Wanted to share some thoughts on some 'non naff tips' for this time of year. We cover the herbs to get you through the silly season and provide some thoughts on lifestyle tweaks you can consider.
NUMBER ONE HOT TOP TIP:
Has gotta be don't get into a Jing-leaking cycle. Not sure what I mean by this? Then dive into this epic podcast episode on What Is Jing Energy? So many people in the SuperFeast community have done so much to pull their lifestyles back into balance, whilst learning not to be exhausting themselves and burning the candle at both ends. They've been using tips from How To Cultivate Your Jing Energy. But this is the time of year where you're given an inch and, all of a sudden, you're taking a mile due to not laying down boundaries for your Jing, and you use up all your “savings” that we rely on to stay grounded and not fatigued. I'm talking both energetically AND literally. Everyone uses up *all* their savings and remember, this Christmas holiday tradition is originally celebrated in the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere, celebrating at a time when there's not much going on and everyone needs their spirits lifted, right?
Well for us here in Australia, we're in the middle of the high Yang already, hot weather, lots of activities on, lot's of movement and excitement, lots of places to already spend our savings. So we don't actually need any more Yang. And so, the very Yang expression of Christmas and New Years needs to be mitigated and watched.
TIPS FOR NOT LEAKING YOUR JING:
So prevention-wise, how do you not leak your Jing essence? First of all, you get ultra responsible with your calendar, make sure you've carved some time out to prioritise your personal practice and your rest / Yin time. And then the other thing you need to do is not get complacent with your diet and with your nice deep breathing because they are the things that give you your daily Qi. Qi energy ensures that you're animated and you can get through these really long days, which are pretty hectic without drawing on your Jing reserves.
HERBS I LOVE:
If you feel you're someone that's prone to becoming tired or exhausted at this time of year, you might just want to incorporate those Jing herbs into your days, to really buffer you and to get you through. I'm talking the JING blend of course and herbs like deer antler and ashwagandha, especially if it feels like you *really* need some grounding, foundational support during this time with managing stress.
If you are called to keep up your Qi tonics, I'm really happy to share that early next year, we'll have the QI blend coming. For now, I love our sexy schisandra berry and astragalus, which are great Qi tonics. The Mason’s Mushrooms also supports the daily Qi.
And hey, if you are someone that is feeling like you're in a really good place and you're not going to be exhausted, just keep on hitting the mushrooms (Mason's Mushrooms blend is always a safe bet to cover all bases) and astragalus to keep up that robust immunity.
HAD AN ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE OR THREE?
FEELING ANXIOUS?
If you're prone to feeling anxious around this time of the year (well, honestly, this conversation is relevant for any time of the year) and obviously if it gets severe, make sure you've got someone you can talk, but please remember to focus on your meditation practice, whether that be sitting or forest bathing or hitting the surf, spending time doing what helps you get into the space to digest and process life is going to be a huge factor. We've all listed our personal practices over here, so you might get some ideas to set up your own personal culture. It gets really mentally 'hivey' during this time (busy energy, easy to get swept up in everyone else’s energy), feeling some social angst can be pretty common if you’re not ready to go full commercial Christmas. A good reishi tonic at night, or even in the morning if you're kind of getting swept up into it, is a really, really great idea. We love our reishi/chamomile combo, AM or PM, whatever you need. If you've got ashwagandha floating around, throw that in too.
REMEMBER, THE HERBS ARE YOUR ALLIES:
