Winter Awaits

"Winter is the seat of what will come, the freeze that reminds us of the thaw, the hope pensively waiting, the moment pausing, the rhythm at its nadir but poised to begin its upward swing."
Felch, Susan & Schmidt, Gary. (2003). Winter: A Spiritual Biography of the Season.

Are you ready? We are very close to approaching the coldest days of the year. The time is near for draping layers upon layers of clothing over our skin in an attempt to stay warm and comfortable. Carpets of snow, slush, and ice beneath our feet challenge our every step. How will you navigate winter's hardships and ensure that you celebrate the sacred gifts that come with this season?

Winter beckons us to acknowledge the stuff buried beneath the surface-- the endings and deaths. When we feel that we are approaching an ‘end’, there is a readiness to shift. When we find ourselves experiencing the depths of our sorrows, the only way left to travel is upward. There are inherent gifts in each ending and a shift of energy in each death.  

Have you ever felt so tired of a feeling? Have you ever become bored of hearing yourself say the same words? I sure have. Do you want to know how I get through? Firstly, I know that when I am in that place, I am very close to having a breakthrough. This knowledge really helps because when I am “down in the ring” it can be very dark, and at times, feel quite hopeless. I know now that when I am truly sick of something, it’s a sign that something old is ready to be released and something new is about to be born in its place. Most of the time (not always), I can reframe my experience. The results? I become quite tender and loving toward myself. practice patience because I know that something new is about to be born. So how does one do this? In the moment, when I get triggered or activated, I turn to a practice that was taught to me by my brilliant teachers at The Ryzio Institute. The practice of ABC’s helps me to return to a place where I can allow for the wants and needs to come through. 

Practice your ABC’s. 

Awareness: Become aware of what you are feeling. Notice whatever is arising. Pause to inquire and to experience whatever is happening in your body. Take stock. 

Through the many years of dedicated study and practice, I have developed the skill of awareness. Awareness is a practice. It is an ability to zoom out of a situation and shift from your current viewpoint to a vantage point. From this place, we are able to gather information about what is really happening. We can notice sensations, we may recognize patterns, and we can access an ability to create space for a variety of possibilities to exist and to see things from different perspectives. Most importantly, we can remain curious, open, and eventually free. 

Breath: Take a moment to notice your breath and to become aware of the quality of your breathing. Try to remain curious and trust that your body is breathing in the best way it knows how. Where do you feel your breath moving your body?

I don’t think there is a right way to breathe. I am also unsure if tampering or manipulating our breathing patterns truly helps us return to balance. I am using awareness of the breath to gather further insight into what I am feeling in my body and to anchor the mind to the current, moment to moment experience. I trust that the body knows what to do and how to breathe.  If I can stay present with that, I am more likely to find my way back to balance. 

Connect: Try to remain in this place of connection to your body. Slowly and gradually, expand your awareness into the space around you. What do you need? Stay present with your moment to moment experience and recognize what is true in the “big picture”. Right now, are you safe? If yes, connect to that truth. You might even say “I am safe”. What other truths can you connect to that might help you to expand your capacity to stay present? 

I feel that this last part is another way to practice gratitude. What are some gifts that you can rely on and feel comforted by? What is your true essence? Who are you, really? When we are able to connect to the whole of what we are, we arrive at a place where we can experience love toward the dark parts. We feel able to hold them with compassion instead of being all consumed by our suffering. We learn to recognize that these parts are just that: parts that show up because they are ready to be transformed. Connecting to the part of yourself that got activated in the first place, helps us to tend to what is needed. That need is usually buried deep beneath the surface until it is ready to emerge and be healed. 

In the months to come, see the snow that blankets our world, as if covering up what wants to be born. It shields us just enough to truly feel what is holding us back and what is being held within -all of it beneath the cold and shimmering surface. It challenges us to dig deep inside for what is true. It is a great time to pause. To practice patience and trust. Winter is a gift, a preparation for what is meant to emerge.

The ProcessLisa MessinaThe Process1 Comment