chinese Body Clock: Your 24-Hour Map

In Chinese medicine, Qi (vital energy) flows through the body in a continuous cycle, visiting each organ system for a two-hour window every day. When an organ is in its peak time, it has the most energy available — which means if that system is struggling, you’ll often feel it most acutely during its window.

Here’s how this maps onto your day in summer, with Yin deficiency in the picture.

5–7am — Large Intestine: The Morning Release

The body wants to let go at this time — physically and energetically. If your Yin is depleted and heat has been building overnight, you might wake feeling dry-mouthed, with a slightly parched or sore throat. The Large Intestine loves warmth and movement in the morning.

Your self-care anchor: Warm water before anything else. This not only gently cleanses the digestive system but supports the liver, which has been working hard detoxifying overnight and is now ready to hand over. A short walk, even ten minutes, gets Qi moving and helps your body process heat that has accumulated overnight. Resist the urge to plunge straight into screens.

7–9am — Stomach: Breakfast as Medicine

This is the strongest digestive window of the day — and in summer, with Yin deficiency, what you eat here really matters. Cold smoothies and iced drinks might seem cooling, but in Chinese medicine they douse the digestive fire and paradoxically increase internal heat later.

Your self-care anchor: Eat something warm or at least room temperature. Congee (rice porridge) is the ultimate Yin-nourishing breakfast — add goji berries, black sesame, and a little honey. Or choose foods that are energetically cool rather than physically cold: cucumber, courgette, eggs.

9–11am — Spleen: Your Energy Engine

The Spleen governs transformation — it takes what you’ve eaten and converts it into energy and blood. In perimenopause, Spleen energy can be weakened, contributing to that persistent tiredness that coffee doesn’t fix. In summer heat, the Spleen is particularly vulnerable.

Your self-care anchor: This is your best window for focused work or gentle creative thinking. Avoid sitting in direct sun during this time. If you feel a mid-morning slump coming on, don’t reach for caffeine — try a few minutes of slow, deep belly breathing to revive Spleen Qi.

⭢ You’re reading a free preview of The Tao of Self-Care. The full Body Clock guide — covering the afternoon, evening, and crucially the night-time hours when so many of us struggle most — is available to paid subscribers. If this is already resonating, sign up for the rest of the article.

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It might not feel like summer yet. The weather hasn’t quite landed, and the energy can feel a little… unsettled.

But in Chinese medicine, we’re already in the transition. Not fully in summer, and no longer quite in spring either.

This is the pivot point. Summer lands 6th May …

We don’t move from one season to the next in a clean line. We pass through Earth — the phase that steadies the shift from spring (Wood) into summer (Fire). It’s subtle, but it matters. Because without that stabilising phase, rising energy can feel uncomfortable rather than expansive.

This is often where things feel slightly off. A bit up and down. A bit harder to read. A sense that your body hasn’t quite caught up with what’s being asked of it.

And this is where most people push.

They try to be more energised, more social, more “summer ready.” But this phase isn’t about pushing forward. It’s about preparing the ground so that when summer fully arrives, your system can actually receive it.

So instead of asking you to do more, I want to offer something simple.

A short, guided reset to help you move through this transition in a way that supports your body rather than overrides it.

DAY 1 — STEADY

Before energy rises, it needs somewhere to land.

In Chinese medicine, we don’t jump from Wood to Fire. We pass through Earth. Earth stabilises the shift and prevents rising energy from tipping into overwhelm.

If you’ve been feeling slightly wired but tired, unsettled, or just not quite yourself, this is often where it shows up.

Your practice

Sit comfortably and find the point just below your kneecap, slightly to the outside of your shin (Stomach 36).

Finding Stomach 36 (Zu San Li)
Sit with your knee bent. Place four fingers just below your kneecap, then move one finger-width to the outside of your shinbone. You’ll find a slightly tender spot in the muscle — that’s Stomach 36.

Why this point
Stomach 36 is an Earth point — which makes it perfect for this moment. As we move from the rising energy of spring into the outward energy of summer, this point helps steady the system, support digestion, and anchor everything so it doesn’t tip into overwhelm. Press gently for 30–60 seconds on each side, allowing your breath to slow as your body begins to settle.

There’s nothing to force here. Just give your system a moment to catch up.

How to use it
Apply gentle, steady pressure with your thumb or fingers for 30–60 seconds on each side. You can hold, massage in small circles, or simply rest into the point while you slow your breath.

Optional support
A drop of diluted sweet orange or basil oil (diluted) works beautifully here — orange to support digestion and ease, basil to calm the nervous system and bring a sense of grounded clarity.

A quiet prompt

Where do I need more steadiness right now?

Before you open outward, feel where you actually are.

This is the starting point. But the real shift happens as we move through the next two stages — releasing what’s still lingering from spring, and opening into summer in a way that doesn’t overwhelm your system.

If you’d like to move through the full reset with me, you’ll find the rest below.

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As spring unfolds and the clocks shift, something subtle — and powerful — happens. The light changes.

Not just the amount of it, but the quality, the angle, the timing. And your body notices long before your mind does.

In Chinese medicine, this is the rise of Yang.

The outward-moving, warming, activating force of life.

But here’s where ancient wisdom and modern science beautifully overlap:

Your body doesn’t guess what season it is.

It reads it through light entering your eyes.

Your Eyes (the sense organs of Spring) Are Not Just for Seeing

You have specialised light receptors in your eyes that aren’t about vision at all.

They’re there to tell your brain:

• What time of day it is

• What season it is

• Whether it’s time to wake, sleep, digest, repair

This is your circadian rhythm — your internal clock.

And it is set, every single day, by morning light.

Why Morning Light Matters More Than You Think

Within the first 30–60 minutes of waking, exposure to natural light sends a signal to your brain:

“We are awake. Start the day.”

This triggers a cascade:

• Cortisol rises (in a healthy, energising way)

• Melatonin (your sleep hormone) gets suppressed

• Your body temperature begins to increase

• Digestion, focus, and mood all shift into “day mode”

If this signal is weak — or missing — everything feels a bit… off.

Low energy. Poor sleep. Cravings. Flat mood.

From a Chinese medicine perspective?

This is Yang failing to fully rise.

Let’s Talk About Lux (Yes, It Is the Right Word)

Lux is a measure of light intensity.

And this is where things get interesting — because most of us are living in chronic dimness.

Here’s roughly what you’re getting:

• Indoor lighting: 100–500 lux

• Bright office lighting: ~1,000 lux

• Overcast day outside: 10,000–20,000 lux

• Sunny day: 50,000–100,000+ lux

Even on a grey British morning, stepping outside gives you 10–20x more light than staying indoors.

And in places like the mountains of southern Spain in May or September, or the coastal light in Turkey, Portugal, Croatia or Morocco, it’s very normal to be exposed to 30,000–100,000 lux outdoors — which is why people often notice their energy, mood and sleep shift within a day or two of arriving.

That’s the difference between your brain going:

“Maybe it’s morning?”

…versus:

“We are fully alive. Let’s go

That’s the difference between your brain going:

“Maybe it’s

…versus:

“We are fully alive. Let’s go.”

Light Is Not Just About Mood — It’s About Timing Everything

In Chasing the Sun by Linda Geddes, light is described not just as something that wakes you up — but something that programmes the entire day ahead.

Morning light exposure:

• Improves sleep that night

• Regulates appetite and blood sugar

• Supports hormonal balance

• Enhances focus and emotional resilience

In other words:

The quality of your morning light shapes the quality of your entire day.

And yet… we check our phones in dim rooms and wonder why we feel foggy.

The Spring Shift: Why This Matters More Right Now

After the Spring Equinox, the days lengthen rapidly.

This is nature saying:

“It’s time to move again.”

In Chinese medicine, the Liver (Wood element) is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi — planning, movement, direction.

Light supports this movement.

Without it?

You might feel:

• Stuck or unmotivated

• Irritable or emotionally reactive

• Heavy in the body

• Foggy in the mind

This isn’t just mood.

