Advent & the season of Winter

I consider, the spiritual time of Advent corresponds well to the season of winter.

… Winter is the perfect time for stillness. We have time to deepen into the season with our questions, our dreams and visions, and take time for our small hibernations.

Winter is like the womb of the year – It is a space that holds all potential, as well as great mystery. The dark has its purpose…it is the rich nourishing earth where the roots grow. The seeds are sheltered here before they sprout.

Winter is the most “feminine” time of year, with its ability to transform and heal in the depths, beneath our conscious awareness… Winter invites us to rest our mind and body and cultivate our imagination with some quiet time. We need to remember that rest is regenerative and essential to the success of everything else we do! Rest is not “doing nothing!” Rest is when our bodies build and cleanse. It’s when our brain puts things together in new and innovative ways, sorting and sifting our experiences for meaning and connection.  Restful or non-focused times are when we are most likely to have those “aha” moments that can change everything!

So, winter gives some time to let things loosen, to dream your dreams, to be nourished and comforted.  We gain strength, wisdom and perspective when we allow ourselves to deepen into these dark places.

Sourced from Barbara Hannelore in https://www.motheringarts.com/winter-blessings/   

Contributed by Sister Nancy Wales, csj

IMAGE: Winter, by Karen Davis