With the solstice only days away, we’re right in the middle of the darkest part of the year and also the busiest. It’s a combination that can easily lead to feeling over-stimulated and over-tired, the adrenaline of trying to get it all done matched with the lack of time we give ourselves to rest or go slowly. So it may feel counter-intuitive for me to mention that this week might be a good time for you to pause and to do a bit of reflection, but I think that waiting until the New Year to reflect on the last months of the year can often be too late. It’s too full of thinking about resolutions, of planning, of wanting to do better. Sometimes, it feels too harsh, too judgemental. The solstice, however, is a gentler time for self-enquiry.
For the last couple of years I’ve been using the seasonal markers of the equinoxes and the solstices to remind me to review the previous three months. But, I’ve also noticed something else happening when I slow down at these moments of seasonal shift – I become more aware of my own seasons and the rhythm to my year.
I find the winter difficult. But I have always felt the Midwinter solstice comforting; the light will return and with it my energy levels. Spending some time now, when I feel at my lowest, reflecting on the autumn months, gives me the chance to recognise how I’ve been feeling, how things have been going and to feel ready for what is still to come in this season.
This reflection is quiet and it is soft. I try not to focus on lack or the things not done, the things that didn’t turn out as I expected. Instead I try to acknowledge that even when I feel like I am struggling I manage to do more than I imagined I would, and that things have a way of surprising me. Even a cursory flick through my diary and remembering the people I have worked with in the last 3 months helps to buoy me and give me energy for this last busy two weeks of the year.
This weekend, why don’t you join me in spending an hour reflecting on how the autumn has gone for you? To acknowledge how much you have done and to check in on your energy levels. My seasonal guide to reflecting – the Midwinter Creative Practice Review is available to download for free.
I wish you all a peaceful festive season full of love and good cheer – see you in the New Year!
Hello nice bloog