It’s seasonal misalignment.

Bright Light in the Eyes (Yes, Really)

For this system to work properly, light needs to reach your eyes.

Not through sunglasses.

Not through a window.

Directly (but not staring at the sun).

Even a short time outside — 5 to 10 minutes — can make a measurable difference.

Longer is better (20–30 minutes ideally), but consistency matters more than perfection.

A Simple Spring Practice (Yang Sheng in Action)

This is your invitation to make light part of your self-care — not as another thing to do, but as something to receive.

Morning Light Ritual:

• Step outside within an hour of waking

• No sunglasses (unless absolutely necessary)

• Face the light (eyes open, soft gaze)

• Breathe, stretch, or simply stand

• 5–20 minutes is enough to begin

You can pair this with gentle Qi Gong, walking, or just standing with a cup of tea.

Nothing complicated.

But deeply regulating.

Why This Matters in Midlife

This becomes even more important as we move through perimenopause and menopause.

Hormonal shifts can make:

• Sleep more fragile

• Mood more variable

• Energy less predictable

Light becomes one of the most powerful, free tools you have to stabilise this.

It anchors your system.

Supports your nervous system.

Helps your body remember its rhythm.

The Deeper Perspective

In Chinese medicine, health isn’t just about what you eat or how you move.

It’s about how well you live in relationship with nature.

Light is one of the most direct ways to do that.

Not filtered.

Not artificial.

Not optimised.

Just… received.

A Gentle Nudge

Before you reach for another supplement, another solution, another fix…

Step outside.

Let the light hit your eyes.

Let your body remember what time it is.

Because sometimes the most powerful medicine isn’t something you take.

It’s something you stand in.

f you’re recognising yourself in this, let’s go a layer deeper — into what these patterns actually mean, and how to start shifting them.

Understanding light is one thing — but getting your body to respond to it is where things really begin to change.

Below, I’ve shared a simple, practical approach using acupressure points and essential oils to help your system regulate, build energy, and settle more naturally.

Upgrade to read the full practice.

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As spring settles in, everything begins to push outward.

There’s more light.
More movement.
More colour.

And if you’ve been outside recently — really outside, not just walking from the car to the door — you’ll notice it. That bright, almost electric green. The kind that feels like it’s doing something to you.

In Chinese medicine, this isn’t poetic fluff.
It’s functional.

Spring belongs to the Liver, and the Liver opens into the eyes.

Which means what you look at, how you look, and how much stimulation your eyes are taking in… directly affects your internal state.

The Problem: We’re Living in Technicolour Overload

We are not designed for this level of visual stimulation.

Every app on your phone is engineered to grab your attention:
Bright reds.
High contrast.
Constant movement.
Endless novelty.

It’s like living in a sweet shop.

Except instead of the occasional treat, we’re grazing all day.

And the effect?

• Restless mind

• Poor focus

• Irritability

• Eye fatigue

• That constant feeling of being slightly “on edge”

From a Chinese medicine perspective, this is classic Liver imbalance.

The Liver is responsible for the smooth flow of Qi — your energy.
It governs planning, vision (both literal and metaphorical), and your ability to move forward in life with clarity.

Too much stimulation → Qi becomes stuck or chaotic → you feel scattered, frustrated, or overwhelmed.

A Simple Shift That Changes Everything

I tried something this week.

I turned my phone to black & white.

And I didn’t expect much.

But it completely changed how I interact with my phone.

Without the colour:

• Apps felt less appealing

• I stopped picking it up out of habit

• I spent less time scrolling without even trying

It was like the pull had gone.

And when I switched colour back on?
It felt intense. Almost overwhelming. Like going from no sugar to a full-on binge.

That’s when you realise just how stimulating it all is.

Why This Matters for Your Health (Not Just Your Screen Time)

In Chinese medicine, the eyes are not just for seeing.

They are connected to:

• Clarity of thought

• Decision-making

• Direction in life

• Emotional regulation

When your eyes are overstimulated, your system doesn’t get a break.

And when the Liver doesn’t get a break, you might notice:

• Tension (especially neck, shoulders, jaw)

• Irritability or low patience

• Feeling wired but tired

• Poor sleep

• Difficulty focusing or making decisions

Giving your eyes less to process is one of the simplest ways to support your whole system.

Spring Is the Time to Clear & Reset

Spring is about movement, growth, and direction.

But growth doesn’t come from constant input.

It comes from:
Space.
Clarity.
Vision.

If your mind feels cluttered, your plans feel unclear, or you’re constantly distracted — this is your Liver asking for support.

And it doesn’t have to be complicated.

Simple Ways to Support Your Eyes (and Your Liver) This Spring

1. Try your phone in black & white
Even just for a day. Notice what changes.

2. Look further, not closer
We spend so much time looking down and in. Lift your gaze.
Long, soft vision helps the Liver relax.

3. Get outside and look at green
Nature isn’t just “nice” — it’s regulating.
Green is directly nourishing for the Liver.

4. Reduce visual noise
Limit time on fast-moving, high-stimulation content. Your nervous system will thank you.

5. Blink and soften your eyes
Sounds basic, but most of us stare.
Softening your gaze signals safety to your system.

6. Take screen breaks before you feel exhausted
Don’t wait until your eyes ache. Step away earlier.

7. Support flow in the body
Qi Gong, walking, stretching — movement helps the Liver do its job.

8. Let your mind empty out
Journalling, breathing, sitting quietly — this is how you process what you’ve taken in.

Seeing Clearly Again

We talk a lot about “clarity” in life.

But clarity doesn’t come from consuming more.

It comes from seeing differently.

Right now, most of us are taking in more than our system can process.

So maybe the work this spring isn’t to add more.

It’s to reduce the noise.

Start with your eyes.

Turn your phone to black & white.

Step outside.

Look further.

And notice what begins to shift — not just in how you use your phone, but in how you think, feel, and move through your life.

If you try it, I’d love to know what you notice.

Spring arrived weeks ago.

According to Chinese medicine, the season began on 4 February, even if the weather here in England didn’t get the memo.

The trees know it.

Sap begins rising.
Shoots push through the soil.
Birds suddenly behave like they’ve had too much coffee.

Inside the body, something similar is happening.

Spring belongs to the Wood element and the Liver system, which in Chinese medicine governs movement, planning, vision and the smooth flow of Qi.

When Liver Qi moves well, we tend to feel:

• motivated
• clear-headed
• creative
• optimistic about what’s ahead

When it doesn’t move well, the opposite appears:

• irritability
• tension in the neck and shoulders
• headaches
• hormonal fluctuations
• feeling stuck or overwhelmed

One of the lovely things about Chinese medicine is that it offers hundreds of tiny seasonal adjustments to help the body move with nature rather than against it.

Some of them are fairly well known.

Others are a little more… unexpected.

Here are a few of my favourite slightly quirky ways to support your body in spring.

Wear a Scarf (Even When It Doesn’t Feel That Cold)

In Chinese medicine, spring is the season of Wind.

Wind is considered one of the main external pathogens, and it most easily enters the body through the back of the neck, an area sometimes referred to as the Wind Gate.

This is why you’ll often see Chinese grandmothers insisting on scarves long after winter has technically finished.

It’s not about fashion.

It’s about protection.

The back of the neck is where several important Yang channels pass. When wind enters here it can trigger things like:

• headaches
• stiff neck
• fatigue
• colds and sniffles
• flare-ups of old injuries

A simple scarf acts like a small shield for the immune system.

Think of it less as a style choice and more as preventative medicine.

Make Plans (Even if You Don’t Act on Them Yet)

One of the more fascinating roles of the Liver in Chinese medicine is that it governs planning.

In classical texts, the Liver is described as the organ that formulates strategy.

Spring is therefore an excellent time to think about:

• new ideas
• projects you’d like to start
• changes you want to make
• places you’d like to go

You don’t need to act yet.

Just writing things down is often enough to get Liver Qi moving. Journalling can be a great way to get your energy moving.

