Winter Rest

We are approaching the threshold of winter.

Life is being drawn into the earth, painlessly descending down into the very heart of herself.

And we as natural human animals are being called to do the same, the pull to descend into our bodies, into sleep, darkness and the depths of our own inner caves continually tugging at our marrow.

But many find the descent into their own body a scary thing indeed, fearing the unmet emotions and past events that they have stored in the dark caves inside themselves, not wanting to face what they have so carefully and unkindly avoided.

This winter solstice time is no longer celebrated as it once was, with the understanding that this period of descent into our own darkness was so necessary in order to find our light. That true freedom comes from accepting with forgiveness and love what we have been through and vanquishing the hold it has on us, bringing the golden treasure back from the cave of our darker depths.

This is a time of rest and deep reflection, a time to wipe the slate clean as it were and clear out the old so you can walk into spring feeling ready to grow and skip without a dusty mountain on your back & chains around your ankles tied to the caves in your soul.

A time for the medicine of story, of fire, of nourishment and love.

A period of reconnecting, relearning & reclaiming of what this time means brings winter back to a time of kindness, love, rebirth, peace and unburdening instead of a time of dread, fear, depression and avoidance.

This modern culture teaches avoidance at a max at this time; alcohol, lights, shopping, overworking, over spending, bad food and consumerism.

And yet the natural tug to go inwards as nearly all creatures are doing is strong and people are left feeling as if there is something wrong with them, that winter is cruel and leaves them feeling abandoned and afraid. Whereas in actual fact winter is so kind, yes she points us in her quiet soft way towards our inner self, towards the darkness and potential death of what we were, but this journey if held with care is essential.

She is like a strong teacher that asks you to awaken your inner loving elder or therapist, holding yourself with awareness of forgiveness and allowing yourself to grieve, to cry, rage, laugh, & face what we need to face in order to be freed from the jagged bonds we wrapped around our hearts, in order to reach a place of healing & light without going into overwhelm.

Winter takes away the distractions, the noise and presents us with the perfect time to rest and withdraw into a womb like love, bringing fire & light to our hearth.

Author ~Brigit Anna McNeill

Shared with ❤️

🌀Nicole

Sacred Wild Woman Medicine

Artist~Bryony Bensly

Mary Oliver – Devotions

When I am among the trees,

especially the willows and the honey locust

equally the beech, the oaks and the pines,

they give off such hints of gladness.

I would almost say that they save me, and daily.

I am so distant from the hope of myself,

in which I have goodness, and discernment,

and never hurry through the world

but walk slowly, and bow often.

Around me the trees stir in their leaves

and call out, “Stay awhile.”

The light flows from their branches.

And they call again, “It’s simple,” they say,

“and you too have come

into the world to do this, to go easy, to be filled

with light, and to shine. ~Mary Oliver

(Book: Devotions: The Selected Poems of Mary Oliver [ad] https://amzn.to/40ICyeC)

(Art: Photograph of Mary Oliver by Mariana Cook)

No change for many

I have had years of experience in the non growth in several relationships of great importance to me.. repeated lessons on how toxic these folks are, and how they fight the healing of the past etc, and I’m ready to release them to their Divine plan , especially if those plans are shrouded in darkness ( in not knowing) or targeting me .

Come together

Connecting with others gives us a sense of inclusion, connection, interaction, safety, and community.

Your vibe attracts your tribe, so if you want to attract positive and healthy relationships, be one!

Staying connected and getting reconnected feeds the flow of goodness which empowers our humanity ..

~ Susan C. Young ~

Artist Credit : Lucy Almey

Women – I had this experience in Jan 23 with surgery and recovery

on days i could not move

it was women

who came to water my feet

until i was strong enough

to stand

it was women

who nourished me

back to life

~ rupi kaur

-Rupi Kaur

@rupikaur_

Art: Nadia Waheed

@nadiakwd

http://nadiawaheed.com/

#SacredSistersFullMoonCircle #Spirituality.

#WomensWisdom #WomensEmpowerment

#RedTent #SacredFeminine #Goddess

#GoddessCircle #GoddessStudies #WheeloftheYear #CyclicalLiving #Mythology #Magick #FolkTradition

#Folklore

Community

In the Babemba tribe of South Africa, when someone does something harmful, the tribe puts the person in the center of the village surrounded by their community… For two days, every member reminds the person of all the wonderful things they have accomplished… This tribe believes that every human being is fundamentally good: each of us wants nothing but security, love, peace and happiness…

But sometimes people make mistakes and the community sees them as a cry for help… They then unite to support him, to help him renew his true colors, to remind him who he really is, until he perfectly remembers the truth from which he had been temporarily unplugged: “I’m good.”

Hold on to what you hear! ”

NABAJYOTISAIKIA is a compliment used in South Africa which means:

‘I respect you… I cherish you … You matter to me… ”

In response, people say SHIKOBA, which means, “So, I exist for you… ”