Hear What Feels Right

  • Solstice is my favourite time of year. Stillness within movement, light and dark equal. . Light and dark equal. . I’m going offline for a few days. My screen time has been off the scale these last few weeks as I read, note, share, learn and unlearn. . Fire is symbolic of this time of year, but I chose water for this post, mainly because of the contrast between light and dark, but also, because there’s been so much heat/fire energy over this upward, Yang driven few weeks. Fire has been in excess and my water (Yin) has become deficient. . I love the beautiful philosophy of the medicine I work with. I need it right now. . Happy solstice all.
  • Beltane, May Day feels like a good time to pop my head up. I have been here, wondering how I can share all that I’ve learned the last 15 years in the way that will help folk the most during this time. But this has been too much for my addled brain. What I needed to do instead was stop, collect and gather myself, and look after my little family. . It’s been tough, trying to get a sense of my place in it all while home schooling, housekeeping, and sorting out finances and I haven’t drawn on my own practices the way I’ve needed. But every now and again I have a moment where I feel a deeper, more tangible perception of the width and weight of time; a glimpse of being at one with nature, with everything. It feels far out, but in those moments, I feel beauty and love, and I’m grateful for the reminder. . Traditionally, fires are lit for Beltane the evening before the 1st of May, but tonight, I’m lighting a fire to welcome and thank the rising energy of spring. A ritual that we use in this house to celebrate cycles: the interconnected nature of change and the interdependence of flow and stillness. Tonight, I’ll make a promise to remind myself to look for the light as nature slowly gives us hers.
  • Today is the equinox, the moment the earth changes direction, holds a pause In the Northern Hemisphere, Yang is rising. This is a time of upwards movement while we embrace the return of the sun on our horizon. In the Southern Hemisphere, Yang subsides and there is a natural return to the Yin energy of moving closer to stillness, and rest. Wherever you live, you’ll be feeling this change. Throw your arms open and feel your chest expand and contract. For one, gentle moment, welcome your beautiful breath into your body. Your heart and lungs need you. Just for a moment.
  • I’m just about to leave for my second day of mental health teaching/awareness with @bath.mind . On Tuesday, I held a webinar for the @middleyearsmonday community, about Winter, and living with the Seasons - of nature and your body. After both days what is clear: January and February can be really tough months. There are many reasons for this but mainly, the lack of sunlight, and the shift in energy post festive season can leave us feeling flat, fatigued and daydreaming about escaping it all. In times of stress, apathy, fatigue, depression, overwhelm or whatever else you experience when you feel like you are struggling - the simple acts of consciously using your diaphragm to breathe, and moving your body will help. Why? Because conscious breath and gentle movement tell your body (via your brain) that you are safe, allowing all the major systems within your body, to begin working in harmony; bringing you out of survival mode and back to a place where you just feel a bit more like you. Also, getting outside and taking vitamin D will help steady your beautiful foundation. There’s just one spot left on mine and @piproberts_ Winter retreat if you fancy a last minute weekend coming back to you with yoga, meditation, forest bathing and seasonal living workshops - send me a DM if you’re interested.
  • In many cultures around the world, being a ‘middle age’ woman has some serious kudos attached to It. Along with the symptoms of peri menopause and menopause, comes an improved status, where women enter the new phase of their lives as shamans, medicine women and wise and respected elders. In Chinese Medicine, this phase is viewed as an ‘energy gateway- a unique chance for a woman to prepare her body, mind and spirit for a healthy, long life. It’s a time when she can heal, strengthen herself, and balance and harmonize her energies’. Also, in many of these cultures, there is no word for menopause, and menopausal symptoms seem to be almost non-existent. *But not in the west* For us, the word menopause is still a hushed, whispered and taboo topic. It’s no wonder many of us feel lost and confused as we struggle with our changing identity, which can begin as young as 35. In recognition of this powerful time, the wonderful @pipwilcoxceramics has created a online community- hello @middleyearsmonday - where women or those of us who identify as women, going through these mysterious times can connect with kindred souls, learn ways to balance our bodies and rejuvenate our spirit. This group will be a celebration of all that is good, and a place to be curious and supported through all that is disorientating. I, along with @whitepeak_ruth and @underthegreenfigtree will be joining Pip to offer advice, guidance and support on ANY issues that matter to you, as we gather in our nurturing online space. For more info, to sign up for the newsletter and to join our community, check out the @middleyearsmonday page. Looking forward to seeing you there ♥️