Many people feel a natural urge at this time of year to reorganise their lives slightly — clearing cupboards, making lists, setting intentions.

The Liver likes to see the road ahead.

Stretch Like a Cat

If you watch animals first thing in the morning, they almost always stretch.

Long, slow, instinctive stretching.

Chinese medicine says the Liver governs the tendons and sinews, which means spring is the perfect time to support the body with gentle lengthening movements.

Not intense exercise.

Just movement that wakes up the body.

Side stretches.
Twisting.
Reaching the arms overhead.

Or simply that instinctive cat-like stretch when you get out of bed.

Stretching helps Qi move through the Liver channel, which runs along the inner legs and the sides of the body.

It’s one of the simplest ways to prevent the tight shoulders and irritability that appear when Liver Qi gets stuck.

Drink Something Sour in the Morning

(Through a straw if you want to protect your teeth)

In Chinese medicine, each organ has a flavour that resonates with it.

For the Liver, that flavour is sour.

A small amount of sour flavour can gently stimulate digestion and Liver function.

Simple options include:

• warm water with lemon
• a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar (from the mother) in water (warm not boiling or that kills the good stuff)
• fermented foods such as sauerkraut

If you’re using lemon or vinegar regularly, drinking through a straw can help protect the enamel of your teeth.

The key word here is small.

Too much sour can actually over-constrain the Liver.

Like most things in Chinese medicine, the magic lies in balance rather than extremes.

Let Your Eyes Look Far Away

The Liver opens into the eyes.

When Liver Qi flows well, vision feels clear and the eyes are relaxed.

When it doesn’t, we might notice:

• eye strain
• headaches
• blurred vision
• irritability

One of the simplest ways to support Liver energy is to regularly let the eyes focus on distant horizons.

Look at trees.

Watch the sky.

Let your gaze soften rather than constantly focusing on screens.

Chinese medicine practitioners sometimes say:

The Liver loves distance.

If you live somewhere with big open views — like the Downs here in Sussex — this practice becomes surprisingly powerful.

These small adjustments alone can help the body and mind move more easily through the season.

But there are a few other practices I recommend constantly in clinic during spring — including one acupressure point that is brilliant for stress, hormonal tension and seasonal transitions.

Below I’ll show you exactly where to find it, along with a few more unusual ways to help Liver Qi move this spring.

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There’s the Chinese New Year you see in posters: red lanterns, lion dances, firecrackers, glossy “good fortune” vibes. Or maybe fortune cookies and red envelopes with cash in - my favoured traditions!

And then there’s the Chinese New Year that actually happens in kitchens, hallways, WhatsApp groups, and the slightly chaotic corner of someone’s living room where the broom has been banished like it’s cursed.

I’ve always loved how the season isn’t a single moment. It’s a whole sequence—a practical, superstitious, deeply human mini-series of rituals that stretch over two weeks. Which, if you’re anywhere near midlife, feels… familiar.

Because midlife is also not one dramatic “before and after.” It’s a long, oddly specific season: a few resets, a few taboos, some emotional decluttering, and a lot of trying not to sweep away the good stuff while you’re tidying up the rest.

So here are a few lesser-known Chinese New Year rituals—plus some quirky, low-stakes ways to borrow the spirit of them (without pretending you grew up doing them). Consider it cultural curiosity with a side of: I’m too old for chaos, but I still want magic. Always bring the fucking magic AMIRIGHT?

1) Little New Year: bribing the Kitchen God (a.k.a. “please don’t report me”)

Before the main day, many families mark Xiaonian (“Little New Year”)—often around the 23rd day of the 12th lunar month—as the start of serious New Year prep. One of the best folk details: families “send off” the Kitchen God, who is said to report your household’s behavior to the heavens.

And the offering? Often something sweet and sticky—because the logic is essentially: say nice things about us… and if you can’t do that, at least get your mouth stuck shut.

Midlife translation: I too would like a sweet, sticky ritual to prevent the universe from submitting my performance review.

Try this (Jo-style practical):

• Put out something sweet in the kitchen (honey, sweets, a tangerine, whatever feels symbolic).

• Write one sentence: “This year, I’m asking for ease.” Stick it somewhere you’ll actually see it.

2) Open the door, let luck in (and let the stale air out)

A quiet ritual some families do early in the New Year: open doors and windows to welcome good fortune and refresh the energy. Easy to do - I’m definitely down for this one!

Midlife translation: please, for the love of sleep, let’s crack a window on the emotional humidity of last year.

Try this:

• Open a window for 60 seconds.

• Say one line (out loud if you can):
  “New year, come in. Old year, you can go now.”
  Yes it’s cheesy. That’s the point. Midlife is when you stop pretending you’re above the cheese.

3) The broom becomes a villain (until Day 5)

In many households, the first days of the new year come with a “don’t sweep” vibe—because sweeping can symbolically sweep away good fortune. Some people avoid taking out rubbish too. The idea is: don’t throw away your luck by accident. I’m more than happy to oblige!

Then comes Day 5 (Po Wu), often treated like the day you can relax those rules and resume normal life. It’s the moment where you can finally clean without feeling like you’re spiritually deleting your blessings.

Midlife translation: I would like to stop panic-clearing my life the second I feel overwhelmed. Not everything that’s messy is bad luck. Some of it is just… Tuesday.

Try this:

• For the first few days of January (or whenever you mark a “new season”), don’t do a big purge.

• On “Day 5,” do a single satisfying reset task: one cupboard, one drawer, one email folder.
  Not a life overhaul. A symbolic sweep. A small win.

4) Renri (Day 7): everybody’s birthday

The seventh day of the New Year period is sometimes called Renri (“Human Day”), tied to the folk idea that humans were created on the seventh day. In some communities it’s treated like a shared birthday.

Midlife translation: the older I get, the less I want “new year, new me” and the more I want “new year, still me… but softer around the edges and less available for nonsense.”

Try this:

• Message a friend: “Happy Human Day. I’m glad you’re here.”

• Or make it your “midlife birthday”: one small thing that supports your actual life (not your fantasy life).
  A better pillow. A longer walk. A therapy appointment. A boundary.

5) Lantern Festival: the finale with riddles (and sweet rice balls)

If you’ve only ever heard about Chinese New Year as one big day, you’re missing the ending: traditionally, the celebration wraps on the 15th day with the Lantern Festival—lantern viewing, riddle guessing, and glutinous rice balls (tangyuan) in many places.

Midlife translation: I love a ritual that admits we need an ending. Not a dramatic ending. Just a gentle “wrap it up.”

Try this:

• Do a tiny “finale night” with friends or family: tea, something sweet, and a few riddles.

• Or do a solo finale: write down three things you’re leaving behind from last year and one thing you’re carrying forward.
  Keep it simple. We’re not writing a TED Talk.

6) Rolling oranges through the doorway (quirky, modern, and weirdly satisfying)

This one shows up a lot in newer feng shui/lifestyle circles: people roll oranges through the front door as a playful “roll in prosperity” ritual. Is it ancient? Not really. Is it charming? Absolutely.

Midlife translation: at this age, if it’s harmless and makes you feel hopeful, it counts as wellness.

Try this:

• Roll 3 or 9 oranges through your doorway.

• Then eat one and give the rest away. Luck is better when it’s shared.

Why these rituals feel like midlife wisdom in disguise

What I love about all of this isn’t “superstition” as in blind belief. It’s superstition as in emotional choreography.

It gives you:

• a start (Little New Year),

• a pause (don’t sweep your luck away),

• a reset (Day 5),

• a reminder you’re alive (Renri),

• and a proper ending (Lantern Festival).

Midlife is when you realise: you can’t control everything, but you can control how you move through change. Rituals are just a way of saying, “I’m marking this. I’m not letting my life blur into one long scroll.”

And honestly? If opening a window, hiding the broom for a day, or rolling an orange across your hallway helps you feel like the year is turning… then I’m team orange.

