Embracing The Dark
So last weekend the clocks went back!
I always find this a significant shift in the year. While it can be lovely to get an extra hour in the day (whether in bed, or doing something nice) there is no doubt that the day itself feels shorter as darkness descents before the evening has arrived.
At this time of year, I've often felt a sense of mourning the lighter evenings and bracing myself for the winter months ahead. As I've got older (and better at recognising my seasonal mood shifts) I try to remind myself that there is also beauty and power to be found in these darker months.
During the pandemic when we were forced to stay at home rather than find ourselves out on busy, bright, bustling streets after 4pm I was amazed to discover that winter could actually feel 'soft' and 'quiet'. For years it had always felt more of a battle, trying to be the person I felt in the summer, with the same number of things to do and places to be but half the amount of energy.
As I get older I feel a stronger desire to drop into the rhythm that winter is asking of me, to slow down, to be less productive and more restful and reflective. There is still the internal battle going on because often everyday life doesn't allow for this, but there is also a greater sense of importance in finding small ways that I can implement this.
I met a wonderful restorative yoga teacher called Yvonne Henrietta at a teachers gathering last week who made the decision to take December off and truly 'winter'. She works hard all year round, but would use December to allow herself to get up when her body is ready to, to have no commitments other than those that she feels match what she need on the day, and to switch off social media. As she described this decision I could feel my whole being saying "wow that is AMAZING!" it felt like such a revolutionary act of self-care.
I fully appreciate that taking a month off is not possible for many of us, but we can look forward to winter and consider what habits we can begin to bring in to access light, warmth, inspiration, rest and connection during these darker months.
Things that I will be regularly reminding myself to dip into are:
Morning moments to be in and attentive to nature.
The delights of warm, comfort food.
Candle light.
Restorative Yoga.
Warming my bones through steam rooms at the gym.
Soaking in baths.
You may also like to read this article that a lovely student of mine intentionally reads every year when the clocks change. She reminded me of it last week and I love it so would like to share it with you. It is an article that Jeanette Winterson wrote for The Guardian many years ago entitled Why I Adore the Night.
I love this important reminder from her ...
"We now live in a fast-moving, fully lit world where night still happens, but is optional to experience. Our 24/7 culture has phased out the night. In fact we treat the night like failed daylight. Yet slowness and silence – the different rhythm of the night – are a necessary correction to the day.
I think we should stop being night-resisters, and learn to celebrate the changes of the seasons, and realign ourselves to autumn and winter, not just turn up the heating, leave the lights on and moan a lot."
So if you find yourself bracing yourself for the darker months, take a moment to consider what hidden treasures might lie within it and what you can offer yourself to embrace these longer nights.