The First Month of Spring - A Gentle Push to Wake Up

The beginning of February this year has been rather dynamic. Apart from the passage from the element of Water to Wood marking the start of the new season, Spring, there is the concomitance with the start of the Lunar New Year in energetic Water Tiger with the New Moon in dynamic and forward looking Acquarius. Some celebrate Calendora others celebrate Imbolc, where both signify a pivot when the Winter visibly withdraws.

I have just read the last year's update for this month and realised we are having much more of an energetic push than the same time last year. Additionally, at the moment of this passage all of the astrological planets have gone direct. So, not only do we get the push from the Nature ready to sprout but also from the Planets that encourage all movement forward.

Given such combination of energies, I strongly encourage you to make some plans for the next months at least. The energy is moving now, so observe the flows and coincidences and have the courage to follow them. This month is going to be fast, flowing and will bring new events. You may wish to read on the Lunar New Year energy to help you plan the year ahead (https://www.dorotakowal.com/post/lunar-new-year-improving-your-health-with-the-energy-of-water-tiger).

Some of you will welcome it more than others. In either case, it is helpful to feel more light and elastic in our body. Hence, it is time to re-adjust the diet and do a daily dose of stretching and get a daily walk. Diet-wise, we can now include more raw foods, although we still need to balance it with hot meals. An excellent food to eat at this time are sprouts, which correspond energetically to this season. They are raw but not as cooling as salads, for example.

February is an excellent time to start a body detox. Remember that making our bodies strong and healthy is not only dependent on what we consume and supplements we take but equally dependent on what we avoid to eat. This month let's start taking out all alcohol, coffee and processed sugar. My ideal way to do it is gradual withdrawal, one food at the time. This way the body gets time to adjust. If you wish to book an appointment to plan a detox and include detox with acupuncture, contact me.

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All the way, be also aware of not overdoing it as we are still only just coming out of the Winter inertia. If you begin to get headaches, blood-shot eyes, strapped tendons (hopefully not), these may be signs you are overdoing it. Stretch yourself in time; Spring is only just beginning and you have more than just one month to do it all.

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Lunar New Year - improving your health with the energy of Water Tiger

The 1st February marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year and the year of Water Tiger. For me the real new year does not begin until we have completed both the solar cycle and have received the twelve lunar cycles. There is finally a feeling that the old is left behind and the new is beginning.

We are leaving behind the year of real hard work and hardship, which is what the last year of the Ox symbolised. We had to be patient, enduring as the energy was rather "stubborn". To add to this, the Metal element last year could have added rigidity to the general feeling. Health-wise, you might have had on-going "stubborn" problems and had to work hard to keep yourself fit and well.

This year, that might all be different, as you are likely to feel the fast, furious and energetic Tiger's energy fuelled by the regenerating power of Water. Well, at least if you utilise wisely both Tiger and Water energy in the coming year. To help you benefit from this coming year, the followig are my highlights of the areas of health and wellbeing most favoured in the Water Tiger year.

Most of us know what qualities Tiger animals represent: powerful, courageous, strong and leadership. How did the ancient medicine people see and utilised the energy of that animal for health and wellbeing? There ere two main associations with the Tiger energy. One is related to Metal element (and specifically to Lungs, which is the organ of th Metal element). The other association of Tiger is with the first month of a lunar year (Tiger is the first animal in the Chinese zodiac), February. This is also the first month of Spring (according to the ancients), which is associated with the Wood element.

For some, who already know the cycles of Five Elements, would have realised this means Metal is controlling Wood. Tiger's energy ensures that the growth of new beginnings is not excessive or chaotic. But for starters we will feel that rise in energy we have not felt for a couple of years. It is not going to be shooting up but just as the beginning of Spring, encouraging new life. This is coupled by the element of Water, which symbolises conception and rebirth.

Tiger energy is mostly associated with our Lungs and therefore the skin (known as the third lung). We should get a renewed health with regards to those organs. It will be a good year to open the Lungs, breathe new fresh air and do aerobic exercises to get toxins out of the body through sweating. It will be generally a good year for beauty. Any attempts to make our appearances glowing with health will pay off this year (including nails and teeth).