For paid subscribers: make Fire Horse energy personal (even if you don’t know your chart) ✨

In the paid section, I’m sharing a quick way to figure out how Fire Horse energy is likely to land for you based on what’s happening in your real life (your body, your calendar, your relationships, your bank account — very glamorous, I know). You’ll get:

• a “which Fire Horse profile are you?” self-check

• what to lean into / what to avoid for your profile

• a simple month-by-month way to decide when to push vs when to protect your energy

• and (if you want it), how to take this from “hmm interesting” to laser-specific with a BaZi personal energy mapping session.

Continue reading below.

Read more

Beyond general predictions, the second half of this piece reveals how this year may interact with your personal energy — and why personalised insight through BaZi Bingo is where Fire Horse becomes practical, not theoretical.

Paid subscribers can continue reading for deeper guidance, including an exclusive 50% discount to join my live Fire Horse event and receive personalised predictions.

Every year in Chinese metaphysics carries a flavour.
A weather system.
A climate of possibility.

But some years don’t just arrive quietly.
They gallop in.

2026 is the Year of the Fire Horse - starting 4th February 2026 — one of the most talked-about, misunderstood, and often fear-mongered years in the Chinese calendar.

You may already have heard:

• “Fire Horse years are chaotic.”

• “They bring instability.”

• “They’re dangerous years for big decisions.”

I want to gently but firmly say this:

Fire Horse is not something to fear. It’s something to understand.

Because when you understand the energy of a year, you stop reacting to it…
and start riding it.

And that’s exactly what this article is about:

• What Fire Horse energy really means

• Why this year accelerates everything

• How it tests your heart and integrity

• And how you can personally work with it rather than be burned by it

What Is Fire Horse Energy?

In Chinese metaphysics, every year is made of two forces which are contained in one pillar:

• A Heavenly Stem (element - fire)

• An Earthly Branch (animal - horse)

2026 = Fire + Horse

Both are Yang.
Both are fast.
Both are expressive.
Both are powerful.

Fire = visibility, emotion, spirit, leadership, the Heart
Horse = movement, travel, independence, momentum, action

Put them together and you get:

• Speed

• Passion

• Drama

• Innovation

• Risk

• Opportunity

Fire Horse energy doesn’t whisper.
It shouts.

This is a year that:

• Amplifies what already exists

• Exposes what is hidden

• Pushes growth faster than usual

• Tests intention vs ego

Fire doesn’t change who you are.
It reveals who you already were.

Cycles Within Cycles: Why This Fire Horse Is Different

Fire Horse appears every 60 years.

The last one was 1966.

But here’s the key thing most people miss:

The environment is never the same twice.

Sixty years ago:

• Technology was limited

• Information moved slowly

• Society had different structures

• Women had fewer choices

• The world was less interconnected

Today:

• AI, digital systems, and global communication accelerate everything

• One idea can change a life overnight

• One decision can redirect a path instantly

So this Fire Horse is not repeating the past.
It’s playing out in a completely new landscape.

Think of it like weather:
A storm in a forest behaves differently than a storm in a city.

The energy may be similar —
but the consequences depend on where you’re standing.

Theme One: 10x Your Progress (If You Stay Flexible)

Fire energy has one huge advantage:

Speed.

Things that used to take years can happen in months.
What once took decades can happen in one.

But only if you can:

• Adapt

• Pivot

• Learn quickly

• Apply what you learn

• Stay curious rather than rigid

This is not a year for:

• Clinging to old identities

• Forcing stability where none exists

• Fighting change with fear

It is a year for:

• Skill building

• Repositioning yourself

• Letting outdated versions of you fall away

• Using technology and tools wisely

• Making brave, heart-led choices

The key skill of Fire Horse year is:

Adaptability.

Not panic.
Not control.
Adaptation.

Theme Two: Heart-Led Leadership

In the last period of years, success was defined by:

• Security

• Structure

• Safety

• Predictability

But Fire Horse shifts the axis.

This year asks:

• Are your choices driven by fear or by truth?

• Are you chasing status or meaning?

• Are you reacting… or consciously responding?

Fire energy tests the Heart.

When:

• Money increases

• Visibility grows

• Recognition appears

Will you change?

Fire doesn’t make you better or worse.
It magnifies what’s already inside.

True success in this year is no longer measured only by:

• Income

• Productivity

• Achievement

But by:

• Compassion

• Authenticity

• Humility

• Emotional intelligence

Leadership now looks like:

• Integrity

• Presence

• Self-knowledge

• Boundaries

• Purpose

Why General Predictions Aren’t Enough

Here’s the problem with “Fire Horse predictions” you see online:

They treat everyone the same.

But in BaZi (Chinese astrology), your chart matters more than the year itself.

The Fire Horse interacts differently depending on:

• Which animals are already in your chart

• Where they sit (inner world vs outer world)

• Whether Fire supports or challenges your natural energy

For example:

• Fire might bring opportunity for one person

• Burnout for another

• Visibility for one

• Conflict for another

This is why I don’t teach fear.
I teach context.

Heaven, Earth & Human Luck: Where Choice Lives

In Chinese metaphysics, we talk about three types of luck:

Heaven Luck – the energy you were born with (your BaZi chart)
Earth Luck – the environment you live in (your home, your work, your relationships, the world around you)
Human Luck – the choices you make

Heaven gives you the weather.
Earth gives you the terrain.
But Human Luck is how you walk the path.

This is the part people forget when they hear predictions.
Nothing is fixed. Nothing is destined.

The sweet spot — the place of real power — is where these three meet:
when you understand the climate of the year (Fire Horse),
know your own energetic nature,
and then consciously choose how to respond.

That’s not fortune telling.
That’s wisdom.

And this is exactly why personalised insight matters. Because when you can see the patterns at play, you gain the one thing Fire Horse energy demands most:

Choice.

General predictions describe the weather.
Personal insight shows you how to dress for it.

In the next section, for paid subscribers, I explain how BaZi Bingo reveals your unique relationship with the Fire Horse year — and how you can use this awareness to make wiser, calmer, heart-led choices in 2026. Includes a discount code to join my online personalised predictions event 12/2/26 7.30pm GMT - here’s a link to book the event directly

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And yet in clinic, what I see most in early January isn’t transformation. It’s discombobulation.

People come back after a couple of weeks out of routine and they’re not “behind” as such… they’re more like a snow globe that’s been shaken and then shoved straight into a meeting. Sleep is off. Digestion is weird. Emotions are jumpy. Bodies feel heavy but minds feel pressured. Everyone’s trying to click back into life at full brightness while still running on winter settings.

If we were hibernating animals, we’d want the lights turned on gently, the den kept warm, and for someone to bring us snacks without asking us to “optimise”. We wouldn’t wake up and immediately start repainting the house and training for a half marathon.

Chinese medicine agrees.

Winter is a Yin season: deep, dark, slow, conserving. It’s the time of the Kidneys, the root system, the reserves. It’s when the body naturally wants to protect energy, build essence, and keep the fire small-but-steady so it lasts. January’s cultural storyline, on the other hand, is all Yang: forward, fast, outward, productive, shiny.

No wonder people feel like they’re wading through treacle while being told to sprint.

So if you can’t change the external world (emails, school runs, deadlines, the general go-go-go of modern life), the question becomes: how do you change your response?

One of the simplest, most powerful ways is also the least sexy: how you eat in winter.

Not as a diet. Not as a “cleanse”. Not as punishment for the cheese board.

As a way of turning the lights on gently.

Your digestion is your morning light

In Chinese medicine, digestion is not just digestion. It’s the centre of the system — the Spleen and Stomach transforming food into Qi and Blood, creating the daily energy that you actually run on. If that centre is steady, everything else copes better: mood, sleep, immunity, hormones, and resilience when life gets loud.

In winter, the middle needs warmth and rhythm. Think of it like a stove: it works best when it’s fed regularly with food that’s easy to “cook down”. When we bombard it with lots of cold, raw, or erratic eating, it has to spend extra energy just to get things moving. That might not sound dramatic, but over time it shows up as the classic January complaints: fatigue, bloating, cravings, brain fog, anxiety, loose stools or constipation, and that slightly baffling feeling of “I’m trying, but nothing is landing.”

