We exist within cyclic rhythms, akin to the Earth. These cycles emphasize transformational wisdom which, when observed and utilized, have the potential to propel us forth in our personal evolution. As we come closer to the fulfillment of Winter and the emergence of Spring, we are entering a time of renewal and revitalization. The endurance required to withstand winter’s challenges is thus meaningful; there is a reprieve in sight. The thawing of the ice is a time of joy and resurgence, and a welcoming of new life.
Winter gifts to us the space for thorough introspection and deliberation; it is a time of reflection on the experiences of the last cycle. We may mindfully decide what to bring with us moving forward. Which parts of the last cycle encourage us to grow and evolve into our best selves? How do the patterns we have established, within the last year or perhaps even longer ago, affect us? Do we find ourselves stuck in old patterns, or have we found a refreshing momentum? Taking the time to reflect on our individual experiences can reveal the lessons they have to offer; wisdom is the application of those lessons.
We’ve adopted the tradition of spring-cleaning; a ritual of clearing out that which no longer serves us and organizing our belongings in ways that help us function more efficiently. In similar ways, we can utilize this process of re-orchestrating our physical world and apply it to our mental world. What do we have stored in our mind which we no longer need to hold on to? What can we release, so that there may be room for something new? What, within us, can we allow to thaw? As the snow of mountaintops melts into streams which feed the fertile ground, so can we release the things which bind us to a frozen state and sow the terrain beneath us with potential.
Words & Art by Molly Stanley