As the days get shorter, it gets easier and easier to fall into seasonal depression. The darkness comes too quickly along with the cold. We tend to stay indoors and are not as active. This can be very detrimental to our mental, physical, and spiritual health. We can feel that we aren’t getting much done and being as productive as we would like. It becomes very easy to get disappointed in ourselves and beat ourselves up.
During these months of cold and dark, we need to take advantage of what the universe offers us. We aren’t meant to go full bore all year. We are meant to embrace the seasons just as the natural world does. In nature, animals hibernate, plants sleep in their own way. The ancients viewed the trees loss of leaves and the plants shriveling as though they died every winter and were reborn in spring as part of a constant cycle of death and rebirth.
We can embrace this cycle ourselves. The winter and shortening of days indicated a time for us to reflect. To use the darkness to search ourselves. To recoup from the constant struggles of life and the hustle mindset that saturates our culture, especially in America. This is the time to retreat into yourself and do the inner work, the shadow work, that you need to do in order to become a better version of yourself. This is when you can focus on digging deep into your self and find the real you, your true self. You can let the rest of the world slip away to a certain extent.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you wont have responsibilities and hard work to still do. It doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t chase your dreams. By all means, go for it! I only mean that you try to cut out some of he unnecessary clutter and stressors that exist in your life. The old leaves dying and falling away, preparing for new growth. Use this time for some quiet introspection. See what no longer is serving you and let it go. Make room to manifest more good into your life.
As we come up to the shortest day of the year, the Winter Solstice, try to keep in mind this cycle of life and death and rebirth. May it help center you and keep you from experiencing the stress and seasonal depression. I know this thought has helped me.
Seasons tidings to you and your family, and blessed be!
-The Magician