The start of the year is filled with energy, there is no doubt about that. The collective consciousness is bursting into our lives, maybe in a positive way but maybe also bringing with it the age old pressure of a ‘New Year, New You’
There is pressure all around us, even if you live on top of a hill, like a hermit; which is where I currently find myself.
I’m feeling the pressure of the winter weather all around me, the wetness, the cold to my bones (&toes!), and the mud! My goodness the mud! It is filthy muddy here. And, there is so much to do to prevent the weather really taking a hold on the place. Wind and rain itching to get inside at any opportunity. That’s what takes up most of my days at the moment, ‘fighting fires’ or more like ‘fighting floods’. To be honest, we have it better than some, the river at the bottom of the valley is a raging torrent, tearing through, churning & coursing across the road and into homes any chance it gets. So I am grateful, and have learnt a lot in the way of never to take for granted what you have, as life is ever so fluid.
And then, there is the pressure of work, daily chores, keeping up with social arrangements, the pressure that we find on social media, online stores & sales, everyone showing off their brightest, best and newest deals - causing us to compare & kill our own creativity.
All while the days are short, the nights are long and our bodies are slow. In the winter, we often have lower serotonin levels, lower levels of vitamin D, less thyroid stimulating hormone, less follicle stimulating hormone and other hormonal fluctuations that can lower our mood, immune & nervous system capacities at this time. Our bodily reminders to slow down & take it easy.
So while I firmly believe that the New Year is not a time to create goals, resolutions and add to the pressure.
It is a time we can use to pause & reflect, and softly go against the grain.
To root down & stand still whilst the water swirls around us, and sway with it softly.
Listen to the whisper, or the roar. But, to do only that. Just listen.
It takes strength not to start charging off with the goal, ambitions, making set plans, dates, resolves. It takes strength to pause and be still.
To resolve instead, to move slowly, and from the heart.
To listen to the soul, not the strategist.
To pull back, lean in and be held in the void of winter.
To use this time of darkness wisely, to use it as intended, as a time of dreaming; will set us up for the months ahead. Allows us to fill our cup first so that it may be so brimming with fullness it can spill out into our worlds, and fill others in turn.
When you are against the weather, the daylight hours; you’ve no choice but to listen. To push through will only achieve burning out, frustration, exhaustion.
Give yourself permission, even if only for one night this month, to carve out time to dream. You are worthy of rest, you are worthy of your dreams & desires, you have the power to lean into them & receive the gold that is there for you.
I invite you to lean into your dreams, to rest and receive the magic of winter.
To use this time for replenishment, even if your world is pushing you to begin something new, something big.
Even if your responsibilities are to keep going at the same, if not faster pace.
Even if life is trying to squeeze you, and squash you into submission.
If you are ready to do just that, schedule it for
Sunday 19th January and join me for an ONLINE Dreaming Circle.
And rest so that you may receive,
To dedicate yourself to a spiritual practice, to self care, to self development alone,
births intuition.
To grow, and dream in community, creates wisdom,
that expands generations.
The monthly circle gives you a starting point from which to orientate yourself from each and every month, to either return to the dreams you have for yourself, your community and the world or to enter into the void of stillness, and listen for those waiting to emerge. Being guided in this practice gives you the resources to bring consistency, and direction as they unfold.
The dream circles open with an invitation to share a dream, or vision that you have been working with over the past moon cycle, or one you would like to initiate in the new cycle. This allows us space to express, and breathe life into our desires and be held, in our creative process. And if you arrive without a desire to share and to simply be held in this supportive circle, you are also so welcome.
Due to nature of the circles, there is only space for 9 women at each.
Between dream circles, I co-create a Yoga Nidra practice with dreams from the past moon cycle and dedicated tarot, whilst allowing space for the potency, and energy of the stars; from the constellation which the moon is in to emerge.
This month’s circle will be a space dedicated to the stillness of winter & to listening in deeply to ourselves and what lies in the depths of this time of dreams.
I look forward to dreaming into the new year with you, Love Jas x