Letting the thaw of our inner rivers bring growth
As the river flows ceaselessly, it adapts to the fluctuations of the terrain with quiet resilience. Obstacles do not deter its journey, they become part of its path. It flows and overflows, nourishing everything it touches, carving valleys, and shaping landscapes with its gentle yet persistent motion.
The river teaches us to move with life’s currents, to embrace change, and to trust the journey, knowing that every twist and turn has a purpose.
As winter’s chapter slowly closes, the earth prepares for the wake of spring. Though many trees remain bare, buds are gradually emerging on their branches.
The Snow Moon passed last week with its beautiful white halo. There is no snow in the city, so perhaps the Hunger Moon feels more appropriate. Magnificent young foxes drift through the dawn streets, searching for scraps of food, forced to survive in an environment not built for them. The cold, crisp air is tinged with the humidity of late winter transitioning into early spring.
Frozen rivers back home are gently thawing, composing the soothing sound of streams resuming their original continuity.
How are we preparing for this change of season, the start of the earth’s year?
There are many practices that help us reconnect with the fluidity of life—something much of the Western world has become disconnected from.
Taoist yoga and martial arts—such as Tai Chi and Qigong—are known for their graceful integration of slow, intentional movements. These practices embody the idea of flow, emphasising harmony with the cycles of nature and life. In Taoism, the concept of Wu Wei, meaning effortless action or flow, encourages us to align with life’s natural rhythms of life.
Yoga, both philosophically and physically, has helped me reconnect with my own flowing nature—teaching me detachment, adaptability, and balance. I’ve learned to flow with life without becoming stuck in the fruits of actions or rigid expectations.
As the word itself describes (yoga meaning ‘to yoke’ or ‘to unite’), the practice has taught me to detach from false identities that tend to separate me from the outside world. It has allowed me to embrace all aspects of life: birth, growth, decay, and renewal. It’s still a process, and I still make mistakes.
A river never clings to a single drop of water. I am learning to embrace the cycles of beginnings and endings. Change is the only constant in our lives, and death the only certainty. I need to trust the journey, like a river that doesn’t question its destination but simply flows.
Flowing like a river 🌊
Here are a few practices I’ve been enjoying this week:
Mindfulness: practicing being present and accepting the moment, just as a river flows only in the now.
Self-Reflection: identifying areas where change is being resisted and finding ways to release control.
Meditation: visualising myself as a river, moving smoothly through life's challenges.
πάντα ῥεῖ
pánta rheî — everything flows
Heraclitus
By living like a river, we can cultivate resilience, adaptability, and peace. Rivers flow naturally, finding balance between calm stretches and turbulent rapids—just as we should balance action and rest.
As the rivers flow, so should we.
Trust that the river will carry you to where you need to be.
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