Last night during our Listening to Legends before story conversation we discussed how often we hear Winter talked about as a time of rest and how much hard work it also entails.
To those living with modern conveniences, like central heating and food from the store ( all good things!) it might be hard to recognize how much work goes into winter-time in a more historical sense. While Winter may be a valuable time to rest the body in a modern context, it’s important we not confuse that with what we as humans have historically experienced. Each of us can, will, and should have different relevant seasonal shifts. Winter seems to be a time of inhale, a time of dreaming and moving at a different pace. And, even as we inhale oxygen it works within our bodies- it has a purpose and a function. Much is happening unseen.
Around here in the depths of Winter, we are expending tons of energy and there is lots of activity, and the more we align ourselves with a nature-centered life, the more this becomes true. Kelsi has plenty of extra chores, done in the cold and wind and snow, to care for the animals. David and I and the children have extra physical chores related to heating our home with a woodstove. There is the clearing of snow and ice, preventing freezing pipes, tending to extra layers and laundry, extra cleaning because people are indoors more. Not to mention the normal work associated with running households, like cooking and cleaning. While the cold makes me wish we could cuddle under blankets reading all day, if I didn’t do all the work to facilitate a cozy space- we would not be very comfortable.
Winter is also sometimes considered a time to do less joining and socializing- however, I find that our strong social relationships are needed in the depth of Winter just as much if not more so than other seasons. These relationships keep our spirits up, and we support each other through creative problem solving and sharing of resources.
Rest, is setting down one activity for another. This, we definitely do as we attend the relevant work of each season. Come Spring I will rest my snow shoveling and pick up my tasks in the garden.
I would say that high Summer is the most leasierly season we experience around here. Food is abundant and can be eaten directly from Earth with little preparation. We spend so much time outdoors, I rarely need to do more than tidy up the indoor spaces.
Winter is a time of unseen work. Work in the dark, work under the snow in burrows, in the depths of tree flesh, in the patience of the seed. Winter is a time for dreaming forward plans, And, it is Winter’s example that reminds me how much we can do while No One notices, and it seems nothing is happening - even when it’s hard.