Wind Stirs Up Fear

A windy day can strongly affect our emotions and state of mind.

According to the ancient healing science of Ayurveda, wind causes restlessness and stirs up mental/emotional unease.

People who are prone to fear or anxiety are influenced by the sound or movement of wind. On windy days some people feel increasingly anxiety-ridden. Fear and uncertainty tend to arise.

If you are affected by windy days, consider these calming guidelines:

1) Listen to calm, soothing music

2) Eat warm, well-cooked, and moist foods. Soup is excellent. Avoid cold, raw food or drink.

3) Drink warming tea. Consider tea with ginger, cinnamon, cardamom, fennel, licorice, or nutmeg. Avoid caffeine.

4) Keep warm. Especially keep your head, neck, shoulders, and feet warm.

5) If you go outside, cover your head, ears, and neck with a cap and scarf.

6) Hum. Humming is a healing tone that helps calm the body.

7) It can help to wear something heavy or to wrap yourself in a warm blanket.

8) On a windy day, don’t take any action based on your fear. Wait until a calm day, when you are more grounded, to make important decisions or to take strong actions.

Ayurveda explains that each of us is born with a unique body-mind constitution. Those with more “air” and “ether” in their constitutions are known as “Vata” and are most likely to be affected by windy weather.

I grew up on the windy prairie of Kansas. The sound of wind in the trees, rustling tall grasses, gusts howling around the eaves, and rattling windows brings me a sense of exhilaration and nostalgia. Wind clears out the cobwebs of life. The silence following the wind feels calming and refreshing.

But for many, that same wind is stressful, haunting, and frightful. Stories abound of early pioneers going insane from the incessant winds that barrelled across the prairie when no trees or buildings could dampen their ferocity.

If you are one who is affected by wind, learn about how Ayurveda defines “Vata” constitutions, and the solutions it offers. This amazing healing modality will open doors to a deeper understanding of how and why you respond to life as you do.