Silence: The Sound of Winter
“Winter is the end of the year, the time of slowing down, relaxation and rest. Nature appears to sleep. In music, a “rest” symbol represents silence. It is now time to become quiet and turn our full attention inward. “~Kathleen Gubitosi, Voice Alchemist
The above is an excerpt to an article written by one of my fellow SHINE! authors, Kathleen Gubitosi. (If you click on her name, it will take you to the full article-packed full of yummy info.-Enjoy!)
Why begin my article with by quoting another?
Because the article inspired this writing. Since winter began I’ve been dropping all sorts of tidbits on honoring your cycles and supporting yourself through the season in my weekly eZine. When I read Kathleen’s article above I just had to answer it’s call.
Autumn is a time of reflection, but winter is a time for going within. Where autumn is filled with the hustle and bustle of returning to school and building routines, winter is the time for slowing down.
Not only that, but think about it-you go for a walk in the fall and you can hear the crunchy leaves beneath your feet and the scurrying of animals making their final preparations for the cold. You go for a walk in the winter, however, nature is quite as it sleeps beneath or above the blanket of snow.
It is easy to observe and find the silence outside of yourself, but what about finding silence within yourself?
All to often we find ourselves so caught up in the to-do’s, ought-to’s and should’s that we neglect our innermost needs and desires to retreat into the silence of ourself.This is unfortunate given that it is here in the silence that we connect with our deepest knowing.
It is here in the silence that Spirit communicates with us and attempts to give us messages that will aid our well-being in our highest and greatest good. It is these messages that are meant to be guidance for us as we maneuver through life and find ourselves at a crossroads of sorts.
So how can you find and support the silence of going inward?
- Schedule sacred time for yourself. Start with 10 minutes if that is all you can spare-literally the time between hitting the snooze button! Believe it or not, for most the best time for this communication is upon waking, before you are ‘plugged in’ to technological platforms and in the routine of to-doing.
- Begin your practice with your breath. Mindfully breathing in the light of the new day and exhaling the remnants of slumber and stretching your body as you do so. Feel into the physical spaces of yourself and put a smile on your face. In this way, you entrain your energy and brain in a positive light.
- Continue your breath and ask yourself, how do I wish to BE and feel as I move through the day?
- Once you have connected with this state of BEing, or feeling, take it now to the next level and envision yourself moving through the day’s planned activities and remaining firm in this state of BEing, your power zone.
- Don’t loose track of your breath and keep that smile on your face, all the way through the end of your day and settling in to a great restful night of restorative sleep.
- Somewhere in this space a word or phrase is going to come to you, turn this into an affirmation or mantra to help you re-align with your power zone as you go through the day.
- At the end of the day, it would be a good idea to note if you were taken out of your power zone. What triggered it? How did that make you feel? Was there something you would like to do differently to re-direct your energy should this happen again? ALSO note if you weren’t taken out of your power zone. How does this make you feel? What can you do to ensure this success every day?
- After trying this for a period of time, go back and review your entries of the days you found yourself straying from your power zone and see if you uncover a pattern or a recurring theme. If so, what is it? What have you discovered about yourself? What are you ready to let go of?
- Dedicate some time to yourself to explore what you have uncovered, set an intention and put mindful action to replacing this un-serving pattern with one that serves you and aids you in staying aligned with and in your power zone.
- Reach out for support when you need it. You aren’t alone. You aren’t the only one who has ever come face to face with their own shadow in some form or another. Just remember-we all have shadow and we all have the light to move through it.
Hang in there! Winter isn’t going to last forever, spring is just around the corner after all!
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ana
Beautiful. such an important reminder for me right now. I have been releasing the idea of having to “Work Hard” to prove my worth (and I’ve been releasing it for a while) and through this release all the the Should’s have been piling up in my brain full force! So I have been trying to ask myself, “What would feel like ease right now” or “How can I show love for myself right now”. Recently this has meant getting a LOT of sleep (my mind wants to call it a “Ridiculously Obscene” amount of sleep). Thanks Again!
Crystal Cockerham
I am not sure where you live Ana, but you are not alone in sleep requirements these days. I live in Michigan and the pressure systems keep yo-yoing which really affect me. Combined with lack of sunshine, I find I have been craving a lot of extra sleep too! Be patient & gentle with yourself, Rome wasn’t built in a day and our should didn’t appear overnight, it is going to take a little time, but you’ll find the right seed of intention to plant there!
Debra Reble
Living in Cleveland, I’m over winter definitely by February. Your blog reminded me of the silence of winter that I love so much. So going inward and doing a few of your suggestions to get out of the winter blues. <3
Crystal Cockerham
Oh the Winter Blues really stink! I am glad that my article gave you some inspiration! Debra, have you made an elixir with your crystals? I find those elixirs help keep my spirits lifted. I wrote a how-to on them: http://www.wisdomawakens.com/2018/10/22/880/
Barbara Parcells
So important to make the time to go within. If we don’t start our day with happy and loving thoughts, how do we expect to have a happy and loving day? Wonderful ideas and practices. Thanks for sharing.
Crystal Cockerham
I so agree Barb! Thank you for commenting!
Rachel
I learned to love and respect the time of winter, I am enjoying slowing down and honoring that this is not a time to do but a time to be.
Crystal Cockerham
THAT is true wisdom Rachel!!
CK Kochis
This is a wonderful reminder to slow down, breathe and welcome the silence of winter to fill our souls. Thanks, Crystal, for the guidance and wisdom.
Crystal Cockerham
🙂 Cindy, yes. Thank you for leaving your kind comment!
Crystal Cockerham
Thank you Cindy for commenting, I am glad it resonates with you!