The Sanskrit term for “season” is ritu, an echo of the timeless nature of seasonal rituals. Harmonizing with the earth’s cycles is not only beneficial for your well-being but also makes life more meaningful. Here are several ways you can brew warmth and inspiration during the winter for your body, mind and spirit.

Seasonal Winter Spice Blend

A dried seasonal spice blend makes whipping up soups, dressings and curries a breeze. Make a balancing winter blend by combining ground spices: 2 Tbsp coriander, 1 Tbsp cumin, 1 Tbsp turmeric, 2 tsp ginger, 2 tsp mustard seed, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 tsp black pepper. For extra spice, add 1/4-1/2 tsp chili powder.

Stovetop Potpourri

Add healing moisture to the air: in 6 cups of water, add 1 sliced apple, 1 orange peel, 6 cloves, 1 star anise and a pinch of nutmeg and cinnamon. Bring to a boil, then simmer uncovered for about 20 minutes or until the space is fragrant. Optional: add a hint of vanilla, rosemary, sage, lavender or rose to further delight your senses.

Winter Bath Recipe

This is the season to indulge in warm or hot baths, and you can make them even more enchanting with herbs and spices. Try a blend of cinnamon and rose for sweetness and nurturing, eucalyptus and basil for uplifting energy, or thyme and lavender for calming and cleansing. A fresh bath tea is a pleasurable ritual: steep fresh herbs and spices in hot water for 10–20 minutes, then strain into your bath water. If you’re short on time, a few drops of essential oil will do the trick. Tip: to protect your skin’s moisture and deepen the ritual, try an oil massage before your soak.

Warm Oil Massage

Ayurveda, a holistic system of medicine, recommends dry brushing and oil massage as part of a daily morning ritual, and there’s no better time to indulge than the cold season. Opt for warming oils in winter: sesame, almond, olive, jojoba and avocado are all considered “warming” in nature and can be used in their pure forms or in oil blends. Gently warm your oil on the stove before application for the most soothing sensation.

Spiced Immunity Tea

Kadha is traditional medicinal tea using similar ingredients as chai and golden milk. It’s easy to prepare, tastes divine and supports your immunity through the harsh colder seasons. To prepare: blend 1/2 tsp each of cinnamon, black pepper, cardamom, dried ginger, a pinch of cloves and a bay leaf. Boil in 2 cups of water for 10 minutes, then strain, cool and sip.

Warming Soups

The literal caldron in your kitchen is a portal of potential energy and a perfect opportunity to use your winter spice blend. Soups and stews are the optimal winter meal for filling you with much-needed warmth and moisture. Root vegetables like sweet potato, carrot, beet and parsnip are nourishing. Gourds, pumpkin and squash also build hearty winter soup bases. Recipe ideas: roasted parsnip soup with meyer lemon pickle or butternut squash with toasted almond & nutmeg cream.

Fire Rituals

There’s no need for anything fancy when performing a fire ritual. Whether you light a candle and gaze into its flame or stare into the blaze of your hearth, all you need is fire. According to Ayurveda, the eyes are the sense organ associated with the fire element — light, perception, and vision. Fire gazing is an ancient meditation technique, particularly soothing during winter’s darker days. If you feel called, warm your hands and place them over your eyes as you chant words of wisdom.

Words of Wisdom

The practice of mantra is one of the yogi’s best tools. Your own voice is powerful and words are the ingredients, while your body is the vessel for their vibration.

Chant the bij mantra RAM for the solar plexus chakra, Gayatri Mantra, or a personalized mantra to celebrate movement: “Life force flows radiantly through me.”

Gayatri Mantra:

Om Bhur Bhuvah Swaha / Tat Savitur Varenyam / Bhargo Devasya Dheemahi / Dhiyo Yo Nah Prachodayat

Sun Ceremony

Witnessing the sunrise and sunset is balancing to our spirits. Greeting the dawn with presence and a Gayatri Mantra is a perfect recipe for a beautiful day to follow. Bidding goodnight to the sun and pausing as the afternoon transitions to evening is equally potent for harnessing the sun’s magic, especially with a cup of hot kadha.

Following the guidance of Ayurveda and yoga is the path of brewing a beautiful life. Wellness comes naturally when you follow your intuition, surrender to the elements and revel in the season.

Jamila Colozzi

Yoga Teacher, Ayurvedic Counselor, Author + Modern Mystic

jamilacat.com | @jamilacat