We are entering the winter months here in the Northern hemisphere, and its vitally important that we sync ourselves up to the energy of this season to maintain our wellbeing during the cold months. In Taoist understanding the element of the winter is water, and the associated organs are the Kidneys and Bladder.

Each element has a spirit in Alchemical Taoist philosophy, the Zhi is the Spirit of this water element. It is buried deep inside us and it is deeply connected with our instructional power, our aligned will and our courage.

These months we can find surrender to the Tao, to return to our origin through the cultivation of this spirit as it is this is deeply associated with the energy of coming inside, and coming inside of ourselves, to go deep within, to store of vital energy and allow a natural rejuvenation process of our energy (Kidney Qi and Jing) to occur on the deepest level. Look at nature and you will see, the plants are buried deep in the earth, sleeping, resting, the buds are closed and animals are hibernating, saving and storing their essential energy resources and reserves.

This Spirit can be disturbed like any of the Spirits within us, and often in today’s modern frantic world, this Spirit does pay the price of an overly busy lifestyle when we don’t take adequate time to rest, relax and restore.

When people overly push themselves to the point of burn out, adrenal fatigue, or total exhaustion, this will disturb the Zhi. As well as this, the use of chemical stimulants, excessive emotional excitement, being overly ambitious and having an unhealthy desire to achieve at the expense of their own wellbeing and health.
When the Zhi is disturbed, this will have a direct impact on the Kidneys energy and function which can manifest as signs and symptoms such as exhaustion, insomnia, hormonal conditions of all kinds, high blood pressure, anxiety, chronic fatigue and back pain. As well as these more obvious clinical conditions there are other symptoms that will affect the overall wellbeing of an individual such as; Forgetfulness, especially long-term memory, a lack of drive and motivation, weaken will power, addictive patterns and behaviours, depression, excessive groaning, unhealthy fear-based thinking, and sexual dysfunctions.

So… how to nourish this Zhi?

Coming into winter is the perfect time to start consciously nourishing the Zhi. This is the time of year this spirit can especially either replenish or get depleted depending on our lifestyle habits and how we live our days.  
it is so important to get in touch with the season and recognize what it is reflecting back as us and within us and start to work in harmony with the forces of nature and all its cycles and seasons.

Ways in which you can nourish your Zhi are;

• To eat nourishing food, the Kidneys like warming, easy to digest foods such as soups, stews and broths, seaweeds, and all beans, nuts, and seeds and sprouts and wild fish.
• Water fast, and eat less, historically it was a time when food was scarce, not abundant… a very natural time to fast
• Include reishi, maca, spirulina, and chlorella as superfoods to nourish to kidney qi and balance yin yang. 
• Take rest, winter is a time for resting, nature is resting and storing its energy and we should be doing the same as we are interconnected. As the cold nights come upon us, take measures to keep warm, get early nights, sleep a little more and relax.
• Mediate, this is a powerful way to restore vital energy and prevent adrenal fatigue and to listen to the deep insights and wisdom that will become apparent in the more still and silent moments.
• Enjoy natural beauty, wrap up warm and take wintery walks in the woods and on the beach, connect with the natural beauty around you and connect to the elements and the season.
• Practice more calming physical exercises, such as yoga, tai chi and qi gong, which strengthen the spinal column, and the back which supports the Kidneys. Finding a practice and doing it on a regular basis is one of the best ways to strengthen and stabilize the zhi, by strengthening the will power.
• Avoid excessive working hours, aim to keep a balanced schedule between work and rest.
• Have a foot massage – do it yourself, exchange with your partner or book in with a reflexologist. The kidney meridian begins on the bottom of the foot so stimulating this area will relax the body while it stimulates the kidney qi and revitalizes the Zhi.
• Use essential oils such as frankincense, lavender, peppermint, cedar to nourish the Zhi
• Take Aspen flower essence which is very calming and soothing, and helps release fear and gives trust.  
• In Taoism, there is understood to be a direct connection between the Jing of the sexual fluids and the zhi, so for men, it is useful to contain sexual fluids, and consciously circulate them back into the body to nourish the essences and the will. This is an advanced practice but worth researching.
• If you have a history of addictive drug use-especially excess caffeine, amphetamines, or steroids, perhaps seek support to help you come off these substances to take care of your adrenals and you support your Zhi.

Once you rebalance and replenish the Zhi, you will start to notice positive changes in your base energy, and you may experience some improvement in your wellbeing such as you feel more power and balance at a fundamental level. As there is a basic understanding in Taoism that activity springs from rest.
You may notice an increased sense of trust in life, your will-power will increase and so your ability to stay with projects until they are complete will also increase. You will have more courage to face the darkness of winter in the world and within you. And you will experience increased motivation and excitement to work and be in the world.