This is why January is not the month I’d choose for a new you. It’s a much better month for a gently-woken you.

What “turning the lights on gently” looks like on a plate

Winter eating from a Chinese medicine lens is essentially about two things: warmth and digestibility.

Warmth doesn’t mean spicy-for-the-sake-of-it (especially if you run hot, flush easily, or get night sweats). It means food that has been cooked, softened, and made easier to transform. Digestibility means fewer extremes: not huge meals late at night, not skipping breakfast and then inhaling something at 3pm, not living on iced drinks and hoping for the best.

It’s also about timing.

In winter, many people do beautifully with a warm breakfast—not because breakfast is morally superior, but because it sets the digestive fire for the day. If you start with cold cereal, a smoothie, or just coffee, you can feel okay for a while… until you don’t. Then you’re hungry-but-not-hungry, craving sugar, snacking, and wondering why your energy is wobbling by mid-morning.

Lunch is often the best place for the biggest meal in winter, because your system is actually “awake” enough to handle it. Dinner, ideally, becomes earlier and simpler—because the body wants to fold inward as the day closes, not be doing a full-on digestive rave at 10pm.

If that feels impossible with your life, fair enough. The point isn’t perfection. The point is direction.

The ingredients winter loves (and why)

Want the gentle return plan (without the January “new you” nonsense)?
In the paid section I’m sharing what I’d actually tell you in clinic: what to eat in winter, how to cook it, when to eat for steadier energy and fewer cravings… plus a properly soothing recipe and tea.

Read more

There’s something very particular about the days between Christmas and New Year.

Whether you’re on your own or with others, resting or working, this stretch of time can feel oddly unsettling. Not wrong exactly — just in-between. A pause. A threshold.

In many traditions, this is known as a liminal space: the place between what’s been and what hasn’t yet begun.

And liminal spaces aren’t meant to be productive.
They’re meant to be felt.

Why I think New Year’s resolutions are bollocks

I’ll say it plainly: January is the worst possible time to be harsh with yourself.

Big detoxes.
Cold smoothies and raw salads in the name of “being good”.
Ambitious promises fuelled by guilt and pressure.

In Chinese medicine, winter is the most yin time of the year. Energy naturally turns inward. The body conserves, stores, restores. This is not a season for burning energy off — it’s a season for protecting it.

Cold, raw food doesn’t support weight loss in winter; it weakens digestion and forces the body to work harder just to stay warm. Add willpower-based resolutions on top, and it’s no surprise so many people feel flat, frustrated, or like they’ve failed by mid-January.

That isn’t a lack of discipline.
It’s poor timing.

Change belongs to spring.
Winter belongs to awareness.

Health isn’t about willpower — it’s about alignment

In Chinese medicine and metaphysics, health is never reduced to behaviour alone. It’s understood as the relationship between three things:

• Your constitution — how you’re wired, what you’re born with

• Your environment — seasons, systems, circumstances

• Your choices — timing, responses, how you use your energy

Where these three meet is health — mind and body together. We don’t separate them.

When one of these is ignored — when we try to force change without understanding context — things tend to unravel.

This is why one-size-fits-all advice so often fails.

Where BaZi comes in

This is where BaZi — also known as the Four Pillars of Destiny — becomes such a powerful tool.

BaZi is a system of Chinese metaphysics that uses your date and time of birth to map your energetic blueprint. Despite popular belief, it isn’t based on just one animal sign.

You actually have four pillars, each with its own animal and elemental quality. It’s the interaction between all four that offers real insight.

When I look at a BaZi chart, I’m not looking for “good” or “bad”.

I’m looking at:

• personality and motivation

• how you respond to stress

• where your energy flows easily

• where it gets stuck or depleted

In other words — potential.

BaZi isn’t about fate — it’s about choice

BaZi is often misunderstood as predictive or fixed. In reality, it’s a tool for self-understanding.

Well-known BaZi practitioner Joey Yap describes forecasts as roughly:

• 70% knowledge

• 30% free will, choice, and constitution

Predictions are for inspiration — not certainty.

When you understand your own energy, you stop making plans that fight your nature. You make better, kinder decisions. This is what Chinese metaphysics refers to as improving your (wo)man luck — the part you actually have agency over.

Why the energy of the year matters

Chinese New Year isn’t about a single date where everything suddenly changes. Energy doesn’t stop and start — it transitions.

Each year carries a distinct energetic quality, and that energy interacts differently with different people.

This is why understanding the year ahead alongside your own chart matters so much. It’s the difference between:

• forcing goals

• and choosing timing

Between reacting
and responding.

When you know both, planning becomes clearer and far more sustainable.

So what now — in this in-between space?

Not resolutions.

Not harsh promises or self-correction.

For now, winter asks for:

• kindness

• curiosity

• listening rather than fixing

If anything, this is a beautiful time to reflect:

• What drained you last year?

• What supported you?

• What are you ready to do differently — when the timing is right?

That kind of awareness is the foundation for real change.

If you’d like to go deeper

I explore all of this in more depth through:

• Chinese New Year retreats (where we look at the energy of the year and your personal chart together). Join me in Morocco here or Sussex here.

• Online BaZi health readings, where we look at your personal chart and how to work with your energy to support health, decision-making, and the year ahead

• My paid Substack, for in-depth seasonal wellness, Chinese medicine insights, and ongoing self-care support throughout the year

You don’t need a new version of yourself this January.

You just need a better understanding of who you already are — and the rhythm you’re moving within.

That’s where clarity begins.

The Winter Solstice — Dongzhi in the Chinese calendar — marks the deepest Yin of the year. The longest night. The quietest point. And, paradoxically, the moment when Yang begins to return.

Nothing looks different on the surface.
The days are still cold. The light still feels far away.
But something has shifted.

In Chinese medicine, this is one of the most important turning points of the year — not because of what we do, but because of what we allow.

Turning points don’t always feel dramatic

Midlife has taught many of us this lesson already.

The biggest shifts rarely announce themselves loudly. They arrive as a subtle knowing:

• I can’t keep pushing like this.

• Something needs to change.

• I want to live differently now.

Like the solstice, midlife isn’t about instant transformation. It’s about orientation — a gradual turn toward something more truthful, more sustainable, more aligned.

In Chinese medicine, winter is governed by the Water element and the Kidneys, which hold our deepest reserves: vitality, resilience, will, and the wisdom that comes from lived experience.

This is not a season for forcing clarity or setting aggressive goals.
It’s a season for listening.

Yin is not weakness — it’s intelligence

We live in a culture that often struggles with Yin:
Stillness is mistaken for stagnation.
Rest is confused with laziness.
Pausing can feel like falling behind.

But Yin is where integration happens.

It’s where the nervous system down-shifts.
Where the body repairs.
Where insight rises without effort.

This is why so many people in midlife feel called toward practices that are slower, subtler, and more embodied. We’re no longer interested in overriding our bodies — we want to work with them.

Why Qi Gong is such potent winter medicine

Qi Gong — particularly Dao Yin — is uniquely suited to this time of year.

Unlike more external or performance-driven movement, Qi Gong:

• Regulates the nervous system

• Circulates Qi gently without depletion

• Connects Heaven & Earth through the body

• Strengthens grounding through the soles of the feet

• Builds energy rather than borrowing it

In winter, we’re not trying to “get somewhere.”
We’re cultivating presence, containment, and trust.

Standing practices — especially deeply Yin ones — are profoundly supportive in midlife. They ask very little, yet offer a great deal:
A sense of being held.
A quiet strength returning from the ground up.
A reminder that you don’t have to push to be powerful.

Building Yin and guiding it into Yang

The closing meditation in the class is designed very intentionally for this time of year.

We build Yin first — through stillness, grounding, and settling into the lower body — and then gently guide that cultivated energy into Yang, circulating it through the Microcosmic Orbit.

