Lance's Winter Letter #26 (est. 2000)

January 15th, 2026

 “No mud, no lotus.” - Thích Nhất Hạnh

Dear Amazing People,

Welcome to the quiet heart of winter, the time before the winds arrive and remind the seeds it's time to stir. This is the part of winter that most of us rush past or try to override with productivity, resolutions, or sheer willpower.

But in Five Element language (the Philosophy behind our acupuncture style), this is Water at its deepest.
Not the flowing stream.
Not the frozen lake breaking open.
But the underground reservoir.
The dark, fertile soil holding the seed long before there is any sign of green. 

Nothing looks like it is happening.
And yet everything essential is being prepared. 

The Gifts of the Winter Energy within us (Water Element)

Water governs:

• our deepest reserves of energy

• our capacity to rest and restore

• our relationship with fear and trust

• our ability to feel supported by life itself

When Water is nourished, we feel:

• quietly confident

• resourced from within

• able to move slowly without guilt

• connected to something larger than effort

When Water is depleted, we feel:

• chronically tired even after rest

• anxious or edgy without clear reason

• pushed to “power through”

• disconnected from purpose

This time of year often reveals this imbalance not as a crisis, but as a whisper. A low hum of “something feels off.” That whisper is not a problem to fix. It is information.

A Gentle Reframe

You are not behind.
You are not failing.
You are not meant to feel inspired right now.

Winter is not asking for creating the new. 

That's what Spring is for.
Winter is asking for deep listening.

For dreaming. 

The seed does not rehearse its future bloom.
It rests. It absorbs. It waits.

Until the Spring winds begin to stir.

A Simple Water-Nourishing Practice (5 minutes)

Will you try this with me? 

• Sit or lie down and place one hand over your low back (Kidney area), one over your lower belly.

• Close your eyes and breathe slowly through your nose.

• Imagine warmth slowly soaking into your bones.

• On the inhale, silently say: I am supported.

• On the exhale, silently say: I do not need to rush.

Stay for 10 breaths.
That is enough.

This practice does not add energy.
It stops the leaking of it.

Food for the Season (Energetic, not rules)

Our Winter bodies love:

• warm, cooked meals

• soups and stews

• root vegetables

• gentle spices

• long-simmered foods

Less about restriction.
More about warmth, digestion, and kindness to your system.

Ask your body, “What would help me feel held today?”
Let the answer be simple.

A Note on Emotions 

Winter emotions are subtle. They surface as:

• courage

• fear

• quiet longing

• the urge to go within

This is not regression.
It is composting.

What feels heavy now is often becoming fertile for the next movement.

 An Invitation

If you feel tired in a way that sleep does not touch…
If you feel disconnected in a way thinking does not solve…
If your body seems to be asking for deeper listening…

This is exactly the terrain where acupuncture, energy work, and holistic care shine. Not to “fix” you, but to help your system remember how to rejuvenate.

You do not need to bloom yet.
You are allowed to be underground.

May this winter hold you gently.
May you trust what is quietly growing.

With warmth and care,
Lance

P.S. Here is my collection of Winter Spirit of the Acupuncture Points. Try some of them out!