As December dawns and the frosty mornings sprinkle stars on the hard ground, there's a joy in closing the curtains and curling up.
A beautiful seasonal slowing down, a time for painting, reading, and dreaming.
Wintering
I bought myself a book, 'Wintering' by Katherine May
“I recognized winter.,,.
“I recognized winter. I saw it coming (a mile off, since you ask), and I looked it in the eye. I greeted it and let it in. I had some tricks up my sleeve, you see. I've learned them the hard way. When I started feeling the drag of winter, I began to treat myself like a favored child: with kindness and love. I assumed my needs were reasonable and that my feelings were signals of something important. I kept myself well-fed and made sure I was getting enough sleep. I took myself for walks in the fresh air and spent time doing things that soothed me. I asked myself: What is this winter all about? I asked myself: What change is coming?” ― Katherine May, Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times
Hard Frosts
So beautiful, visually, a feast for the eyes. So harsh on nature, forcing the last leaves to fall, and growth to stall. The animal instinct in us knows to retreat. It's in our DNA and our grandmother's wisdom. But just as in autumn we know winter is coming, in winter we know spring is coming.
Dark Nights
Embracing the sometimes scary darkness of winter.
Turning off the noise, creating space for the dark.
Accepting the slowing down and welcoming the wisdom of winter.
Full Moons
The moons this winter seem to have been bigger, more illuminating, enchanting, expanding. Clear seeing, knowing that the work and the gathering done in the summer months will nourish and sustain until the spring.
Coming home .... and Fat Badgers
On my way home, a rare glimpse of a fluffed-up fat badger as he snuffled along the lane.
He makes me smile.