Li Dong – The Beginning of Winter

Li 立 means Beginning + Dong 冬 means Winter. In China, seasons are tracked in relation to fluctuations of #yinandyang dynamics in nature. Chinese Lunar calendar breaks the year down into 24 Solar Terms that instruct us in what we need to do to prepare for the season at hand. We are now at the 19th Solar Term.

Now, #yin energy is in a growing trajectory as daylight hours are getting shorter and night is getting longer. This time is considered beginning of “Yin” Winter Season.

In ancient times, the explanation for Dong 冬 is that harvest time is completed—the crops have been harvested and dried and now begins the time to put them in storage.  The animals are ready to find their shelter to start their winter sleep (hibernation). Dong 冬 therefore tells us that the metabolism of nature slows down at this time and we must store and preserve our Original #Qi (元气). Winter is a “storing period” 藏.

In #chinesemedicine, the kidney is the main organ responsible for storage of our “seed” and reproduction. It stores the essence (jing) 精 (our congenital/hereditary constitution). This essence ultimately contains original Yin (female energy) and original Yang (male energy) of the entire body. The kidney is directly associated with ovaries, testicles and adrenals. In order to boost one’s fertility, the principle is always to warm and strengthen the kidneys.