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The Dao of Winter

Daoism is all about finding the right path or 'way' through life. What is meant by 'right' is a very personal thing, of course. But whether we realise it or not, the path is there, and we each have our own path to follow. The symbolism of a 'winter journey' can be found in many cultures, not least our own Western society. Winter in this sense can be viewed as a metaphor for the sub-conscious, for introspection and dreams - and also as death.

This rather gloomy thought should not disturb us unduly, however, especially if we can view nature as essentially cyclical in nature, as is the case with Daoism. The inevitability of a new beginning, a Spring and a re-birth is always present when something ends. The 'journey' therefore is an opportunity for self-discovery, for an encounter with our deeper self and, ultimately, for a fresh beginning later on.

In Eastern philosophy the five elements of nature play a key role. The element of Winter is Water, which is said to have a downward movement, and this reinforces the idea of descending into the darker reaches. Winter is, of course, the season of short, dark days (in the Northern Hemisphere) But after the solstice in December (around the 21st-23rd of the month), these days lengthen again and draw us back upwards to new life and fresh beginnings. It is no coincidence that our major Christian festival of Chrismas is celebrated at this time - when we turn our thoughts to another special moment of birth.

"That which lets now the dark, now the light appear is Dao."
from the I Ching

It is important to remember that Daoism is not essentially a belief system that promotes the idea of reincarnation as, for example, we can find in Buddhism or those cultures that have given us the wonderful regenerative exercises of yoga, but it does recognise the world of 'spirit' - and that there is a part of us which is independent of the physical body and which survives death. It also sees a cyclical process in all things, and that the human life is in many respects a microcosm of the greater Dao of nature with all its changes. In particular, all oriental philosophies recognise the importance of living in harmony with the changing of the seasons and with the forces of our environment - seen in metaphors such as heaven and earth, fire and water, and the five elements. Winter, therefore, has always been considered as a time for contemplation and repose, of self-discovery and the cultivation of inner wisdom.

"Empty yourself of everything Let the mind rest at peace. The ten thousand things rise and fall while the Self watches their return. They grow and flourish and then return to the source. Returning to the source is stillness, which is the way of nature."
from the Dao Te Ching

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How can this work in practice? Well, winter for us is a time when the passive (Yin) principle naturally overcomes the more active (Yang) force. It is an opportunity, therefore, to foster stillness in our lives and to find the time for gaining new insights and skills. This could be a new experience, a new book, a new author that can inspire us, a new style of music to entertain us - or any new hobby or pass-time that leads us to a deeper understanding of both the world around us and our selves. Making plans or organising our lives for the future are also excellent ways of making use of the stillness and the generative power of Winter and the element of Water. And of course, qi gong, tai ji or yoga are all very good examples of physical exercise which generate energy and leave us with a sense of renewal and self-discovery after we do them. 

"The Female overcomes the Male with stillness,
Lying Low is stillness.
... therefore those who would conquer must yield,
And those who conquer do so because they yield"
from the Dao Te Ching

Oddly, for many of us here in the West we tend to throw ourselves into a malstrom of feverish activity at this time of the year, racing around trying to prepare for that perfect Christmas - at just the very time when we should be taking things easy! We should perhaps remember that Winter is really a time for rest and renewal, and to go too strongly against this natural force of nature will inevitably store up problems, particularly in terms of our health. See Winter and Health

 "... in this way man comes to resemble heaven and earth, he is not in conflict with them. His wisdom enhances all things and his Dao brings order into the whole world, therefore he does not err. He is active everywhere but does not let himself be carried away. He rejoices in heaven and has knowledge of fate, therefore he is free of care. He is content with his circumstances and genuine in his kindness, therefore he can practice love."
from the I Ching

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