This is classic Daoist wisdom:
Yin creates the conditions for Yang to emerge.

Rather than forcing motivation, clarity, or momentum, we allow energy to rise naturally, supported by breath, awareness, and the body’s innate intelligence. It’s a quiet but powerful way to support the transition from darkness toward light — both seasonally and in midlife.

The light returns — slowly

At the solstice, Yang doesn’t burst back in.
It arrives like a whisper.

And that’s important.

Many of us have learned (often the hard way) that rushing the next phase doesn’t work. Whether it’s health, identity, work, or purpose — real change unfolds when the foundations are steady.

Winter teaches us to prepare the ground, not force the bloom.

A gift for paid subscribers

To honour this turning point, I’m sharing a free Qi Gong class for paid subscribers, including a deeply Yin standing meditation designed to:

• Settle the nervous system

• Ground you through the feet and lower body

• Support Kidney energy and winter restoration

• Help you feel steady as the light begins its slow return

It’s a practice you can return to throughout winter — especially on days when you feel tired, unmotivated, or emotionally tender.

If you’re already a paid subscriber, you’ll find it waiting for you.
If you’re not yet, you’re very welcome to sign up and give it a try.

No pressure.
No pushing.
Just an invitation to meet yourself at this turning point — exactly as you are.

Winter doesn’t ask us to do more.
It asks us to listen more closely.

And from that listening, something new always begins.

A gentle Winter Solstice Qi Gong practice to meet the deepest Yin of the year — and to support the quiet return of light.

This session weaves Dao Yin, grounding through the soles of the feet, gentle circulation of Qi in all directions, and a deeply Yin standing meditation that first builds and stores energy, then softly guides it into Yang through the Microcosmic Orbit.

Rather than pushing for clarity or momentum, this is a practice of listening, settling, and trusting the body’s own timing — especially supportive in midlife, when doing less often allows more to emerge.

If you’re feeling tired, wired, reflective, or simply ready to pause, this is an invitation to stand, breathe, and be held by the season.

Use it on Solstice itself, or return to it anytime through winter.

Read more

If you’ve been looking in the mirror recently and thinking, Why do I look so tired when I’m actually trying really hard to take care of myself? — you’re not alone.

Your under-eyes may look darker. Your skin drier or flatter. Your eyes a little less bright. You might be sleeping “well enough,” eating sensibly, taking supplements… and yet something still feels quietly drained.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, these visible changes are often early signs of a deeper pattern we call Blood deficiency — and long before it fully lands as exhaustion, anxiety or broken sleep, it often shows up on the face first.

This is why face mapping has been used for thousands of years as a diagnostic tool. Your face doesn’t just show tiredness. It shows what kind of tiredness.

What “Blood” Really Means in Chinese Medicine

When Chinese medicine talks about Blood, it isn’t only referring to iron levels or what shows up on a blood test.

Blood is the substance that:

• Nourishes your skin and hair

• Moistens your eyes

• Anchors your emotions

• Supports deep, restorative sleep

• Feeds your hormones

• Grounds your nervous system

• Houses the Shen — your spirit, clarity and emotional steadiness

When Blood is abundant, you tend to feel calm, resilient and internally settled. Your skin has warmth and tone. Your eyes have sparkle. Your energy feels rooted in your body rather than scattered in your head.

When Blood becomes deficient, you can still “cope”… but the depth starts to go.

How Blood Deficiency Shows Up on the Face

Blood deficiency rarely announces itself with drama. It tends to arrive quietly, in subtle changes that are easy to dismiss.

Dark or hollow under-eyes are one of the most common signs I see in clinic. In Chinese medicine, the under-eye area reflects the Kidneys, which store your deepest reserves. When Blood is low, the Kidneys struggle to anchor energy, and shadows appear. This is not just a sleep issue — it’s a reserve issue.

A pale, washed-out or flat complexion is another key indicator. A healthy glow relies on well-nourished Blood circulating freely. When Blood is low, the skin can lose depth and warmth.

Dull eyes are also significant. The Liver stores Blood, and the eyes are known as the “orifices of the Liver.” When Blood becomes depleted, people often say they feel dimmed rather than simply tired.

Dry skin and suddenly more noticeable fine lines can also reflect Blood and Yin deficiency. Without internal nourishment, the tissues dry more easily — no matter how good your skincare is.

Why Midlife Drains Blood Faster

This is the part so many women blame themselves for — and it truly doesn’t belong there.

By midlife, you have often:

• Given emotionally and physically for decades

• Menstruated for 30–40 years

• Carried layered responsibility at work and at home

• Lived with cumulative stress

• Slept less deeply for years

• Entered perimenopause and menopause, which demand more Blood, not less

You don’t become depleted because you’ve failed at self-care.

You become depleted because you’ve been living, giving, holding and carrying — often without being shown how to restore properly.

Why Winter Makes This Feel Louder

In Chinese medicine, winter belongs to the Water element and is the season of storage and restoration. It is designed for:

• Deep rest

• Repair and rebuilding

• Conservation of energy

• Nourishment at the deepest level

Modern life often pulls us in the opposite direction — late nights, social pressure, alcohol, overstimulation and the push to “finish the year strong.”

From a seasonal medicine perspective, this mismatch is one of the fastest ways to empty the Blood bank and weaken the Kidneys at the same time. This is why so many women feel wired-tired, anxious, brittle or emotionally thin as winter deepens.

Signs Blood May Be Low (Beyond the Face)

Blood deficiency doesn’t just affect how you look — it quietly shapes how you feel:

• Fatigue that isn’t relieved by rest

• Anxiety with a fluttery, unsettled quality

• Palpitations

• Poor concentration or memory

• Insomnia or broken sleep

• Dry eyes

• Dizziness on standing

• Light, irregular or weakening cycles

• Feeling emotionally fragile or easily overwhelmed

These are not random symptoms. They are all reflections of insufficient internal nourishment.

The Reassuring Truth: Blood Can Be Rebuilt

This is one of the most hopeful principles in Chinese medicine:

Blood is buildable.

But it is rebuilt slowly and gently — not through pushing harder, fixing yourself or adding more discipline.

It is rebuilt through rest, warmth, nourishment, emotional settling, sleep and seasonal pacing.

Blood deficiency doesn’t arrive suddenly. It develops gradually, in layers.
And the earlier you respond, the faster and deeper restoration becomes possible.

The Winter Solstice: A Natural Turning Point

As we approach the Winter Solstice — the shortest, darkest day of the year — Chinese medicine sees this moment as a profound energetic turning point.

This is when Yin reaches its deepest point… and the very first spark of Yang quietly begins to return.

Energetically, this is not a time for forcing change. It is a time for:

• Stillness

• Reflection

• Deep rest

• Gentle intention

• Quiet rebuilding

This is why depletion often feels louder right now — and also why it’s one of the most powerful moments to begin restoring what has been slowly drained.

To mark this turning point, I’ll be sharing a Winter Solstice meditation for subscribers — a nourishing practice designed to settle the nervous system and support deep internal rebuilding.

You won’t need to strive with it.
You’ll simply receive.

Which, in itself, is winter medicine.

CONTINUE READING (Paid Subscribers): How to Rebuild What Midlife Has Quietly Drained

Inside the paid section below, I share:

• A structured three-phase winter Blood-rebuilding ritual

• How to nourish depletion through sleep, food and seasonal pacing

• Why acupuncture is especially powerful for rebuilding Blood in winter

• How retreat and seasonal living accelerate true restoration

• And full access to the Winter Solstice meditation in a few weeks time

Read more

And yet… modern life rarely slows down to meet the season.
We keep working, scrolling, planning, socialising — often feeling tired but wired, full but somehow empty.

So we have to become more intentional.
We have to create what winter no longer naturally gives us.

Light.
Warmth.
Deep rest.

Because the body refuels through restoration, not effort.

