We tend to set goals for ourselves during this time of the year, whether it’s to lose weight, improve your business, quit smoking, or write that novel that you’ve had on the back burner for decades. It make sense after the indulgence of the holidays and the “fresh start” of the new year that we make resolutions.
In Chinese medicine, resolutions for change also make sense, but for a different reason—one related to the concept of Yin and Yang, which is a way of describing the world around us. Yang represents things that are light, warm, and active. In contrast Yin describes things that are relatively cooler, darker and more nourishing. Yesterday’s winter solstice on December 21 is the most Yin day of the year. The solstice heralds the beginning of winter, which is a cool (well, cold here in MN!) dark, and nourishing time of year. The winter solstice also brings longer days as it moves toward summer, so it is also considered the birth of spring and the birth of Yang.
