We’ve finally had our first snow fall. Earlier this week, whilst my family and I slept, the snow fell and blanketed the land we live on. We awoke to a magickal winter wonderland that excited my almost five year old and prompted us to get out and enjoy the last of the seasonal break before normality came and settled around us once more.
I was transfixed- between the pure, childlike wonder that my son showed at the snow he could make into snowballs and snowmen, and the silent beauty that surrounded us as the snow continued to fall. At that moment, I was nurtured. My inner mother was delighted at watching her son have fun, my inner child was gleeful as I took part in a snowball fight and helped to build a snowman.
For all the things I don’t like about Winter, there is a counterpoint that reminds me of why Winter is important. Winter is a time of rest, of stillness, and nurturing the self. It’s a season we need, it’s a medicine and wisdom that is required. When we allow the magick of the season to wash over us, we find that our energy is restored come the Spring and clarity is gained- even if we didn’t know we were looking for it.
So, in honour of this important magick of Winter, I’m inviting you to take a moment today, and explore some winter self-care practices that are rooted in rest and renewal. Take five minutes, take an hour. Grab a hot drink, take a deep breath, and relax. Winter is a time of hibernation for many animals, and just as they rest, we too, deserve to rest. We may have just started the New Year, but it’s not a time to start something new- not just yet. Cocoon and nurture yourself. There is an importance to slowing down and Winter naturally invites us to do this. So listen to Winter’s wisdom.
Embracing Rest.
Winter is a time of rest, and self-care practices for this season should be focused and honed in on resting. This means truly slowing down and being intentional with your time- paying attention to who you spend your time with, where you spend your time, the conversations you have, and even the conversation you have with your own inner self. It’s also about making time to do restorative practices- such as yoga and meditation, and allowing yourself to be nourished in a gentle manner that restores you ready for the new season of Spring.
If I told you to rest today, would you see yourself as productive? Would you measure your day successfully because you’ve rested? Would you view yourself as nourished- because you have rested? Living seasonally means embracing the energy of the season- and Winter is slowness, restfulness and nourishment. Winter isn’t lazy or idle; yet these are the things you may be told by your inner self if you take an hour off your day. We are not idle, nor lazy, if we create space that allows us to replenish our body, mind and spirit. We are deeply nourishing ourselves, and living in harmony with the season by leaning into the softer, quieter rhythms of Winter. It’s a powerful wisdom of Winter- and one of the hardest lessons to learn.
Restorative Practices for Winter Self-Care.
Restoring yourself and embracing rest doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as making yourself a hot drink and taking the time to drink it and carving out a moment of stillness in your day. It can be a restorative afternoon nap. It can be a 10 minute journaling session by candlelight. Be intentional with how you spend your time, and you’ll begin to restore your energy. Sometimes we need more- so give yourself permission to say no to things that feel unnecessary right now, take a long bath, take a day off work. There are plenty of ways in which you can connect with the energy of Winter to nourish yourself.
Here are 6 ways you can embrace Winter self-care.
- Winter Self-Care for your Mind.
- Journaling prompts for self-reflection (ie “What does rest look like to you- and how can you honour this need during this season?”, “What lessons did the past year bring?” and “What thoughts, habits or patterns are you ready to let go of to make space for growth in the coming months?”)
- Meditation focused on stillness and grounding.
- Reading inspirational books or poetry that resonates with the season.
- Winter Self-Care for your Body.
- Restful rituals like warm baths with herbs (ie chamomile, lavender.)
- Gentle movement practices like yoga or stretching.
- The importance of nourishing meals (ie seasonal soups and stews)
- Winter Self-Care for your Spirit.
- Connecting with nature: mindful walks in winter landscapes. If it’s warm enough, go for a wander- don’t set a destination, just enjoy the journey. See what you notice as you walk. How would you describe the trees, and their branches? What is the colour of the sky? What colours have you noticed? Are there are berries around, or flowers?
- Lighting candles or practising hygge-inspired rituals for cosiness.
- Setting intentions for the coming year during long, quiet evenings.
Tuning Into the Energy of Renewal.
You’ll find that, as we get deeper into Winter and start to approach the early stirrings of Spring (three weeks away from when this blog post goes live), you’ll uncover Winter’s deepest wisdom- that rest leads to renewal. Just as Winter prepares the Earth for Spring, Winter prepares us for the start of the new season, too. If we embrace that energy- the one of rest- renewal will automatically follow come the Spring. One of my favourite things to do during the Winter is to dream- I start to plant the seeds of the next cycle, allowing them to be cocooned and nourished in the darkness, before they begin to grow with the strengthening light. As the first stirrings of Spring arrive (Imbolc, at the beginning of February) have a clear vision of what you want your goals and dreams to be for the next cycle.
As we approach that threshold between Winter and Spring, we take the gentle reminder to maintain our balance; to continue to rest without feeling guilty, to mark our day as productive if we have deeply nourished ourselves with a meditation, a hearty meal, a herbal drink and a long, hot bath. We prioritise self-care during the Winter months by honouring our energy levels that naturally dips and peaks as the moon cycles through her phases, setting boundaries where needed, allowing ourselves to indulge and treat ourselves to comforts and embracing the power of rest.
Remember, Winter is a time of slowing down and restoring yourself. Rest is the best gift you can give yourself, and by aligning with Winter’s natural instinct, you’ll embrace the energies that are deeply restoratitive and find yourself emerging come Spring feeling rejuvenated, balanced and ready to rise with the energies of Spring. You have permission to take the time you need during this Winter season- for stillness, for self-care, for connection, for silence. Take the rest you need, focusing on your meditation practice. Take that long walk through Winter’s landscape.
Share which Winter self-care rituals work well for you, or how you connect with the energy of this season below.