Part 1 of the "Solid Ground" Series: Ancient Wisdom for Modern Uncertainty
Dedicated to Jeanne Kargel, my dear friend and fellow aromatherapist in Minnesota, whose light continues to shine even in uncertain times.
There are moments in history when belonging feels both more precious and more fragile than ever. When the news fills with stories of raids, violence, and division, our nervous systems scan constantly for signs of safety: Who can I trust? Where do I belong? Am I welcome here?
If you're reading this while your body feels on high alert, while sleep comes fitfully and your heart races at unexpected sounds, you're experiencing what trauma therapists call "hypervigilance" – your nervous system's attempt to keep you safe in what it perceives as dangerous times.
I understand this feeling intimately. As current events unfold, I find myself transported back to December 1989, when my family in Romania lived through their own revolution. Though I wasn't there physically, the fear for loved ones, the uncertainty about their safety, the helplessness of watching violence unfold from afar – these feelings have a way of living in our bodies, ready to resurface when similar energies arise.
What I've learned through both personal experience and years of working with trauma survivors is this: belonging is not emotional luxury – it is nervous system medicine.
The Water Element Wisdom of Belonging
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, winter is governed by the Water Element, associated with the Kidney and Bladder meridians. This element teaches us profound truths about survival, belonging, and the conservation of our deepest resources.
According to Angela Sidlo, whose AcuAroma therapy protocols have guided many toward healing, belonging operates on five essential levels that directly support our Water Element:
- Welcomed → Safety to exist without threat
- Known → Being seen without judgment
- Included → Having a place without proving worth
- Supported → Not having to survive alone
- Connected → Being part of something greater
When these needs are met, our Kidney energy (which stores our fundamental life force) remains strong. When they're threatened – as they are during times of social upheaval – our deepest reserves become depleted, leaving us exhausted, fearful, and disconnected.
The beautiful truth is that we can restore this sense of belonging from within, using specific acupressure points that speak directly to our Water Element's need for safety, connection, and grounding.
Your Belonging Protocol: 5 Points for Uncertain Times
This protocol, adapted from Angela Sidlo's January 2026 AcuAroma Learning Circle, works with your body's innate wisdom to restore the felt sense of belonging, even when external circumstances feel chaotic.
Point 1: Kidney 1 "Bubbling Spring" - I Am Welcomed
Location: Kidney 1 is located on the bottom of both feet, under the ball of the foot in the center.
Essential Oil: Black Spruce (Picea mariana) (5% dilution)
Healing Focus: Grounding and ancestral connection
Technique: Sit quietly and apply the diluted oil to both feet. Hold gentle pressure while breathing deeply, imagining roots growing from your feet deep into the earth, connecting you to the strength of all who came before you.
Affirmation: "I am welcomed by the earth beneath my feet. I belong here."
Why This Works: In TCM, Kidney 1 connects us to our ancestral wisdom and the earth's grounding energy. When we feel unwelcome in the world, this point reminds our nervous system that we have always belonged to something greater than current circumstances.
Point 2: Kidney 6 "Shining Sea" - I Am Known
Location: Inner ankle, one inch below the ankle bone, in the cleft between two ligaments
Essential Oil: Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) (4% dilution)
Healing Focus: Opening perspective and emotional flow
Technique: Apply oil and hold gentle pressure while reflecting on the people who truly see and understand you – even if they're far away or no longer physically present.
Affirmation: "I am known and understood. My truth matters."
Why This Works: This point opens emotional flow and helps us feel seen without judgment. When fear makes us want to hide, Kidney 6 reminds us that being known is safe and healing.
Point 3: Urinary Bladder 23 "Kidney's Hollow" - I Am Included
Location: Lower back, about 1.5 inches on either side of the spine, level with the second lumbar vertebra
Essential Oil: Black Spruce (Picea mariana) (5% dilution)
Healing Focus: Core vitality and self-trust
Technique: Have someone apply oil and gentle pressure to these points or use a tennis ball against a wall. Focus on the feeling of being supported from behind.
Affirmation: "I have a place in this world. I don't need to prove my worth to belong."
Why This Works: These "alarm points" for the kidneys strengthen our core sense of security and belonging. They remind us that inclusion is our birthright, not something we must earn.
Personal Note: I've found that a special blend of Black Spruce (Picea mariana) and Pinus sylvestris (Scots Pine), diluted in carrier oil like Jojoba and applied to these points in the morning, provides excellent adrenal support throughout the day without the jittery effects of caffeine. This combination, inspired by Kurt Schnaubelt's work in Advanced Aromatherapy: The Science of Essential Oil Therapy, has become an essential part of my daily energy management routine with consistently excellent results!
Point 4: Governing Vessel 4 "Gate of Life" - I Am Supported
Location: Lower back, on the spine between the second and third lumbar vertebrae
Essential Oil: Silver Fir (Abies alba) (5% dilution)
Healing Focus: Keeping inner flame alive without depletion
Technique: Apply oil and gentle pressure (or have someone help you). Breathe into your lower back, imagining a warm, steady flame that cannot be extinguished by external storms.
Affirmation: "I am supported by forces seen and unseen. I don't have to do this alone."
