Are your batteries charged?
Newsletter No. 13 - September 9, 2025
A morning walk with my 15 year old dog, Harlow.
First and foremost, I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who reached out after my last newsletter with messages of support, connection, and personal stories. Living in a foreign country, where my ability to communicate and my history within the community are limited, it means so much to know I can still nurture relationships that have profoundly shaped and enriched my journey.
Speaking of my journey, this theme has been especially present for me over the past few weeks—or perhaps even this entire year. As some of you may know, according to the Chinese Zodiac, it’s the Year of the Snake—a time of transformation, shedding the old to make space for the new. Adding to this energy, we recently experienced a full moon eclipse, which invites us to reflect: 'How can I create space to shed, realign, and act from my soul’s truth?'
I’ve been listening closely to my inner voice and following intuitive prompts, two of which I’ve already acted on.
#1: Last week, I began teaching a Tai Chi class in our small town. It’s been years since I practiced regularly, but I feel a deep pull to return to it.
Tai Chi has always been a profound source of healing for me. Years ago, it played a pivotal role in my recovery from a severely broken leg and supported me through my healing journey with autoimmune hepatitis. It helped balance me, calm my nervous system, and strengthen my ability to harness consciousness. Beyond that, it provided a loving community and revealed both my strengths and weaknesses—always teaching, always healing.
Two tai chi students walk away after my first class. I am calling it Orfento Flow (after the river that rushes down below our town of Decontra).
Since beginning my VITA™ training, the Tao Tantric Arts practices have become an integral part of my daily routine. These practices offer powerful tools to cultivate and move energy, providing essential support during the menopause transition.
In Chinese medicine, menopause is known as “Second Spring”—a season of renewal where vital energy, once used for reproduction, is now freed to nourish the body and mind. I’ve chosen to embrace this time as a sacred rite of passage, rather than something to dread.
And I have included some of these practices in my tai chi class. Here are a few practices (and very brief explanations) of practices I use in class and also in my coaching sessions:
For Hot Flashes and Insomnia
During menopause, the energy that typically flows down the Core Channel to the uterus begins to flow upward to the heart. This upward heat can cause kidney yin deficiency, leading to symptoms like hot flashes and insomnia as the kidneys’ deep water resources begin to dry up.
Circulate Energy with the Microcosmic Orbit: This practice helps balance the hot and cold (yin and yang) energies, restoring harmony.
Breathe Between the Kidneys: Moving energy between the kidneys replenishes their yin and yang balance, supporting overall equilibrium.
Sound the Heart Sound “haaa-a-a-a-aw”: This sound calms the fire in the heart, often linked to overdoing and overgiving, bringing a sense of peace and grounding.
For Hormonal Balancing
After menopause, the adrenals take over the hormonal functions of the ovaries. Supporting the adrenals is key to maintaining balance:
Practice the Kidney Breath: This technique helps recharge your internal batteries and nourishes the adrenals, providing much-needed energy and vitality.
A Simple Restorative Practice
If all of this feels like too much, simply take 20 minutes to lie on your back with your knees up, hands gently supporting your kidneys. Breathe with intention and let your mind truly rest—no screens, no podcasts, no distractions. Remember, where your mind goes, Qi flows.
#2: I enrolled in a three year Somatic Experiencing® Practitioner professional training program.
I’ll be explaining more about this next move in my next newsletter.
Until then, I invite you to reflect: What are you ready to shed? And what are you ready to embrace? And, if you are interested in receiving a free guided audio practice of the kidney breath, please reply to this newsletter and I send it along!
