For me here in Cornwall, January is often one of the coldest, wettest, and sometimes snowiest times of the year. The days are still short, with dark mornings and evenings drawing in early. I find it hard to feel motivated, and all I want to do is cosy up in front of a roaring fire under a blanket, with a mug of cacao warming my hands.
All around me I see “NEW YEAR!”, “set your resolutions”, “now’s a great time to do a cleanse”. And while all of this has its place, it doesn’t quite sit right with me. This year, I’ve consciously chosen not to buy into it. I’m still hibernating, and the only goal I’m setting is making sure I get at least nine hours of sleep a night.
I’m giving myself permission to rest when I need to rest, to take that afternoon nap, and to remove the pressure I would once have placed on myself. And I know I’m not alone. The more I explore this beautiful journey I’m on, the more aligned I become, and the more I notice others feeling the same way too.
We only have to step outside our front door and take a walk in nature to see what winter is truly about. Many plants are lying dormant. Life in the garden moves at a slower pace. Birds glide gently rather than fluttering around in a desperate attempt to find a mate or build a nest. They go to bed early, nourish their bodies with nutritious food, and continue to turn inward.
Winter is not something to be rushed.
When I’m asked what my favourite season is, I find it hard to answer, because I love them all. I don’t want to blast through winter as if it never existed. I want to embrace it for what it is. I want to slow down and accept it as it comes. I want to witness winter, perhaps from my cosy greenhouse, perhaps from the warmth of home. When we sit back and observe, we can learn so much.
January and February are often seen as the pregnancy phase of the seasons. This is the womb space. There is so much happening quietly below the surface, slowly and intentionally.
Winter as the Womb
To me, the womb space is somewhere warm and safe, a place with no demands from the outside world. In the womb space, you can simply be. Winter feels the same to me. It is about warmth and comfort. My mind feels tired, and so does my body. This is my invitation to rest and move slowly.
Beneath the surface, ideas are forming. Little sparks of curiosity, passion, and creativity sit quietly, like seeds resting in the soil. With the right amount of warmth, light, and nourishment, some of these seeds will eventually burst through the earth. I have many ideas for new offerings and things I’d love to share. Some of them will grow, and some will not, and I am completely at peace with that.
I trust that whatever is meant to come into fruition will do so in its own time. Anything else will still serve a purpose, nourishing the soil and strengthening what comes next. I believe creativity cannot be rushed. When we create mindfully and move with the flow, something truly beautiful is born. When we resist or force things, it can be felt. It feels unnatural and inauthentic, and that is not how I want to live or work.
The Pressure to Push
The pressure to “do more” and start setting goals seems to be everywhere at this time of year, and honestly, I scroll straight past it.
I often think about gym memberships launching in January, or big companies encouraging us to set goals and push harder now that it’s the “new year”. I have a real problem with this. It doesn’t feel natural or aligned for me, and alignment sits at the heart of everything I do.
This year, I feel grateful to have avoided the familiar “new year, new you” pressure. I remember previous years where finding my way back into flow felt like such a struggle. I remember it taking over my nervous system, feeling completely overwhelmed, hitting burnout far too quickly, and then believing I had failed. It felt like I was constantly restarting my business, rather than allowing it to grow.
I used to believe that pushing hard and always doing more was the only way for my business to succeed. That no longer feels aligned. Now, I want my work to grow organically and authentically. I am no longer attached to the outcome. I am present, grounded, and in the moment. If something doesn’t feel right for someone, that’s okay. Perhaps I’m not the right match for them at this time.
I am letting go of the pressure I once placed on myself. Instead of pushing, I’m flowing, like a gentle river. I’m no longer forcing movement, I’m allowing it, and it feels beautiful. I have complete trust and faith that the right people will find their way to me. All I need to do is keep my heart open and welcome them in.
Winter, Cacao, and Sitting in Circle
Winter offers us such gentle wisdom. It asks us to slow down, to rest, to stop, to be still. It invites us to sit quietly and take it all in, to feel comfortable in the silence.
Cacao is deeply supportive in winter. She is heart medicine, softening and soothing us when the world feels heavy. Winter can be a challenging time for many, and mama cacao feels like that gentle embrace we all need. She holds us and reminds us that it’s okay to feel sad, it’s okay to stop, it’s okay to pause for a while. She reminds us that we are loved.
Because our ceremonies are held twice a month, they allow space to notice the subtle changes of the seasons. Jess and I love reflecting the time of year through the food we share and through our altar, which always includes a natural element. Each gathering becomes a quiet marker in the seasonal rhythm.
Sitting in circle offers time, connection, and space to breathe. Circle creates an opportunity to be heard without judgement, to write in our journals, and to gently explore areas of our lives we may not have considered before. It allows us to meet people we may never have crossed paths with otherwise. It builds bonds, friendships, and a sense of community. It brings us together.
At this time of year, we intentionally invite in stillness and calm. We welcome warmth, comfort, and rest.
Permission to Rest
I know you feel tired. I know the world feels heavy right now. I know some days it can feel as though everything is against you. I want you to know that you are held, and you are loved.
Sometimes it feels like you keep meeting obstacles, like you’re walking through sticky mud. There are moments when we do need to keep going, to find the lessons, to hold gratitude, and to recognise that things could have unfolded very differently. And there are also times when the wiser choice is to stop.
I invite you to gently observe your day as a spectator. Pause and ask yourself, do I really need to push through this? Or is my body, or spirit, asking me to slow down and rest? What might happen if I allowed myself to pause, just for today? Could I ask for help?
Pausing is not failing. Pausing is giving yourself space to breathe. You deserve grace.
Take a moment, close your eyes, and feel into your body. Notice the first thing that comes to mind and trust it. Or, if you’re unsure, ask whether that thought is coming from a place of love and your highest good, or from fear.
We gain very little from self-judgement. When we meet ourselves with compassion, we give ourselves permission to simply be. When we allow ourselves to rest, we quietly give others permission to do the same. When we take time to fill our own cups, we are better able to show up for our families, our friends, and ourselves.
Please fill your own cup. Please take time for yourself. Especially now. Especially in the depths of winter.
Your Invitation
Winter is a time of preparation. A time to gently notice what you may want to grow, without needing to act on it yet. There is no rush. This season is for noting ideas, allowing them to rest, and creating a space you can return to when the time feels right.
I invite you to spend time in nature, even in small ways. Nature teaches us so much when we slow down and observe. Take the pressure off yourself. There is nothing you need to do right now.
You are not stuck. You are resting. You are listening. You are taking an intentional pause.
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