winter

Winter Vibes

As we wrap up this year, may we continue to harbor the light through the darkness.

May this snow angel of the west lead the way.

Happy New Year!

Winter ❄️ 2017

Welcome snowy Winter!

Today I want to share a few things, such as:

Some inspiration via poetry, a tidbit about the nature and lore of black pearls, and an opportunity to win a massage with Jenny Bourdette Lusk.

In Chinese Medicine, Winter is associated with the Kidneys, the colors blue and black, the salty flavor, and the Will.  The Kidneys work diligently all the time for us, providing both the Fire and Water to fuel all of our activities.  During this natural time of introspection, the Kidneys relish the opportunity to rest and preserve our vital life force. Retiring early with the setting sun is a great way to promote deep rest and recuperation.  Meditation is also readily integrated into our minds and bodies at this time, as our rhythms are naturally inclined toward introspection during the Winter.  The Will gathers that calm energy, quietly converting it into reserves to call on as needed.

Black pearls are associated with Kidneys and Winter because of their color and their origin, having arisen from the salty water and specifically from the depths of the ocean, also strongly symbolic of Kidney essence, the richest and most substantive aspect of energy.  Legend says that the Full Moon produced so much Heavenly Dew from the discarded dreams and memories of men and women that it fell into the sea.  Oysters came to the surface of the ocean and opened their shells to receive the light of the Moon and ingested the discarded Heavenly Dew, which fell inside and hardened into pearls.  The black pearls are all the sad thoughts that have been transformed into beauty and hope by the Moon Goddess.

One of my favorite poets is Matsuo Basho, a haiku master of the 17th century.  I’d love to share a quote from his writing as well as a few of his haiku capturing the vibration of Winter.

 

The Moon and sun are eternal travelers.  Even the years wander on.  A lifetime adrift in a boat or in old age leading a tired horse into the years, every day is a journey, and the journey itself is home.

✨✨✨✨✨

weather-beaten bones,

I’ll leave your heart exposed

to cold, piercing winds

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

The cry of the dove

penetrates even the stone

door of this dark cave

🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋

all the stones are dead,

the waters withered and gone–

winter and nothing

💧💧💧💧💧

for today only,

we’ll grow old together in

the first winter rain

💦💦💦💦💦

 

And now for the massage …..

Massage Giveaway!
I will be having a drawing on Feb 1 to give away a FREE 60-minute massage!
How to enter:
1) Like my Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/jennybourdettelusk/
2) Leave a review (You can write a comment or simply rate 1-5 stars)
Winner will be contacted on Feb 1.

Yours in Wellness, Jenny

Wishing you all such a lovely and potent introspective Winter, well infused with sparkly inspiration and rest,

Sally Robinson, L.Ac.

828-545-2288

whitepineacupuncture.com

whitepine.acupuncture@gmail.com

Acupuncture.Herbs. The Power of Peace.

 

 

Winter 2015 Newsletter

Dear friends of White Pine,

Hello, brrrrrr, and welcome to 2015!

Let’s hop straight to it! In this newsletter, you’ll find:
1. New Year(s) Special
2. Moxa for sale, get ’em while they’re hot!
3. Brian’s free class series
4. Massage promotion
5. DIY food therapy
6. Sally’s (in lieu of) haiku

1. Happy new year(s) special
In honor of 2015 and the impending Chinese new year, we’re offering a special at White Pine:
Buy a gift certificate for a friend and save money on your next treatment!

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Here’s how it works:

  • Buy a gift certificate for a new patient ($140) and receive $30 off your next treatment.
  • Buy a gift certificate for an existing patient ($80) and receive $15 off your next treatment.

Treatments must be used in 2015. Discount offer expires on the Chinese New Year (the Year of the Sheep!), February 22, 2015.


2. Moxa sale!

Bring home some moxa for warm, DIY nourishment. Loose moxa and sticker moxa products are 40% off, and pole moxa is two for $1. Offer ends March 1, 2015.

3. Brian’s leading “Touchstones”

We’re excited for Brian’s upcoming collaborative discussion group, Touchstones.

Read and discuss excerpts from the Great Books and other great authors and:

  • Join a community rooted in collaborative discussion
  • Speak authentically in a supportive environment
  • Learn effective group dynamics through specific exercises designed to avoid group pitfalls

The group will meet (most) Sundays here in Asheville from March – August. Click here for more information and to sign up.

4. Massage promotion!

If you’ve never gotten a massage from Tara at White Pine, now’s a great time to start.

Tara is offering a 20% discount off her 60-minute and 90-minute massages to new massage clients.

This offer ends March 15, 2015. Click here to schedule your massage!

5. DIY recipe – love your kidneys

As we’ve probably told you in previous newsletters, each season corresponds to an “element” within Chinese philosophy and medicine. Each element also corresponds to our bodies. Winter, as we know, is the darkest time of year – when the world burrows down deep to rest and prepare for the great effort of spring. Winter embodies the water element: darkness, deepness, powerful creative potential, wisdom, and fear. This is a huge topic – deep and fertile soil – but suffice to say here that within the body, the water element coalesces as the kidneys.

There are lots of reasons to want to nourish your kidneys (fertility, longevity, avoiding low back pain, caring for the knees, the teeth, the bones, the hair on the head…) and lots of ways to nourish your kidneys according to Chinese medicine (soaking the feet, eating seeds, staying warm with moxa, getting more rest than you might think is reasonable.) An ideal time to nourish the kidneys is, well, all the time. But an especially ideal time is during winter, when we are at our slowest.

Sesame seeds are considered to be a direct kidney tonic in Chinese medicine food therapy. Click here for Sally’s favorite (dairy-free) “snowy sesame milk” and give your kidneys a little wintertime love!

6. In lieu of haiku

While gazing up at the winter night sky, pondering the fathomless depths of the dark night, feeling the mystery, it became clear this mirroring of as above, so below.


The black watery depths riddled with starlight miraculously reside also in me. 

A flicker of golden light, a tiny little flame emanates through the darkness, birthing infinite possibilities, sourcing the cerulean dawn.

Blue arising from the black! Light warming the darkness…….  

Wishing you well, 

Sally Robinson, Brian Huwe, Mary Beth Huwe, and Heather Spangler