Winter is a dormant time, a time when all living things withdraw. It is also marks the transformation from what was, to what will be. We call on our reserves to bring us through this season. The experiences that we have gathered through the hectic times of growth and harvest are now called on for succor. It can be a dark and cold time for the creative soul.
Winter tests our resolve and measures our strength.
The cold slows everything down, locking it into crystalline form. Patterns emerge that could not be seen in the frantic activity of the other seasons. If we approach this season with dread then we miss the opportunity to learn from it. If we cling to our warm weather visions then we miss the patterns that the frost reveals. It is not pleasant to be cold and so we stack the firewood against it and huddle near the stove to drive it off.