Winter Newsletter 2026

Dear friend,

The year is coming to a close as we reach the winter solstice. Darkness descends with short days and long nights. Snow is forecast for tomorrow. Winter is here, the longest season in New England.

This is the time of year when the silhouettes of the trees stand out against the gray sky. We see the bare bones of the trees, their essence not softened by leaves, but strong in their nakedness. Nature is quiet now, cold, resting and dormant after the growing season.

In Chinese medicine this is the time of the Water Element. The Water Element relates to the kidney and the bladder. These organs regulate the fluids in our bodies and contain our reserves of energy. Winter is the time to rest and replenish our kidney energy for the spring to come.  

In winter we need to adjust our diet once again. The weather is colder so a diet that produces more heat is necessary. Eat warm foods, such as hearty stews and soups. Roasted dandelion root tea is a good tonic for the kidneys in the winter. Give into your urge and take a nap. Go to bed early. These activities will help revitalize us and prepare us for spring's renewal.

This is the time of year to slow down and reflect on our lives. What is our essence? How do we revitalize ourselves? What do we need to do so that we can bring light into the world when spring returns? Winter and the dark give us this opportunity to ponder these larger questions.

Come in for an acupuncture tuneup to enhance your vitality this winter.

With love,

Margaret

In January I will be offering healing sound sessions called Biofield Tuning

Biofield Tuning is a sound therapy that uses tuning forks to scan the body's energy field—also known as the biofield—to detect areas of tension, stress, or imbalance. When a tuning fork is activated and moved through the biofield, the sound and vibration help to identify disruptions and gently shift the energy, encouraging the body to relax, release stored emotions, and return to a more balanced state. This process supports the body’s natural healing ability and promotes overall well-being. Biofield tuning is like sonic acupuncture. It balances and aligns ones energy using sound rather than needles.

The darkest, longest night.
Earth sleeps.
Life waits.
A hush of fear,
Anticipation,
Wonder, hope,
That the light will return
And save us from darkness
And death.
That the light will return
And bring life
And renewal.
That the light will return
And that we,
Who live here
Will once again
Be blessed
By the turning of the season
By the Winter Solstice
By the great day that dawns
And the light that fills the world.

Mary de La Valette
Winter Solstice ’96

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