Embracing the Seasons of Change: A Journey Through Wintering and Renewal

Wintering and the Grace of Knowing When to Leave

I have been in the depths of winter for a few years, a period when the outside world seems to pause. During this time, I turned inward, seeking rest, unlearning old habits, and nurturing myself.

Slowly and gently, a call emerged, beckoning me to leave this sacred space.

One day, at one of my favorite meditation spots at The Newt in Somerset, I found myself resting on some fallen tree trunks in the rain. In that tranquil moment, the wintering poem below was gifted to me, arriving like a whisper, a reminder to leave this chapter behind, just as winter gracefully yields to spring.

Winter Never Outstays Her Welcome

Gradually
Slowing
Gently
Bidding goodbye to the old way
Outstayed the welcome

Spring has arrived
With the abundance of growth
It's raining
But the sun is finding
Her way to shine through

Sun showers

The sound of rain drops landing
unceremoniously on the ivy
The breeze sings her song
through the spring leaves

Birds all round filling the space
Winter never outstays her welcome
they remind me

The breathe
Merges with the tree trunk
Resting where it fell down
A gift for the wild for shelter and food
And for this pilgrim to pause
Before she finds her way home
- Linda Connors

Sometimes, we all need to retreat into winter—to heal, to rest, to simply be.

One of the lessons I discovered during my wintering is to trust the process. Embrace the sacred space of undoing and unbeing, even when the urge to move forward is strong.

Perhaps you, too, are on the cusp of a new chapter. There may be fear, worry, or anxiety, and resistance to change, making you feel stuck. Remember, this is all part of the journey.

Just as winter never outstays her welcome and spring gently unfolds, we, too, will know when the time is right to shift our energy and begin stepping forward.