Let's keep winter sacred
thoughts on wintering
I've got this niggling feeling. Like an itch in the middle of my back that I can't quite scratch, there's something bothering me. I've got this feeling that wintering has become the latest in a long line of personal development trends. The latest hack that we can tick off our lists and then get back to our very busy and important lives. A bit like self care has become about bubble baths and flowers, or spa days and yoga retreats, when what we should be doing is completely overhauling how we live our lives. Like Hygge has become about cashmere blankets and Jo Malone candles, when the Danes themselves will tell you, it's a whole way of life.
It's interesting even that we talk about wintering, a doing word, when winter itself is about stillness, dormancy, retreat. It's not the word itself that bothers me, it's a question of taking it seriously, giving it the deep attention it deserves. True wintering is not some romantic notion, it's a sacred and ongoing part of living life in natural rhythm. It's not all Sunday afternoon log fires, and black and white movies whilst the snow falls gently outside. It's not a one-time activity that we can squeeze in if only we could be a bit more organised. True wintering is surrendering to the body's call to go still, lay dormant, and allow things to die off. This might be during periods of illness, difficult times, or simply just nature's rhythm. True wintering can be cold and harsh, long and drawn out. It can be about deprivation and survival. When the body calls us in to winter, we must learn to pay attention, to be with it, and stay with it, even when the mind is calling us out.
I'm not saying that wintering is all about non-activity, but it's about activity from a place of flow and connection. The Chinese concept of Wu-Wei describes it as effortless action and this Zen poem describes it beautifully:
Sitting quietly, doing nothing
Spring comes and the grass grows all by itself
Zen quote
To be fair, effortless action is for life not just winter but let's keep on topic! Effortless action in times of wintering is slower and quieter; it's more yin than yang, reflective not creative. And, yes, it may include log fires and hot chocolate, gorgeous books and heart warming films. In fact, 'do' that as much as you can. And if it's snowing outside, get out there and build snowmen. But, please let's keep winter and wintering sacred. Let's also allow ourselves to hide away in the burrow, to trust and give attention to the dark crevices and the cold corners. Let's stay there for as long as it takes, spring will be here in its own sweet time, and the grass will grow all by itself.