Wintering
This time of year–as we inexorably move closer and closer toward the solstice, toward the darkness, I find myself in the depths of introspection, longing for solitude. Although my thoughts are robust, and my journaling active–my desire to share my musings are practically nonexistent. The juxtaposition is as stark as these dark tides.
I’ve sat the past few weeks, desirous of sharing with my community here, stunted by my bleak awareness of how introverted and reserved I feel… I still have classes to teach, students to work with, clients to support. I still have parenting duties, animal companions to care for, and myriad daily tasks to complete. In a perfect world, this time of year I would: nest. I would rest, read, paint, cook, and bake. I would walk the woods in the mornings, rain or shine, bathe, and then spend the rest of the day in quiet–nay, silent–domestic bliss.
As I sit here now, gently chiding myself for having not written here sooner, I decided the most authentic thing I could possibly share with y’all is permission to do less, and reserve, more.
‘Tis the season.
WINTERING is the intentional act of “rest and retreat in difficult times”. (Katherine May has a book with that very title, that I recommend if you need a bit of extra inspiration, or permission, to turn inward, repair, and focus on embracing the season. Or if you simply like reading stories of other people’s adventures.)
Personally, I am going to grant myself permission to log-off for a little bit to do some soul-tending. I’m not in the holiday spirit, yet, and that’s alright. When the solstice arrives, I will be… I’ll feel that innate inner “click” of alignment, and the compelling urge to sing in the sun, and hail the returning light. I’ll spend those next roughly two weeks nostalgic and hopeful and weepy eyed. Then I’ll begin leaning into the burgeoning spring-stirrings that begin in February, and set my intentions for the New Year, then. Slowly. Organically. Regardless of what society (or the Gregorian calendar) tries to convince me of. All in due time. For, all is calm. All is bright.
