Many of us do not notice what is happening in Nature at certain times of the year. We are out of touch with the land and all its creatures. Now we should be aware of the lessons of winter.
For some of us, the year is a document made up of twelve pages. We tear each one off as the month passes.
However, we can also acknowledge that the year is circular. The Great Wheel of the Year has no beginning nor ending. Instead it passes through cycles and seasons.
And the circle is also punctuated by astronomical events, as the Earth passes in her orbit around the Sun. For example, there are Equinoxes in March and September.
So it is that in the Southern Hemisphere we are now readying ourselves for the Winter Solstice. At 11.13 South African time, on the morning of 21 June, the Sun will be over the Tropic of Cancer and we will experience the shortest day and longest night of the year. From then on the days will slowly become lighter for longer.
The Lessons of Winter
Each season has its lessons. What do you think are the lessons of winter? How does winter affect us in our day to day lives?
What is happening in Nature during these colder, shorter days?
- Nature never hurries. We are told, There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.
Winter is a necessary part of the great cycle of the year. - Winter is a time of rest. Nature shows the way. After the productivity of summer and the harvest of autumn, the land becomes quiescent. So too should we take time to be less active. We can now slow down. We too do not have to be so productive and busy all the time.
- Now is the time to direct our energy inwards. In nature the roots are building up their reserves. We too go within to recharge our mental, emotional and spiritual supplies.
- Many people struggle during winter, particularly in Gauteng, where it can be dry, dusty and ugly, as well as cold. In other regions in South Africa there is drought or periods of severe rainstorms. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a real thing for some people, even though our winters are mostly milder than those of the Northern Hemisphere.
Perhaps we need to train ourselves to find beauty in the starkness. See how some trees reveal their true selves without leaves. See how the frost on the grass in the morning catches the glint of sunrise, refracting the light, before it melts.
Enjoy the winter flowers, such as the aloes, their bright colours lifting our hearts. At least from Tuesday onwards the days will very gradually become a little longer, even though we have a couple of cold months ahead of us. - Winter is also a time of staying at home and spending more time with one’s family. Now is the time to tell stories from the family history. Some families enjoy games together. Even watching television together promotes a sense of warmth and comfort.
- And just as gardeners use this time for maintenance and for planning their spring planting, so should we use this time of quiet to look ahead. Not only do we look towards longer days, but we also begin to think about new ideas, new projects, new plans to work on during the long nights of winter, so that when spring comes we are ready.
Winter Solstice Night
Now we look forward to the longest night.
Now we get ready to embrace the darkness and quiet.
The trees are bare, the earth asleep,
and the skies are cold and black.
We welcome the night and all that it holds,
as the light of the stars shines down.
Far beneath the frozen surface,
a heartbeat waits,
until the moment is right,
to spring.
For more about seasonal celebrations click here.