Why This Works: This point nourishes our deepest life force without depleting our reserves. It helps us receive support rather than constantly giving from an empty well.
Point 5: Urinary Bladder 40 "Middle of the Crook" - I Am Connected
Location: Behind the knees, in the hollow at the center of the knee crease
Essential Oil: Juniper Berry (Juniperus communis) (4% dilution)
Healing Focus: Clearing stagnation and restoring movement
Technique: Sit comfortably and apply oil to both points. Hold gentle pressure while visualizing energy flowing freely through your body, connecting you to all of life.
Affirmation: "I am part of the web of life. My healing contributes to the healing of all."
Why This Works: This point clears emotional and energetic stagnation, helping us feel connected to the larger flow of life rather than isolated in our fear.
The Daily Practice: Winter Belonging Ritual
Morning Foundation (10-15 minutes):
- Begin with Kidney 1 (Black Spruce): Ground into your belonging to the earth
- Move to Kidney 6 (Cypress): Open to being truly seen
- Choose either UB 23 (Black Spruce) OR Governing Vessel 4 (Silver Fir) – not both, as they are applied in close proximity and could overstimulate the body
- End with Urinary Bladder 40 (Juniper Berry): Clear stagnation and restore flow
Evening Integration (3-5 minutes): Keep it simple and truly restorative:
- Kidney 1 with Vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides) (10% dilution): This combination has been transformative for my evening routine, helping me relax and fall asleep faster. When I do wake at night, I find myself falling back to sleep much more easily than before. However, my husband prefers Black Spruce (Picea mariana) on Kidney 1 for his evening sleep support – each person's nervous system responds differently.
Weekly Deep Practice:
- Use all available points in your morning sequence (alternating between UB 23 and GV 4 on different days), spending 1-3 minutes with each
- Journal about where you feel most and least supported in your life
- Reach out to one person who makes you feel truly known and welcomed
When Memories Surface: Honoring Your History
Sometimes current events activate old memories – of revolutions witnessed from afar, of family members in danger, of times when belonging felt threatened. This is your nervous system's way of trying to protect you based on past experience.
If you find yourself reliving difficult memories while doing this practice:
- Acknowledge the wisdom of your nervous system: "Thank you for trying to keep me safe"
- Use Kidney 1 with extra time: Ground into present-moment safety
- Add Heart 7 "Spirit Gate" with Rose (Rosa damascena) (10% dilution) to calm trauma responses
- Remember: Past survival is proof of your resilience, not prediction of future danger
Creating Ripples of Belonging
Your individual healing becomes medicine for your community. As you restore your own sense of belonging through these practices, you naturally become a source of welcome, inclusion, and support for others.
Consider:
- Teaching these points to family members who seem anxious
- Creating "grounding circles" in your community
- Offering these techniques to neighbors who might be feeling isolated or afraid
- Using this protocol before engaging in community support or activism work
A Message for Uncertain Times
To my dear friend Jeanne in Minnesota, and to everyone reading this who feels the weight of collective fear: your sensitivity to injustice and your concern for others' safety is not weakness – it's evidence of your deep capacity for belonging and connection.
The Water Element teaches us that like water itself, we can flow around obstacles while maintaining our essential nature. We can be gentle enough to offer comfort and strong enough to stand for justice. We can belong to ourselves and our values even when the world feels chaotic.
In TCM wisdom, belonging is not just emotional comfort – it is Kidney medicine. When we feel truly welcomed, known, included, supported, and connected, our deepest life force is preserved and strengthened. From this foundation, we can offer genuine support to others without depleting ourselves.
Looking Ahead in This Series
This is the first post in our "Solid Ground" series. In our next post, we'll explore Part 2: "From Fear to Courage" – discovering acupressure points for transforming anxiety into empowered action.
Remember: You don't have to carry the world's pain alone. You can be informed and engaged while maintaining your inner sanctuary. You can care deeply while also caring for yourself.
The points and oils are tools, but your intention and presence are the real medicine. Trust your body's wisdom, honor your feelings, and know that even in uncertain times, you have access to an unshakeable foundation of belonging within you.
May you find your tribe, trust your place in it, and remember that your healing is medicine for the world.
Ready to deepen your belonging practice? Book a consultation to create your personalized protocol for navigating uncertain times with grace and groundedness.
Important Disclaimer
The information provided in this blog post is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease or medical condition. The acupressure techniques and essential oil recommendations shared here are based on Traditional Chinese Medicine principles and personal experience, and should not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Always consult with a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new wellness practice, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, have a medical condition, or are taking medications. Essential oils are potent substances and should always be properly diluted before use. Perform a patch test before applying any new essential oil to ensure you do not have an allergic reaction.
If you are experiencing severe anxiety, depression, trauma responses, or thoughts of self-harm, please seek immediate professional help from a licensed mental health provider or contact a crisis helpline.
The author and publisher of this content are not responsible for any adverse reactions, effects, or consequences resulting from the use of any suggestions, preparations, or procedures described in this blog post. Individual results may vary.
By reading and implementing any techniques from this post, you acknowledge that you do so at your own risk and agree to hold harmless the author and any associated parties from any claims, damages, or losses that may arise.