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Wintery Grief




It is a cold January morning in northern Minnesota. The pine and evergreen trees have that gorgeous color combination of deep green needles coated with bright white snow-capped tips, and not a branch is moving. The color of the sky is cold with a pinkish hue that only January can provide. We are in the midst of wintering. The calm, still air reminds me of the energies of this time of the year: quiet, dark, cold.


Grief can feel very wintery. At a time when we are meant to hunker down in the quiet, dark, cold months to restore our systems, renew our energy supply, and prepare for the upcoming cycles and seasons of warmth and outward expression, our modern culture has us hustling at our usual frenzied pace. As a consequence, we miss the opportunity to really integrate our experiences, glean valuable insights and wisdom from the past growth cycle, and rest our mind, bodies and spirits. 


When we learn to embrace the wintery season of grief (i.e. “befriend” it), we are shifting our lives in a very important way. In a world that would seemingly rather skip what I would consider perhaps the most important part of life, we deepen our understanding of the world and our place in it. 


Grief cycles are so incredibly important - this is a time to go inward, to reflect, to pause. To the outside world, it can appear as though nothing much is happening. But under the silent surface, fertile ground is being created for something fresh, new, and very much alive. 

The human experience inherently includes loss of all kinds. The only consistent thing in our lives is change and transition. 


Just as surely these harsh winter mornings will eventually give way to longer, warmer days .. the seasons of our lives are constantly shifting and changing, requiring us to let go and let be. And to grieve fully those losses that affect us deeply. 


So instead of rushing to get my business up and running as soon as possible this year (a consistent temptation that I have to battle within myself!), I remain committed to a slow and steady approach for the next several weeks … allowing continued nourishment for my body, mind, and spirit that will fuel me for the growing season that is on the horizon. 


If you find it hard to create this space in your life right now, find slow and steady moments within your days. In this way, you are creating opportunities for grief to whisper softly to you … guiding the way toward inevitable transformation. 


With love, 

Andrea


PS slow .. breaths and long .. deep .. stretches .. ‘tis the season.

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