Winter:
A chance to slow down.

If I am being completely honest, I did not like winter until just a few years ago. Actually it went beyond not liking it, I braced for it, worried about it, closed my eyes and pretended I could wish it away. I knew that with the shorter hours of daylight, the ugly weather, and the bone chilling cold that only the rainy PNW could offer, I would be miserable. And then I read the book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, by Katherine May, and my entire outlook on Winter changed. It was no longer a season to endure, it was a way to be. I began to look at Winter as an opportunity to rest, to enjoy a slower time, to care for my internal systems in a deeper way. When I truly embraced Winter, I stopped trying to blom in a season meant for roots.

Nature Winters Delightfully.
Although it's rare that we get to enjoy a snowy day in Portland, I still love the cozy rainy days, but they no longer feel like confnement, instead the rain feels like permission. Dreary days are a chance to light candles, wear thick socks and favorite sweaters, and to curl up with a cup of tea and a good book. I am a candle addict. And while I love to light them year-round, I tend to lean towards taper candles more so in the winter. Having collected holders in all shapes and sizes and materials, I love lighting several at night to cast a warm glow in my living room. But I think my favorite way to enjoy them is simply by lighting one in the morning and setting it on the coffee table while I read or journal or draw cards. And best of all, tapers can easily be found at your local thrift store for pennies on the dollar. Winter does not require expensive rituals. It does ask for soft intention.

Simmer Pots.
Despite the rainy weather, the humidity inside the house can drop. I love chopping up all sorts of aromatics and letting them simmer on the stove throughout the day. Apples, cinnamon sticks, sliced citrus, herbs from the garden, and always a pinch of salt (for grounding and remembering the body is part of the ritual), not only clears the air, but can help keep your sinuses from drying out.

The Simple Pleasures of HYGGE

You have probably seen the word and possibly heard it spoken and then tried to say it (hyoo·guh). It is a Danish philosophy about atmosphere and experience, not things. It focuses on family, community, gathering. It's simple things; soft light, low music, clean sheets on the bed, a simple meal of bread and meat and wine. I spend a lot of time in Denmark and I can say that HYGGE isn't a passing trend, it is truly a lifestyle that the Danes have embraced. According to the annual World Happiness Report, Denmark consistently ranks among the top happiest countries in the world.
 

Winter doesn’t ask us to produce.
It asks us to tend.

To light the candle.
To stir the pot.
To stay home when we can.

To trust that nothing is dying - it is simply resting.