In many traditions on our North American continent the North begins with winter.
Today marks the beginning of winter, the solstice, the longest night and the shortest day. There is a story that Grandfather Sun returns home from his journey away from Grandmother Moon. When this day ends the daylight gets gradually longer till daylight peaks on the summer solstice.
The North marks the wisdom time, the place of our ancestors. It is also a time of quiet. We all feel it on some level, right? The cold and snow force us inside; early nights have us quieting sooner. Fireplaces burn brightly, books are read while the forest fragrance of pine and wood smoke lingers in the background. Our dreams stir like the energy held deep in the roots of the dormant plants enticing us to imagine all those beauties we want to tend again. To those of us who garden new seed catalogs arrive giving us time to browse, plot, and plan for spring’s return and our return to planting.
The winter is also a time of mending and storytelling. Stories are the threads that keep one’s history alive.
Meditation: I ask you this day to step outside and take a quiet walk. Where ever you live, whatever the landscape, breathe deeply. Think about an intention for this new season. What time can you set aside for contemplation? What stories can you listen to with new ears? What stories do you need to be retold? What elder could you spend a bit more time with, patiently listening to the same tale but with reverence this time? What can you do to listen to your deeper self with reverence knowing the Divine is within you? Walk with this slow quiet purpose. Believe these intentions are like roots for the coming year. They will gather and tend the minerals, the amazing energy of potentials and growth. When done simply give thanks for the harvests of autumn in your life and gratitude for all that is stirring within this winter season.
I send Love and Blessings to you this Winter Solstice time.
Judith Dreyer, MS, BSN, Writer, Speaker, and Workshop Presenter, Master Gardener.
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