Winter Blues and The Wheel of The Year

If you’re like me, you may be feeling a touch of the winter blues this month. Coupled with the current events in the news, it may be something stronger than a touch that you’re feeling. It can be difficult to see past the clouds at this moment in time, and coupled with the lack of sunlight, cold weather and post holiday blues, I don’t blame anyone who is spending most of their time in a horizontal position.

I never thought that I was affected by the seasons very much. I live in a warm climate where our winters are short. Snow, and even rain these days, is a novelty here; something to be celebrated and enjoyed, (well, as long as the power stays on.) It wasn’t until I stood in direct sunlight for a while last week that I realized how poorly I have been feeling. It’s honestly a miracle what a little sunlight and temperatures above fifty degrees can do.

Winter however, has its place. I may miss the sun and tanner skin, but it can be a bit of a slap in the face when you realize the entire natural world is taking a rest, and you’re wondering why you’re not feeling as productive as usual. I often find myself coming back to the all too familiar quote by Lao Tzu “Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.”

Despite what corporate America would like us to think, we are human. We are not machines that can be simply plugged in at night and recharged in the morning. The cyclical pattern of the ecosystem is one that affects us, whether we like it or not, and we must adjust to the seasons in order to truly take care of ourselves.

So what do we do when we can’t quit our jobs and live off grid in the woods, but the walls of winter are closing in? A few ideas.

• Lean into a Hygge lifestyle in the evenings. The darkness isn’t depressing if it’s intentional, right? If you’re unfamiliar with the term, Hygge is a Danish and Norwegian term that describes a lifestyle or a mood that is cozy, comforting and all about life’s pleasures. It’s about taking time away from “the grind” to relax, and spend time with yourself and loved ones. It can also be obtained with minimum effort, a win for those long dark nights. Turn off the big light and rely on warm-colored lamps or even candles. If you have a fireplace, light a fire and curl up in front of it with a cup of tea. Find your coziest pajamas and re-read a favorite book or watch a comfort movie. Make your favorite pasta recipe and imbibe in a glass of wine. You are now a creature in a medieval fantasy novel. Indulge.

• Slow down and embrace winter activities. Bundle up and go for a walk in the closest nature to you. Sure, the trees all look dead and there are probably no flowers to smell, but if you really observe you can still find something beautiful to appreciate. A bird’s nest, a snowflake, anything. If nothing else, a walk will feel good. If you live in a place where winter is an established season and not just a visitor like me, you probably have outdoor winter activities. Try those, or even just go spectating. Being around other people in a casual, non-work setting is good, even if leaving the house makes you want to cry.

• Finally, find the celebrations and do some celebrating. February first, pagans like me all around the world celebrate Imbolc. In short the Gaelic holiday celebrates several events, including the halfway point on the Wheel of the Year between the winter solstice (Yule) and the Spring Equinox (Ostara.) You’re halfway there, celebrate it. I’ll have more about Imbolc and how to celebrate it later, but lighting candles, planting seeds, and sharing a meal with loved ones is a great place to start. Just focus on celebrating that spring is coming, however slowly it may feel.