Greetings, Winter Dreaming buddies.
At this time of year, as we know, Mother Earth takes the opportunity to rest, restore, and replenish herself in readiness to move forward with renewed vigour come Springtime. We, too, need quiet time to revitalise ourselves in preparation for the adventure of the New Year that is coming. Taking this space to rejuvenate ourselves is the gift of this time of Winter Dreaming.
Last week we began our time together by inviting in a 'what is needed' question. We stepped out of the busyness of our lives to listen deeply to what our Soul whispers about 'who we are' and 'what we came here for.' Our question is like the North Star. It is bright, magnetic, and magical. All we need to do is to relax into the question to let its Divine Light infuse our Dreaming. Mmmmmm.
I so appreciate the ‘what is needed’ questions posted on our Discord community space. It is not too late to join us there, it would be wonderful to share the journey with you.
Here is the link: https://discord.gg/XjpB9xdY.
Reviewing the Year Going By.
As we head towards the Winter Solstice next Tuesday, this is a special time to heighten our awareness of our individual journey, our successes, our challenges, and our growth towards the destiny we seek. This week, we take the space to review the calendar year coming to completion. We slow down and remember. We honour all that has occurred over the year, both the highlights and lowlights. This ancient practice of looking back over the year helps us to heal, renew and adjust ourselves as we move into the next cycle of our lives.
Here is the process that I suggest you follow over the next week.
Step 1: Create space to enjoy this time of looking back.
Meditate and/or do the guided visualisation at the end of this Newsletter. Spend time out in nature. Explore the sights, sounds, and smells around you that bring you into the present moment. Be kind and gentle with yourself. The insights you gather are precious ground to claim before you move into looking out ahead.
Step 2: Reflection time reviewing the year
Take a broad-brush view of the year and make notes of what happened. Look at the events, situations, and experiences that felt most important to you. You can extend your remembering by referring month by month to your 2021 diary. Phone and email messages can be helpful, as can photos and your journal if you have one.
Look for the highlights and the lowlights with compassion. Try not to get lost in any emotion of remembering. Hold the lens that it is all perfect, just as it happened. It all serves you in its unique way.
Step 3: Craft an image that captures your remembering
Once you feel complete with revisiting memories, you can move to create a visual image of the year. Taking the time to draw uses the other side of our brain. It can bring fresh insights and new dimensions to our remembering.
Use coloured pens/pencils and paper, etc., to craft an image of your year using a metaphor that works for you. For example, I have seen people draw a river, or a tree, or a spiral. Whatever works for you. Collages and Mandala’s can work wonderfully, too.
Avoid being a perfectionist with your creation, just let it flow in ways that have meaning for you.
Step 4 : Honouring the Insights that came to you
Once this is complete, sit and ‘be’ with your creation for a while. Then ceremonially place is somewhere that you will see it periodically. If you have an altar, this is a perfect place to hold it. Feel free to add to it too.
Know that this process contributes to your wellbeing. It is a way to build your resilience and open a new doorway for your next round of dreams to come into manifestation. We will do more with your insights next week.
Guided Visualisation : Listening for our Life Melodies
Below is a guided visualisation that will gently take you in to your time of looking back. The poem within the visualisation is a gift to us from Sunny Optimist community member Richard Candy. His gentle and evocative writing touches on the duality of dark and light. He explored the dance between despair and optimism, knowing that both are part of our life experiences. Richard encourages us to honour the cycles of life by taking the time to stop and listen to the ‘melodies’ of our lives.
This poem is a lovely entry into this week’s activity as we honour the ‘melodies’ of our lives. Click here or on the image below to listen.
The First Star By Richard Candy
It’s hard to see a deeper place
Than one had ever dreamed
That life could actually be darker
Even than it had seemed
———
And yet beyond the darkest place
Where life is silent and still
There was a shimmering twinkling sunrise
Through every windowsill
———
The morning shall be there again
With the dawn chorus that is heard
It lifts the universe with every heart
Through every thoughtful caring word
———
For there is a place beyond the dark
Beyond the depths of all despair
I had never known a deeper place
Than the sunlight shining there
———
I had never stopped to take the time
To hear melodies when I dreamed
Of all the loveliest things in life
When the early light just gleamed
———
A deep bow of gratitude to Richard. Feel free to share your experience with us.
That’s so lovely of you Ann. Thankyou so much. I’m overjoyed to read my poem here. The title of Winter Dreaming reminds me of Tchaikovsky symphony no.1 which is subtitled Winter Dreams. Very beautiful. And an underrated symphony.