  • As we approach real Winter with the solstice at the weekend, we leave behind the time of the Lung and its partner organ the Large Intestine. :: Lung and Large Intestine work together to receive and release, with imbalances in either of these organs showing up as shortness of breath, asthma, coughs and colds, excess sadness, constipation and digestive disorders. :: What I love about this relationship is that if you connect with your diaphragm and allow the breath to begin here, your intestines respond helping you to release all that your body no longer needs. It’s a symbiotic relationship. It’s beautiful. :: It’s also poignant for this time of year. :: Next week we welcome Winter, and the Kidneys and The Bladder take over. Water is the element, Fear is the emotion, black is the colour. The Kidneys hold our essence and are also the fundamental Yin and Tang energy of our body. :: Support yourself with a few sneaky moments of diaphragmatic breath, drink plenty of water and balance any big moments of play with equal rest. :: Pic of my friend Navina @coconutchilli relaxing while I needle Large Intestine 4
  • How are you finding the month of December so far? It’s been A Month here in the UK and I know for sure that I’m finding it challenging to take small moments to thank my body for taking care of me in the magical way it does. Although this time of year naturally calls us towards rest and stillness, our culture‘s tendencies at Christmas pull us towards the kind of vibrant energy that usually correlates with the summer. Finding rest and stillness can be hard, and we can easily burn out feeling totally done in by January 2nd. In October, my friend and fellow teacher @piproberts__ had a conversation about this feeling of burnout, and talked about how wonderful it would be to go on a retreat in January. The result: we created one instead. So, we invite you to come and unfurl with us, at the end of January, in a beautiful place on the side of a hill near Bath. In a converted barn looking over the valley, you will be practicing the most wonderful, slow, deeply nourishing yoga. You will be guided through seasonal meditations and yoga nidra to restore your brain and your your body, and will have the chance to exercise perience acupuncture in Savasana for those who fancy it. We will guide you on a forest bathing session and offer you the best food I’ve seen on a retreat - trust me, this is something Pip and I take very seriously! It will be time for you to fall gently into your own natural rhythm and connect with that of mother nature. This will be an intimate retreat where you will have both Pip and I, supporting and guiding you through the entire weekend. We are down to our last few rooms but you can secure your place by paying a 50% deposit. More details on the link in mine or Pip’s profile. This retreat is open to all bodies and all people.
  • △Autumn in Chinese Medicine△ The element: metal The emotion: grief The organ: the lungs If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, I wonder how you’ve been feeling these last few weeks. Many, if not most, of my patients that I’ve seen in my private clinic are experiencing common themes: sadness, fatigue, melancholy and feeling the need to be cared for. Coughs and colds are starting to appear as well as skin and eye dryness, and nearly everyone in clinic is mourning the poor summer, feeling the heaviness from the extraordinary amounts of rain the last few months. All this accentuated by the changing of the clocks last week. In treatments, during Autumn, I always add acupuncture points located on the Lung and Large intestine channel to help move my patients smoothly through the natural grief and sadness that can accompany time of year. These organs partner together to help welcome energy (lungs) and release what we don’t need (large intestine), but when there is a slight imbalance we see the symptoms and emotions mentioned above. Help your Lungs and Large intestine by: *Keeping your chest and back of the neck covered *Burn eucalyptus - this is such a wonderful oil for your Lungs *Eat warm food *Take some time each day to consciously breathe (just 2 mins) For more simple ways to help your Lungs and Large Intestine, with movement as well as seasonal guidance, sign up to my newsletter in my profile above. Autumnal love to you all.

About Me

Hello I’m Gemma and I can help you connect to your own quiet place of wisdom and peace through acupuncture, chinese medicine, yoga and meditation.

Connect with me to see how I can help you.

Follow Me

Latest Posts