Newsletter – January 2025 – Winter

Newsletter – January 2025 – Winter

“The sun shines different ways in winter and summer. We shine different ways in the seasons of our lives” Terri Guillemets

So, I thought would talk about the seasons this month and in particular winter, seeing that at least in the northern hemisphere we are right in the midst of it.

Unfortunately, even though on a scientific and spiritual level, we are connected to nature by default, many of us have become deeply unconscious of how changes in nature affect us. This is particularly apparent with the seasonal changes. Again, this is a vast topic, and we are only picking at the surface within this article.

Each of us as individuals normally feels more connected to one or two seasons than the others, or at the very least, notice they feel better within it. For different people, they can feel really connected in some, whilst completely off in others. Like it takes over their emotional and mind rhythms. All of this is very normal as the season themselves are a rhythm in nature and thus being another aspect of nature yourself, you will be influenced either consciously or subconsciously. Problems arise when we fail to acknowledge these influences on us, and we often try to work against them rather with them. This can create a conflict within us as we are going against our own internal rhythms. Let me give you an example of using myself within my current state of awareness. I am someone that comes alive very much in spring and loves autumn. I never feel quite right in the summer, even though I enjoy aspects of it.

Which brings us onto winter. Personally, through self-awareness work and a bit of trial and error, I know I need to not make any big decisions about the course of my life in winter. They are often  more destructive than beneficial, and I need to use the time to simply be at rest with life, and I will get the required inspiration I need when spring comes around. If I fight against this (and let me tell you I have many times) nothing good comes out of it. I get a build up of mental stress that has no outlet and then leeches into other areas of my life.

Now that is me, and some of you reading this will have completely different rhythms. You might be the opposite and come alive in winter etc. there is no right or wrong answer to any of this. It is more trying to increase your awareness of how the seasons affect us. That being said, let’s look at winter more closely. What is nature trying to tell us here? What are the trees doing? Many are at rest. Having shed their leaves in their autumn, they recuperate, knowing they will use huge amounts of energy in the spring to blossom again. Some animals go underground or into darkness, again resting. Allowing life to go on whilst they move into silence. The list goes on and on.

Now, what do we often do as humans during this time? After the intensive festive period, we often set new goals for the New year and crack on with them as hard as we can until about Feb/March where they fall by the wayside. Now again, the new year is a wonderful time to set goals and evaluate your next year with what you would like it to look like. However, in this time acknowledge what nature is doing outside your window and give yourself the opportunity to occasionally find some rest within yourself, to step away for a time from all your responsibilities and simply be.

For winter is telling you that you are enough in the eyes of God and that will always be so.