Winter and Stillness

Living in California, I am not subject to the extremes in weather as many of you living east or north experience, but  recently we've had a solid time period of grey and rain. I watched the scene from my window and noted that everything was similar, save for the line value, as there was no light to play contrast or shadow. When you live with sunshine for the major portion of time, this grey

period is interesting because there is a lull and hush that bathes the earth, and everything is drowsy. In grey there is suspension  of activity. The stillness favors quiet, introspection, and time for cocooning. It makes me think of bears.

Bears have the sense to know when to go out into the world, and when to go into their caves to hibernate. They live rhythmically with seasons. We continue to go forward into the world regardless of what our environment and our bodies tell us. And so, we end up with stress related illnesses and injuries born of pushing too hard. In the plant kingdom, disease affects the weak plants. Healthy plants have an immunity to pests and fungus.

In humans where our rate of illness is on the increase, we can see the correlation between the level of stress and its effect on the immune system. We don't know how to stop...to take time to turn off. Our society is geared for a constant frenetic pace, and we buy into it by necessity.

I would like to suggest that it might perhaps be worthwhile to take a weekend for no thing. To color the outside world grey, and to suspend animation for two full days. That would allow us to go into a hypothetical cave where we would be quiet. No phones. No computer. No paperwork or housework. No getting together with others. No project lists. No ironing. Not even preparing food. This would be a two day period of inner reflection. It would require preparation, even farming out the kids to relatives or friends for two full days, but the benefits can be invaluable.

Perhaps the first day could be spent in silence and/or sleep. Walking in the stillness of nature if appropriate, choosing to eat very simply and consciously. Maybe it would be a day of full rest. On the second day, perhaps reflection could be translated into something that captures feelings through journaling, or painting, or playing a musical instrument spontaneously...to compose a "piece" for one's life without judgment or goal. To just allow the inner to "be," and to reflect that if appropriate without effort or strain.

On the evening of the second day we might find that this "break" from the world, this voluntary hibernation, has restored in us a point of light and renewal through moving with the season. And in the grey we may find all the colors with which to once again emerge as appropriate.

Isn't that the gift of winter? The stillness. The seeming lull and quiet. The earth laid bare without color...only line? And in snow country, no growth. No flowers. Because it isn't time. Flowering comes in Spring. And winter's gift is to rest the soil. There is time enough for planting and growing. But for now, for winter, it is time for stopping and reflecting.

KJ