Greetings, Sunny Optimists,
This post is the first of our five-week Winter Dreaming series of newsletters I invited you to last week. I do hope this journey fuels your optimism for the future into 2023 and beyond.
Why Winter Listening?
In winter, Mother Earth takes the opportunity to rest, restore, and replenish herself. She does this to be ready to move forward with renewed vigour come Springtime. So, as the year's fullness comes to completion, we also need the space and time to be still and go inwards. We need to revitalise ourselves, ready for the adventures of the New Year.
And yet, how do we do this when there can be so much busyness arising from the holiday season? It is delightfully easy to get swept up in it all and not feel there is any space for us to relax in to Wintertime's tranquillity. As a result, we can lose the profound connection with our own inner seasonal cycle.
However, it does not have to be an 'either or' situation. You do not have to be either busy or quiet. It is possible to craft a marriage of slowing down whilst, at the same time, enjoying the Festive season. To achieve this marriage is where the idea of Winter Listening comes into its own.
This type of listening is a contemplative practice that comes from the ground of expanded perceptive stillness. It is about being present and consciously appreciating all within that moment. We become an observer who is grateful for all that we are and have in our lives.
From that awakening to the present moment, a portal opens to realms beyond our everyday experience. When we maintain this inner stillness, then images, insights, information, and inspiration can flow through the doorway into our awareness. It is pretty magical how this happens. Prepare to be amazed!
Winter Listening Invitation
So, dear friends, over the next week, I invite you to take little segments of time throughout your day to come into stillness. Pay attention to your breathing as you do this, and just welcome in the spaciousness you feel. Know that you are preparing an inner container to let insights, inspiration, and magic enter easily through this portal to the extraordinary.
Crafting an Evocative Question
Our Winter Dreaming begins by crafting an overarching question that will guide us over the next five weeks and beyond. It is what I like to call a ’Soul Question’. One that encourages us to listen as our Soul whispers to us. In this inner space, we are calling into our awareness what our Soul wishes to convey during this time of Dreaming.
One way to craft a question is to start it with the phrase ‘what is needed.’ When you put these words at the beginning of a question, you signal an openness to receive and a heartfelt intention to respond to the guidance coming to you.
Being in nature is a great way to find your question, but it is not the only way. You can sit quietly in a chair and meditate. Whatever you decide to do, say to yourself, ‘I am seeking my dreaming question,’ and then wait and see what is revealed to you.
Here is how I found a Winter Dreaming question which I hope helps you with your questing. I went out for a walk along the beach one Sunday. I swung my arms, sang a song into the wind, and laughed out loud as the wind drowned out my singing. I made puddles in the sand and danced a little on the water's edge. It was fun. I didn't try to think about the question. Instead, I let ideas come and go as I considered what was important to me in my life. I was out for a couple of hours when the question below just popped out.
What is needed for me to thoroughly enjoy this time of elderhood?
The question felt right. I tested the words. Did I need the word 'thoroughly'?
I did.
I realised that I wanted to have that sense of utter fulfilment that comes from thoroughly enjoying myself.
I had my question and was ready to let it guide me during the rest of my Winter Dreaming time.
And so, this is my offering to you for this week. I wish you well on your Winter Listening adventure to find your Soul Question.
As always, I would love to hear from you.
Ann