A window into winter in the Atlas Mountains

I’ve created this short film as a window into what my winter retreat in Morocco actually feels like — not a brochure, not a sales video, but the atmosphere:

The fire.
The light moving through stone and gardens.
The quiet rhythm of Qi Gong.
The shared meals.
The slowness.
The space to breathe.

If winter has been whispering (or shouting) that you need to slow down rather than strive… this may speak to you.

👇 Watch the film here

An opportunity to align with the energy of the Fire Horse

For those who like to meet the new year with a little more foresight and intention, there will also be the opportunity to receive your personalised Chinese New Year predictions through BaZi. These offer a gentle but powerful way to understand the themes, challenges and opportunities specific to you in the Year of the Fire Horse — where your energy may naturally flow, where it may need support, and where clarity can replace confusion.

It’s an invitation to reset your inner compass, tune into the rhythm of the year ahead, and step forward with greater awareness, steadiness and trust.

A gentle invitation

Each January, instead of chasing summer, I return to winter sun — because winter sun is medicine.

In 2026, I’ll be guiding a small Chinese Medicine–led Winter Retreat for Women in the Atlas Mountains, Morocco:

📍 Morocco
📅 27–30 January 2026
🕊 Limited weekday spaces available

The retreat is rooted in:

• Chinese medicine & seasonal living

• Daily Qi Gong & gentle movement

• Acupuncture & nervous system care

• Warmth, stillness & nourishment

• And deep restoration at the turning of the year

This isn’t about escaping your life.
It’s about returning to yourself.

If you feel called, you can find all the details here:

And if Morocco isn’t possible for you this winter, there will also be a Chinese New Year Day Retreat in Steyning (Sunday 8th February), alongside a recording option for those who prefer to mark the year quietly at home. Message me for more info.

With warmth,
Jo x

As winter draws you inward, the Water element takes centre stage in Chinese medicine. This is the time of year – and the phase of life – when your deeper reserves are tested.

If you’re in midlife, you might notice that aches, fears, fatigue, brain fog or hormonal symptoms get louder as the days grow darker and colder.

From a Chinese medicine perspective, that’s not random. It’s Water.

In this piece we’ll explore how Water-element imbalances show up in midlife (especially in winter), how they connect with brain function, and some simple, practical ways to nourish this element so you can move through the season feeling steadier, safer and more resourced.

A quick primer: the Water element in Chinese medicine

In Chinese medicine, the Water element is associated with:

• Organs: Kidneys and Bladder

• Tissues: Bones, teeth, marrow, lower back, knees

• Fluids: Yin fluids, lubrication, reproductive fluids

• Sense organ: Ears

• Emotion: Fear (and its friends: anxiety, dread, feeling unsafe)

• Season: Winter

• Life phase: Birth, childhood – and the deep reserves we draw on throughout life

It’s also deeply linked with aspects of brain function. The Kidneys are said to “produce marrow”, and this marrow nourishes the brain – sometimes called the “sea of marrow”. When Water is depleted, we may notice changes in memory, concentration and mental stamina: more brain fog, forgetfulness, difficulty focusing, or feeling like your mind has “less bandwidth” than it used to.

In midlife and winter, when Water is naturally under more pressure, these cognitive signs can become more obvious – not because you’re failing, but because your system is asking for deeper replenishment.

Water is about essence and reserves – what we call Jing. Think of Jing as your deep battery: you don’t want to be draining it just to get through the week.

By midlife, many of us have:

• Pushed through years (or decades) of stress

• Held responsibility for others

• Moved through pregnancy, birth, childcare, major career shifts, grief, illness – often on repeat

All of this draws from Kidney/Water energy. So when winter arrives – the seasonal home of the Water element – any underlying depletion can become more obvious.

Why midlife + winter is a stress test for Water

Natural Jing changes

In Chinese medicine, our Jing changes in cycles (often described in 7-year phases for women). Midlife is a time when the body naturally starts to conserve and redirect its energy. Perimenopause and menopause are part of this: a shift from reproduction and outward growth towards wisdom, consolidation and depth.

Accumulated stress

Long-term fight-or-flight living – rushing, worrying, caring for everyone else, never quite resting – eventually taps into Water reserves. We might call it “burnout”; Chinese medicine often sees it as Kidney Yin or Yang deficiency (or both).

Seasonal influence

Winter asks us to slow down, go inward and rest. If we ignore that invitation and keep operating at spring or summer pace, it can intensify Water imbalances: more fatigue, anxiety, joint pain, hormonal volatility and brain fog.

How Water-element imbalances can show up in midlife

This isn’t about labels or diagnoses – it’s a pattern language. Let your body be the reference point: notice what lands.

Deep, dragging fatigue & “tired but wired”

Water depletion often feels like:

• Waking up tired, even after “enough” sleep

• Afternoon crashes or needing caffeine/sugar to keep going

• Feeling exhausted but restless or wired at night

• Wanting to withdraw from everything, but feeling guilty when you do

From a Water perspective, this often points to Kidney Yin and/or Yang deficiency – the deeper energies that anchor your system have been overused.

Brain fog, memory & mental stamina

You might notice:

• Forgetting words or names more often

• Walking into a room and forgetting why

• Difficulty concentrating or feeling mentally “slower”

• Struggling to hold multiple strands of thought at once

• Feeling mentally tired in a way that a single good night’s sleep doesn’t fix

From a Water perspective, this can reflect Kidney Jing and Yin not fully nourishing the “sea of marrow” (brain). Winter, with its quiet invitation to rest and simplify, is actually a powerful time to support this deeper level of vitality.

Hormonal shifts, night sweats & heat in the evening

Many peri-menopausal and menopausal symptoms are linked to Water:

• Night sweats and hot flushes (especially evening and night)

• Feeling hot above and cold below (cold feet, hot chest/head)

• Dry skin, dry eyes, vaginal dryness

• Increased anxiety at night

We often see this as Kidney Yin deficiency – not enough cooling, nourishing Yin to balance the warming Yang.

Bone, joint, back and knee issues

Remember: Water governs bones, lower back and knees.

You might notice:

• Achy or weak lower back

• Stiff or painful knees (especially in cold, damp weather)

• Concerns about bone density

• Deep, “bone-level” tiredness

This is classic Water territory and a key reason why winter is a beautiful time to focus on gentle, strengthening movement rather than punishing exercise.

Urinary, pelvic floor & fluid issues

Because Water includes the Bladder and fluid metabolism, imbalances may show as:

• Urinary frequency or urgency

• Mild leakage when you cough/sneeze/exercise

• Recurrent UTIs or bladder irritation

• Oedema, fluid retention or puffiness

Childbirth history, pelvic floor changes and long-term stress all interplay here with the Water element.

Fear, anxiety & feeling “unsafe”

Water’s emotion is fear – from low-level unease through to full-blown anxiety.

You might notice:

• Waking in the night with a sense of dread

• Feeling more anxious in the dark months

• Catastrophic thinking or worrying about the future

• Feeling “on edge” even when nothing specific is wrong

Sometimes this is clearly about life circumstances. Sometimes it’s also the body signalling that Water needs soothing and holding – like an inner sense of safety that needs rebuilding.

Ears, tinnitus & hearing changes

Because the ears belong to Water, you may see:

• Tinnitus (ringing or buzzing)

• Heightened sensitivity to noise

• Gradual hearing changes

It’s never just one cause, but seeing these changes through the Water lens can give another route to support.

Signs your Water element may need support

You don’t have to tick every box. But if several of these feel familiar – especially more in winter – your Water might be asking for care:

• You wake tired and go to bed wired

• Brain fog, forgetfulness or “low bandwidth” are regular visitors

• You’re more anxious or fearful in the darker months

• Night sweats, hot flushes or evening heat

• Low back and knee ache, especially in cold weather

• Urinary issues, pelvic floor worries or fluid retention

• Tinnitus or sound sensitivity

• A strong longing to hibernate… but you rarely let yourself

The invitation is not to criticise yourself, but to listen. Water is asking for replenishment.

