In tune With The Seasons – Winter - Winter Solstice is for 'heeding' and 'Yielding'

I first shared the following lines on December 21st 2017. It was clear that I was on a journey toward re-connecting with the natural flow of life in a way that links me wholeistically with the cycle of life of which I am a part of and had become apart from in so many ways. In our modern world, the majority have traveled further away from their core. I knew instinctively that I needed to re-connect and have spent years inching my way back - home.

The modern way of ignoring the seasons, keeping a false and fast pace, simply isn't sustainable nor truly living.

The seasons have important roles, as expressed here, Winter Solstice is for 'heeding' and 'Yielding'.

In tune With The Seasons – Winter

"When winter comes to a woman's soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces. She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive.

Winter women are those who bring into the next cycle what should be saved. They are the deep conservators of knowledge and power. Not for nothing did ancient peoples honour the grandmother. In her calm deliberateness, she winters over our truth, she freezes out false-heartedness.

Look into her eyes, this winter woman. In their gray spaciousness you can see the future. Look out of your own winter eyes. You too can see the future." ~ Patricia Monaghan

In tune with the seasons - I know that I am among others for whom autumn has prepared us for the coming season and as the winter solstice approached I was guided to begin the process that would see me go into a stage of metamorphosis.

I have found myself naturally going quieter and enveloping myself as I prepared to draw inward in preparation to go ever deeper within.

It was clear that I was to accept the cocooning process that would see me spending less time on social media, more 'real up close and personal time' with people 'in person', as well as getting some earlier nights, to include me getting a sleeping bag that I am now sleeping within inside of my usual bedding.

Here I have felt snug, safe, warm, held and cocooned.

The word that has come to me over and over again has been YIELD, which I have been happy to follow.

With no wish to join into any kind of commercial madness in the run up too or during the festive season, I have simply sought out and nestled into my core self, and centered myself there.

In line with my truth, I have no wish for over indulgence nor partake in things that I find are ‘akin’ to pollution to mind, body, heart and soul.

I have never enjoyed over consumption and the effects that it has, so am happy to ‘completely’ remove myself from it all, along with any residual traces of it from my life as a whole.

Here I share some lines that have come to me in line and in tune with ‘Gaia’ and her plan for those who attune to this process.

Winter is here and thus the death of all that is to die away is assured for those who do indeed yield to the season.

Thus - so too the life is then assured that is to come from this when we are born a-new in the spring.

Yield To Me The Season Of Winter

Yield to me,

The season of winter,

Do not expect to do as you do at other times of the year,

Times when the sun shines,

The birds fly high and the bees gather their treasure from many a flower,

Not so when I draw around and there is a nip in the air,

Underfoot the sodden or icy ground – all part and portion of this time of year...

Oh yes dear soul,

Winter is here.

Branches bare of leaf,

Spider’s webs glisten like silken thread,

White with the frozen air,

As they stop you in your tracks to stare,

Such beauty they possess a beautiful picture they make,

Trees shiver and in singular or a multiple flurry,

Snowflakes fall and the ground is covered,

Oh yes dear soul,

Winter is here.

Days are short and nights draw in and last so long,

Owls hoot - keeping a watchful eye,

Whilst other birds are much quieter and even gone further afield,

Deer nibble as they tred lightly upon the earth so as not to be heard,

For upon a baron landscape - they are much easier seen, coats are thicker,

Moonlight on snowy ground it does gleam, and water colder than colder - sometimes frozen,

Life is harder when death is lurking,

Oh yes dear soul,

Winter is here.

Berries of deep red, orange and yellow,

Flowers too, attached to leaf bearing and more so often - bare branches,

Make for a bounty for the feasting of both the belly and the eye Of birds and animals of differing kinds,

All banqueting on these seasonal treats,

Those only available at this time of year,

Humans enjoy them too,

Decking the halls with bows of holly,

Cut and decorate trees, make wreaths, light fires, snuggle up –

Oh yes dear soul,

Winter is here.

It is true that many have forgotten,

My seasons and for so many reasons,

Want to go about in a seasonless fashion,

Make haste all year long in a frenzied rush,

Grow, transport and eat foods out of season,

Doing so for no good reason,

Apart from a disconnection with me – and for the best part of the other three seasons,

They get away with doing just that – not though with me,

For dear soul – winter is here.

I call the shots, draw in the light, cool things right down and make a job of stopping your plight,

Autumn was your time to harvest,

Gather in and preserve your winter stocks,

Of all good things around you for which to last when the ground was hard and frozen,

And you cannot drive up your street,

When I have deemed that you stay in and rest, relax, rejuvenate.

Turn off, take stock, recalibrate

Winter is here and the rest can wait,

For I come for good reason to encourage you to attune to the seasons,

Yield, stop your frenzied days, re-tune, de-stress, get a life – realign with the seasons ways,

That is why winter is here - stop, die away the old and prepare for a New Year, a New Season, in light of all of which and for good reason – WINTER IS HeRE.

She, He, We...

I ask that you see me just as I am,

A part of you that is the season of winter,

The dying, decay

That is who we are today

Pure and true,

Yes - barren,

An old dear, a hag of no use - I may appear,

Do though not be fooled,

When I may not look bejewelled,

For rich at core I am, you are, we are

At one and the same in the process of life

That lives within me

Therefore it lives in you too

For at core I glow – we glow

Like a unified furnace of re-creation

From which all that is to be birthed it does grow,

Deserved then it is of Jubilation,

Decry me not, for this reason...

Yield to me... For dear soul – Winter is here,

It is our season - and...

Let me too be clear...I play an important role in the life giving process of the next of our seasons.

I don't know about you but I am fully with her.

Saying that, as I yield, I am sure to be quieter for a while.

Wishing One and All A Truly 'Yielding' Winter Solstice.

Art: Solstice Stillness by Wendy Andrew

Article – © Susanne Austin, 21st December 2023 (Note: all text written by Susanne personally unless lines or sections are stated as quoted text).

Susanne Rachel Austin writes on Personal and Environmental Wellbeing… 'Healthy People – ‘Healthy Environment’ - covering natural health and wellbeing, eco-build, sustainable, green and 'one planet' living as a business and daily lifestyle choice for all. Susanne is also the author of a daily ‘True Life Wisdom Of The Day’ shared upon several social media channels and is currently in the process of writing a book and putting together a series of workshops. Speaking engagements are also woven into these plans. Susanne’s new website is germinating 'Quite Naturally' in-line with this creative process and will be launched as and when complete.