In the sanctuary of the dark and the quiet, as winter holds space for us to slow down, we can feel ourselves more rooted to the earth, and more connected with the eternal cycle of growth, death and rebirth, says Emma Johnson
Darkness descends, the world outside is quiet, winds blow,snow falls, the trees are sleeping, surrendering themselves to the season,their sap turned downwards into the earth, shoring up their strength untilspring. Gratefully they have shed the weight of their leaves, their branchesfree from distractions, a welcome rest in bitter snap of winter, safe in theknowledge that under the earth, all around them, the work of life is beingdone.
“Although it appears that the natural world is dormantbeneath our feet, as within us in the darkness, miracles are unfolding,” saysIsla Macleod, in her book Rituals for Life. “Within the seeds there is astirring, an emergence of life that takes place within the dark, when unseencreative forces are at play. From the fertile nothingness, the first sparks oflife emerge.”
We associate winter with death, but really it is a time ofdeep connection to what it means to be alive. As we witness nature giving inwith grace and softness to the bite of winter, our own need to surrender tothis slow season is reflected back at us. If we can be present to theinevitability of death and loss that we see in nature, we can begin tounderstand the way that these cycles show up in our own life.
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’tpretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives thatthey lived in the summer,” explains Katherine May in her book Wintering: ThePower of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times. “They prepare. They adapt.They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter isa time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources… vanishingfrom sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the deathof the life cycle, but its crucible.”
Winter literally holds space for us to witness the beauty ofthe cycle of life and to understand that it is a biological imperative toexperience this yearly winter in our minds, bodies and souls. In ourrelentlessly busy world, we try to avoid winter, we shy away from it, fearfulof how it leaves us barren and bare. And yet, nature not only sends winter but,by the very nature of winter, sends the space around it for us to retreat andheal. “An occasional sharp wintering would do us good,” says May. “We mustlearn to invite the winter in. We may never choose to winter, but we can choosehow.”
For humans, winter is a time to slow down and prepare, toshed what we don’t need and to rest. If we take our cues from what’s happeningoutside, we can reflect that on the inside. Acknowledge the darkness byresisting artificial light when you can, use candlelight and firelight toilluminate cosy spaces, allow yourself time to notice the growing darkness asthe sun sets.
Consider this a time of retreat, get the thicker, cosierblankets out of the cupboards, put together a reading list of books that willnurture you this season, and reduce your screen time by reading in bed in theevenings. The energy required to do things in the dark takes more from you, so,quite simply, do less. Set stronger boundaries for social engagements orcommitments than you normally would. If it helps, you can even set a limit ofthings to attend to each week, and focus on those events during the day.Acknowledge the things that drain you, and the things that fill up your tankand consciously ensure the balance is tipped the right way.
“I recognised winter. I saw it coming… I greeted it and letit in,” says May. “When I started feeling the drag of winter, I began to treatmyself like a favoured child: with kindness and love. I assumed my needs werereasonable and that my feelings were signals of something important. I keptmyself well fed and made sure I was getting enough sleep. I took myself forwalks in the fresh air and spent time doing things that soothed me.”
Regulate your nervous system by using your hands to createthings – it’s no coincidence that we find ourselves knitting and crocheting inwinter, not only do we need cosy jumpers and thick blankets, but repetitivecrafts such as these can calm a fractured nervous system and allow you to tunein to your inner world more easily. “As you make, you are connecting with thewinter energies of transformation, creating and reforming something,” sayMacleod.
The benefits of things like this also allow you to bathe inthe beauty of silence, something we as humans often shy away from because inthat simpler space our thoughts and desire are almost too loud. But if we canattune ourselves to listening in the quietness, there is so much we can learn.
Norwegian explorer Erling Kragge, who spent 50 days walkingsolo through Antarctica with a broken radio, knows a thing or two about whattruth we can find in the quietness. In his beautiful book Silence In The Age ofNoise he says that silence is both a gift and a joy, and a true chance fordeeper self-awareness.
“Silence can be afriend. A comfort and a source of deeper riches…shutting out the world is notabout turning your back on your surroundings, but rather the opposite, it isseeing the world a bit more clearly, staying the course and trying to love yourlife.”
In this time of discovery and dreaming, journalling (try ourguided January journalling series), meditation and even shamanic soul journeys(read more about that in this issue) can help to connect you with what you wantfrom your life, and what things in your life need to be transformed. As natureshifts into a slower gear, welcome the time to be spent in solitude and soulfuldiscovery.
From a lunar perceptive, this is also a vital time toconnect to what moves your soul. The new moon in Capricorn occurs between theend of December and mid-January and is fused with an energetic shift that pullsus towards setting our intentions and leaning into our heart’s desire. “Nature,with her perfect timing, gives us this grounded, earthy new moon...it acts likea fertile soil in which to plant the seeds and set out intentions for the yearahead,” says Kirsty Gallagher in Lunar Living. “Pay attention to what you’rebeing pulled towards and what stirs your soul, as this will help create thetheme of the year for you.”
Winter really is such a deep and potent time. Even theweather conspires to remind us to rest, stop and surrender. “I love theinconvenience (of snow),” says May. “The irresistible disruption to mundanelife, forcing you to stop for a while and step outside your normal habits.Heading out in a snowstorm to catch the flakes on my gloves, I love the feelingof it fresh underfoot. I am rarely childlike and playful except in snow. Itswings me into reverse gear.”
We need to learn to say yes to the winter, to be held in itsdark, quiet grip, to curl up, and turn away from the cold, to be warm, soft andslow, to dream, discover and connect with ourselves. “Welcome to theopportunity to meet yourself in your fullness, bare like the trees, withnowhere to hide,” says Macleod “Opening your ears to listen to the silence andsurrendering to the fertile darkness will ensure you emerge in spring renewedand inspired ready for rebirth.”
If we go into winter with the intention of sinking into allit has to offer and all it asks of us, we will be better able to learn andgather all we need to from it.
ENDS