Living with the seasons - Part 1

Today is Winter Solstice; the shortest day and the longest night. It is also called Yule and is celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere in December, hence why the word Yule is often associated with Christmas. It is a time where we give thanks for all that we have received and will receive in the coming year. It is a time for reflection and evaluation of the lessons we have learned, both good and bad, and of what we want to achieve for the next year and also what we want to let go of because it no longer serves us. It got me thinking about the seasons and cycles that come around every year and how they mirror the way we should be living our lives in connection with nature. I thought I would start a four-part series that will help you navigate the seasons as they come upon us.

Firstly some background, Our four seasons have an element and a humour attached to them. An element is either air, water, earth or fire (some people believe in a fifth element - ether) and each element is defined by a humour and its qualities. We are not going to get into humours in this post but rather their qualities in relation to the seasons. So, the elements are attached to the seasons and each element has a quality or humour as follows:

• Spring - Air - wet to hot

• Summer - Fire - hot to dry

• Autumn - Earth - dry to cold

• Winter - Water - cold to wet

Currently we are in winter which is associated with the element of water. In most places around the world, winter is often associated with rain and/or snow and things are usually quite wet and cold. So, what does this represent for us? For me, I feel that this represents for us a washing away, a cleansing, if you will, of the things that didn't work out for us or the things that no longer serve us. Winter is traditionally a time for hibernation. In times of old, harvest would have been brought in, fields were laying bare and it would be a time where people stayed mostly indoors, maybe mending tools, etc, preparing for the spring. Winter should be the time when we rest, replenishing our energy for the resurgence of spring where, being attached to the element of air, new ideas, new growth, and new ways of living start to develop. We need the winter to plant the seeds that will become part of the energy of spring.

When I look at the Tarot, I see that winter is connected to the suit of Cups (water) which is mostly about our emotional wellbeing. This is why it is good to reflect in winter on how have the choices we've made in the last year helped us to develop and move forward in our journey? How has it helped us to rewrite our story?

Like the ground after harvest our Spirit should lie fallow in winter. I call it the art of productive unproductiveness. It is where we let our Spirit/Soul lie inactive, in rest, so that new energy can form to provide us with a fertile ground come spring that is bursting with new ideas and new concepts. It is how we plant the seeds.

There can never be imbalance in our life. We will always be made to balance our lives so that rest and inactivity become just as important as movement and productivity. This is the way of life. This is how our journey goes. When we change our story, we need to stop and live in or assimilate the new story for a while to see if it fits.

Unlike the books we read our stories will never be finished. We should always be editing and rewriting them to make them fit better with who we are becoming. When our story doesn't change we become stale and stagnant. We start to wonder why things don't work out for us and it is usually because we are using an old story for a new concept or way of living. Change is constant. Welcome it with open arms. It will be your constant companion throughout this life.

Enjoy this time and connect with the cycles of nature. We are all a part of nature and its cycles, even though we have been told our whole lives that we are in control of nature. If you research any indigenous culture you will see a theme running through them that shows we are caretakers only, of the natural world, not masters. It is time us to remember this and take our place amongst our fellow caretakers.

So, how do you implement a slower lifestyle when you have a family to feed and a mortgage to pay? Here are some suggestions:

• Don't make major plans during winter. I know that sometimes life thrusts us into a situation that we need to deal with that doesn't pay heed to the seasons. Do what you have to do obviously, but for the most part try not to make any major plans for winter;

• In line with the theme of hibernation, organise dinners in, with family and friends, rather than going out to party. Think movies nights snuggled under cosy blankets with a bowl of popcorn or hearty meals eaten around a candlelit table are good ways to get that hibernation feel;

• Get out into nature. Observe the changes that have come about because of the cold weather. Be a tree. Trees in winter send all their nutrients down into their root system where it provides the tree with nourishment during the colder months, so even though the tree may look pretty dismal on the surface it is brimming with life and energy underneath. I personally think the deciduous trees have a stark beauty when they drop all their leaves. Be a tree. Simplify your self-care routine. Do you really need to shave your legs when no one can see them? Conserve your energy. Practice being, not doing.

• Journal - not again I can hear you all say! Sorry but journaling is one of the most healing ways to process what's going on with you, so I'm going to keep suggesting it. In winter I want you to ask the question "What do I need to reflect upon today?" before drawing a tarot card or oracle card or sitting in silence, waiting to hear the answer. This is what winter is all about, reflection. You just might be surprised by what comes up for you.

• Dream. Allow yourself to dream of all the things you want to do in the coming months. Roll those dreams and ideas around in your head to see which ones really resonate with you. Plant the seeds so that come spring you're ready to get going.

• Take the opportunity to spend time with the people you love. It's possible that someone along the way has been neglected because of the busyness of the other seasons. Now is the time to reconnect and show your appreciation for that person and what they bring to your life.

• Release any guilt about moving at a slower pace during winter. This is what your body is craving; down time.

• Lastly, don't forget to have fun. Some people think that reflection and introspection can be pretty serious but truthfully we do our best work when we are light-hearted and having fun.

Winter is upon us. Take a deep breath. Feel the cleansing rain upon your face, clearing away what no longer serves you. Rest, reflect. Stop doing, just be, because before you know it, it will be time to move again.

Until next time...

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