Gentle ways to nourish your Water element in winter

These Yang Sheng (nourishment of life) practices are designed to be realistic in a busy midlife. Choose one or two to start – small consistency is better than heroic effort that fizzles out.

Protect your “kidney zone”

In Chinese medicine, keeping the lower back and kidneys warm is non-negotiable in winter.

• Keep your low back covered – no chilly gaps between top and waistband.

• Add a thin extra layer over your lower back and belly when it’s cold or windy.

• At the end of the day, place a warm hand, hot water bottle (wrapped) or wheat bag over your low back for 10–15 minutes.

Let this be a small daily “thank you” to your Water element.

Swap depletion for genuine rest

Not all rest is equal. Scrolling in bed or collapsing in front of a series is understandable, but your Water needs deep, quiet rest.

Try:

• A “small closing” ritual each evening:

  • Dim lights earlier

  • Prepare a warm, non-caffeinated drink

  • Take 5–10 slow breaths into your lower belly

  • If possible, devices off 30–60 minutes before sleep

• One “nothing evening” per week where you consciously don’t schedule calls, social events or extra tasks. Let your system soften and empty out.

Eat to warm and nourish

In winter and in Water depletion, your body often prefers warm, cooked, simple foods.

Think:

• Soups, stews, congee, slow-cooked dishes

• Root vegetables, black beans, kidney beans, dark leafy greens

• A little seaweed, sesame seeds, walnuts, miso or bone broth (if that suits your diet)

Ease back slightly on:

• Iced drinks, raw salads and smoothies in cold weather

• Excess caffeine, alcohol and sugar – especially late in the day

You don’t need perfection. Just nudge your plate towards warmth and nourishment.

Gentle movement that strengthens without draining

Your Water element loves steady, rhythmic movement that builds rather than burns your energy.

Some ideas:

• Qi Gong or Dao Yin focused on the lower back, hips and spine

• Gentle walking, especially in nature

• Slow, attentive strength work for legs, hips and core

• Restorative or Yin yoga with an emphasis on the Kidney/Bladder channels

If you finish feeling calmer, warmer and more present (rather than wiped out), you’re on the right track.

Acupressure (with essential oils) to support Water & the brain

These simple rituals combine acupressure and essential oils to support your Water element, deep reserves and brain function.

Always dilute essential oils in a carrier oil before applying to the skin, avoid contact with eyes and mucous membranes, and don’t use them if you’re pregnant, very sensitive, on certain medications, or have known allergies. Less is more.

Kidney 3 – “Supreme Stream” (Taixi)

• Location: In the hollow between your inner ankle bone and the Achilles tendon.

• How: Gently massage with your thumb in small circles for 1–2 minutes per side, daily or whenever you feel fragile, cold or anxious.

• Why (Chinese medicine): KD3 nourishes Kidney Yin and Yang, supports your foundational energy (Jing), helps with grounding, deep fatigue, lower back and knee weakness, and the kind of anxiety that comes from feeling unsafe or depleted.

Essential oil pairings for KD3:

• Vetiver – Heavy, rooty and deeply grounding. From a Chinese medicine lens, it helps Qi descend and settle, anchoring the Shen (spirit) when fear or anxiety is rising upwards. Think of it as giving your Water element stronger roots.

• Black Spruce – Warming and gently tonifying. Often used to support Yang, especially Kidney Yang, so it can help when you feel cold, sluggish or flat, or when winter dampens motivation. It brings a sense of inner strength and uprightness.

Ren 4 – “Gate of Origin” (Guanyuan)

• Location: On the midline of the lower abdomen, about three finger-widths below the navel.

• How: Apply a little diluted oil and massage in slow circles. Then rest a warm hand or a wrapped hot water bottle over the area while you breathe quietly into your belly for 5–10 minutes.

• Why (Chinese medicine): Ren 4 is a key point to nourish essence and reserves, tonify Kidney Yin and Jing, and gently warm and stabilise the lower burner. It supports fertility, libido, hormonal balance and deep vitality – like sitting by the hearth of your body.

Essential oil pairings for Ren 4:

• Mandarin or Sweet Orange – Light, soft and reassuring. They gently move Qi while harmonising the Spleen, easing digestive and emotional “knots” that, over time, can drain Water. Beautiful when your belly holds worry.

• Neroli – Works on the Heart–Kidney axis. It calms the Shen, softens shock and emotional intensity, and supports a sense of inner safety when fear has been held for a long time. Lovely when hormonal changes are intertwined with anxiety or sleep issues.

Du 20 – “Hundred Meetings” (Baihui): for mind & “sea of marrow”

This one is more about the brain and mind, and you can keep it very subtle.

• Location: On the crown of the head, roughly where you’d balance a book – draw a line up from the tips of both ears and meet in the middle.

• How: Use very light touch only – rest your fingertips or palm there, or gently circle for 30–60 seconds while breathing slowly.

• Why (Chinese medicine): DU20 gathers and lifts Yang, clears the mind and can help the “orifices” (senses) feel more open. Used gently, it can support focus, mood and a sense of being held from above – helpful when brain fog, low mood or a heavy head are present.

Essential oil pairings for DU20
(Here, inhalation is usually enough – you don’t need to put oils on the crown itself.)

• Rosemary (well diluted, used sparingly): traditionally associated with clarity. In Chinese medicine language, it helps move and clear Qi and Phlegm that can cloud the senses, supporting mental brightness. Best if you’re foggy or dull mentally – not ideal late at night or if you’re very Yin-deficient and wired.

• Lavender – Calms and regulates Liver Qi while gently settling the Shen. Helpful when overthinking, tension and irritability are contributing to brain fog or headaches. It soothes without heavily sedating, so can be used in the day.

You might like to close your acupressure ritual by returning one hand to Ren 4 (lower belly) and one to the heart, taking a few breaths to feel the whole system – brain, Heart, Kidneys – talking to each other again.

As ever, these are gentle self-care tools, not treatments. If symptoms are strong, persistent or worrying, please check in with your GP and/or a qualified practitioner. Think of these rituals as small, daily ways of telling your Water element, “I hear you, and I’m taking care of you.”

Working kindly with fear & anxiety

Because fear belongs to Water, tending to it is part of seasonal self-care.

You might try:

• Naming the fear:
  “Right now I notice fear about…” – not to dwell, but to bring it into awareness.

• Grounding through the body:

  • Feel your feet on the floor

  • Lengthen your exhale for a few breaths

  • Place a hand on your lower belly when you feel unsettled

• Creating pockets of safety:

  • A warm bath by candlelight

  • Saying no to one extra demand this week

  • Asking for support from someone you trust

Fear doesn’t have to vanish for you to move forward. The aim is to make sure your Water feels less alone.

A short reflection for your Water element

With a notebook, gently explore:

• Where in my life do I feel most drained right now?

• Where do I feel most held or most resourced?

• What is one small way I could honour my need for rest this week?

You might be surprised by how much shifts when you honour one small, non-negotiable act of care for your Water element.

When to seek extra support

Chinese medicine offers a beautiful framework, but it’s not a replacement for medical care.

Check in with a healthcare professional if you notice:

• New or worsening pain, urinary symptoms or night sweats

• Changes in hearing or tinnitus

• Palpitations, severe anxiety or low mood

• Symptoms that worry you, persist, or don’t make sense

Working with a qualified acupuncturist or Chinese medicine practitioner can give you a personalised understanding of what your Water element needs right now, alongside any support you receive from your GP or specialist.

For paid subscribers: a 7-day Winter Water Element Reset

Below, I’ll guide you through a simple 7-day plan to help your Water element feel more held this winter – including a short daily rhythm, specific acupressure + essential oil pairings, and journal prompts to anchor what you’re noticing in midlife.

If you’re a free subscriber and you’d love more step-by-step support like this, you’re very welcome to upgrade and join us.

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The practice (1–2 quiet minutes)

1. Stand as before: feet hip-width, knees softly unlocked, crown lifting; shoulders melt.

2. Find the …

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