We are currently in the final stretch of the Daoist winter, a period known as Da Han, or "Greater Cold." While the calendar says the year has already begun, we are actually in the most critical phase of the seasonal cycle: Late Winter.

If you feel a strange mix of exhaustion and a restless urge to start something new, you are feeling the transition of "Maximum Yin." In the natural world, this is the time of deep hibernation. It is important because it represents the final consolidation of energy.

Have you noticed your lower back feels stiffer lately, or that you’re making more frequent trips to the bathroom? This isn't just a coincidence; it is your Kidneys and Bladder reacting to the "Greater Cold." These organs are the guardians of the Water element, regulating our internal thermostat and storing our Jing (vital essence). If we rush into "Spring mode" too early, we deplete the very reserves we need to bloom in March. Late Winter is an invitation to be like the seed under the frost: quiet, contained, and gathering strength.

Winter corresponds to the Water element, whose shadow emotion is fear. As late winter arrives, after months of limited sunlight, it is common to feel a drop in vitality. Daoist traditions describe this as a weakening of the Ming Men (Gate of Life)—the body’s central source of warming yang.

In the Water phase, emotional and physiological processes are deeply interconnected. From a modern perspective, the adrenal glands—situated atop the kidneys—often bear the cumulative strain of prolonged stress and reduced daylight. By late winter, this can show up as deep fatigue or a quiet, background anxiety about the future, sometimes referred to as “winter burnout.”

In classical Daoist medicine, the Kidneys and Bladder are understood as a paired system. While the Kidneys govern our reserves and capacity, the Bladder’s role is to regulate what is retained and what is released. As kidney energy runs low, the need for refinement becomes greater—physically, emotionally, and mentally. This is why late winter is traditionally associated with emotional filtration.

This process of filtering and conserving is essential as we approach the seasonal and energetic shift ahead. By supporting the Kidney–Bladder system now—keeping the lower back warm, breathing deeply, and allowing for genuine rest—we build the internal reserves needed to meet the coming cycle with resilience, rather than depletion.

To support your Water element through this "Greater Cold," we focus on the Kidney and Bladder meridians—the energetic rivers that run along your spine and inner legs.

Pushing Waves from the 18 Forms Qigong is especially supportive in late winter. Its slow, wave-like rhythm gently warms the lower back, mobilises the Bladder meridian along the spine, and supports the Kidneys without draining their reserves. Rather than pushing energy outward, it helps regulate and consolidate—exactly what the body needs at the end of the winter cycle.

This newsletter is a glimpse into a blog post currently taking root and the deeper seasonal work we explore in our Women’s Circle.

Late Winter asks us to trust the stillness. I hope to welcome you to a class or our circle soon to help you navigate this transition. Until then, stay warm, move without rush, and protect your inner fire.

With warmth and stillness,

Thyra-Valeska