In the winter's silence, January speaks: try again, begin anew.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
Dear Reader,
A few weeks back, I shared some insights on the three stages of tree dormancy. We have been, and are, in the middle stage, winter rest or deep dormancy. The cellular changes that impact a tree’s metabolism have already taken place. Energy now is inward-focused rather than dispersed. Every action directly maintains inner harmony and protection. Our human instinct urges us to do the same. Like the trees, when our energy is pulled or pushed outwards right now, the entire system is weakened and susceptible to illness. If you have been struggling with acute illness or with exhaustion, take heed.
Over the past weeks, I have intentionally paid more attention to keeping my energy close. In doing this, I gain a deeper awareness of the gentle stirrings of my heart, recognizing when I am in alignment with the season. Along with this, I'm considering the word 'human-scale' and what that means when I set intentions and create projects. I believe it is coming up because we have lost sight of what it might look like and its value to our personal lives. The influence of industry over the past century, in continuing to scale what we are capable of producing, has unfortunately carried over into our way of being. It may be a peculiar term to consider in your day-to-day life, but with some contemplation, I believe you will discover its relevance. Somewhere in the path of modernity, we have lost sight of the fact that we aren't machines but rather highly sensitive beings who've lost our place and pace in the natural world.
Ponderings of seasonal alignment and human-scaled projects found their way into my planning for 2026 even before the year began. It was mid-November when an idea for a Good Medicine series began to take shape. Encouraged and inspired by the local oxymel session I had facilitated that month, I strove to capture the elements that contributed to the alignment-charge experienced.
The cook in me analyzes through the lens of ingredients, lays them out for inspection, considers their roles, and plays with possibilities. I'm a reverse meal planner, shopping for what calls to me and then creating with what's been assembled. That's not unlike the process I used in designing the Good Medicine series. As I considered the November class I had so enjoyed, I began by naming the ingredients, paying special attention to those that carried the most meaning. I repeated the process several times, allowing the words to arise and jotting them down in my journal each time.
Looking back over my journals, I can account for at least six iterations. Sometimes I added phrases that described what each might look like in actual practice.
Words are important, not just for writers, but for all of us. I gave this part of my planning the time it deserved because so many words have lost their meaning from overuse. In recent days, I’ve sensed a settling and cohesiveness, and in the end, five words and their definitions remained.
Small: having comparatively little size
Slow: created or done using sustainable or traditional methods, as opposed to those of mass industry, and intended to be appreciated unhurriedly or used extensively.
Seasonal: of, relating to, or varying in occurrence according to the season
Sacred: regarded with great respect and reverence
Self-Reflective: marked by or engaging in self-reflection
Further journaling led to shaping a program around those words that is now aligned with the season, my heart's desire, and is human-scale. It is intentionally in opposition to best practices. Instead its a model that leads off onto the beaten path. If you are within driving distance of Keene and would like to know more about the spring Good Medicine series, drop me a note, and I'll happily share a flyer.
Now that I've revealed an example of a slow, intentional process, I’d like to return to where we began: the theme of winter and protecting energy. Particularly now, more than ever, this feels important. It is true that the current collective is filled with more cruelty than any one human can digest. I’m not sure that is new, but I do know our interface with it has changed dramatically, particularly in my lifetime.
The challenge arises in that our nervous system and how we receive information have not changed. We simply are not designed to take in information at the rate today’s technology is pushing. We do, however, have a choice in what, how, when, and the quantity we allow in, particularly now in the winter when there is an instinctive desire to protect our energy. What I am suggesting is that you become more consciously aware of matching your intake with your state of resilience. You are not wrong to do so; you are in alignment.
A born experimenter, I’ve tried on a number of different methods for consuming and not consuming news these past months. While I can’t offer a perfect recipe yet, I have noted this. The more resourced and resilient I am, like the trees, the more I can monitor my consumption, make good and sound choices, and maintain a regulated nervous system. The more exhausted and worn down I am, the more subject I am to doomscrolling.
Curious about whether my memory of how news was delivered in my childhood matched reality, I did some quick research. I discovered that, prior to dedicated news stations and Google newsfeeds (a few of you have direct experience of this time), the evening news was delivered at 630 PM ET for 30 minutes. That was it. On CBS from 1961 to 1981, it was Walter Cronkite; his pace and tone aimed for connection and reassurance rather than stimulation and dysregulation. No doubt this could be the subject of a complete dissertation, which is not my intention. Rather, I wish to stimulate your creative mind to experiment with choosing a human-scaled solution for yourself, rather than being led into a further weakened, less resilient state.
Now is the time to keep your energy close, listen to your heart murmurings, and allow its wishes to gradually unfold. Spring and its buzzy-ness will be here soon enough. By allowing yourself this time of deep dormancy, you will be more prepared and resourced for what lies ahead.
Until next week,
Bring on Aquarius Season!
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Sun Transits 11 to 21 January
