Chinese Medical Physician and acupuncturist, Carolyn Barron, is back on the show with all her wisdom! Today, she joins us to talk about the Winter Water season, the transition into the Chinese New Year, and what this means for our energy and practices during this time.

We aren’t meant to go nonstop, and Carolyn shares how going slow and turning inward matches the season we are in. We dive into what it means to move with the energy of nature, and Carolyn reveals her favorite teas, herbs, and foods to nurture ourselves during this time. At the end, Carolyn leads us in a DIY acupressure, Qigong meditation.

Location note for Acupressure on Ming Men 'Gate of Life':

Ming Men is located in the center of the spine, just below the 2nd lumbar vertebrae. Hot tip ➞ find the curve of your natural waist where it pinches ever so slightly inward, then join the thumbs together on the midline. The thumbs will generally intersect w/ the spinous process of L2, and LIKE WHOA, this point is usually tender.

My favorite acupressure technique for stimulating Ming Men comes from Chen Xiyi’s Red Phoenix Calisthenics, + involves rolling the knuckles over the areas left + right of Life Gate 36 times (36=9, the Taoist number of completion, containing all things + all permutations). It is said that by performing this sacred kneading that Qi can be absorbed into the bones.

***Our meditation begins at [40:50]!

Learn more about Kelsey at http://kelseyjpatel.com 

Resources:

• Sign up for Carolyn’s magikal newsletter at botanarchy.com/inquire
• Follow @botanarchy on Instagram for recipes!
• Recommended Books: Tao: The Watercourse Way by Alan Watts
• Herbs for nourishing the Kidneys and supporting yourself in Water season:
• He Shou Wu
• Schisandra
• Restore the Jin with Rehmannia
• Preorder Burning Bright: kelseyjpatel.com/book
• Instagram: instagram.com/kelseyjpatel
• Magik Vibes Instagram: instagram.com/magikvibes
• Facebook: facebook.com/kelseyjpatel

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