Another important health aspect that will get a massive renewal this coming year will be sexuality. Tiger is a symbol of sexual power and mating. Coupled with the Water element which uncovers deep and intimate energies, it is very likely our deep sexual desires will get a notable renewal this year. It also bodes well for fertility and conception.

We will generally feel stronger in ourselves and feel more able to extend our concentrated efforts to achieve (Water is our willpower) satisfaction of our needs (Tigers only hunt when hungry). But we will not do it totally alone. Although Tiger likes acting on its own, Water element is about community. Our actions and power will be better off if grounded in our identity within the wider community.

Now, not all of us may easily embrace the energy of Tiger, qualities of a leader, predator and an activist. Some people or communities may feel threatened by powerfull people or communities who are behaving predator-like. In such case it would be a good idea to have a good friend who easily embraces such energies or was born in the year of a Tiger. Tigers are symbols of protection and of chasing away the evil. With a Tiger family member or a friend you will be protected. In addition, it will be good to wear amber jewellery. Amber in Chinese is called "soul of the tiger". In traditional Chinese Medicine amber is used, among others, for healthy functioning of the Lungs, sustaining defensive energy (immunity) and conception vessel.

Another protection we all can utilise this year is that of getting in touch with our essence of being, of who we really are, within ourselves and within the community, and derive our drive and will power from that. It will be a good year to spend time near water, such as streams, rivers and the sea; contemplating the power of Water being flexible, adaptable and changeable.

Wishing you all a good Water Tiger Year!

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The Third Month of Winter - Rebirth

Although we have already passed the darkest days of the Winter, namely the Winter Solstice, and the days are getting longer rather than shorter now, we are still in full Winter season. The 6th of January has marked the beginning of the third month of Winter, according to the ancient Su Wen text.

Although it may not be the darkest month, it is named by the classics as the coldest month of the year. Temperature wise, this month has the opposite effect to the month following the Summer Solstice when the temperatures increase after the Sun passes its peak. Now, following the Winter Solstice, Sun's lowest point, the temperatures are getting colder and colder. There is little to none Yang to warm the Earth up. The temperatures plummet down as Yin energy continues to dominate in the environment. Some animals which are hibernating have their heart rates slowed down for this period. We are not the hibernating species but we still feel the need to go slow. It will be felt more so this year from mid January when Mercury will go retrograde. Mercury is associated with Water and Winter element as well. So, in addition to things feeling Winter-slow, we will have a sensation that Winter is never going to end. That will only be an impression that will be fading away by the end of the first week of February.

What this month is good for is to ponder on our inner world. Again, Mercury retrograde will help us do so. Considering we have just entered the new solar year and will be entering the new lunar year (Chinese New Year) on the 1st of February, there is a lot to reflect upon. In addition, the new lunar year we are about to enter is going to be the year of Water Tiger. Reflection is a Water element quality when we think about looking at ourselves like in a mirror.

The Water qualities I highlighted in my previous month's update, we can continue to cultivate this month. By that I mean behaving like Water, implementing its energetic qualities in our daily life. We might have done quite a lot of gathering, outpouring and diffusing in the past month whilst celebrating the festive season with our nearest and dearest. Now it may be time to concentrate on other Water qualities such as flowing, being present, compressing the energy and going into the most hidden parts of ourselves.

So, when we examine our reflection and face the most hidden parts of ourselves, we may find both the gems we forgot we had and/or old dusty cobwebbed stuff we forgot we still hide inside. This month is the time to uncover just that what will serve us to achieve our 2022 plans and goals. In addition, us being present will be necessary to feel and assess best the situation we are currently in. Finally, compressing the energy during this month will be essential for starting up full steam when the time is ripe and being able to keep the ambition going all the way until our plans and goals are achieved.

In summary, January is the month of great preparedness of ourselves, our position and our strength in order to wake into a new cycle of life which is about to be birthed.

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