With the waning of the sun and the coming of a long night, our Christmas culture always seemed counterintuitive to me. There’s a lot of pressure to get things accomplished at work (to earn the rest of the Christmas break), to run around buying and wrapping gifts, overbook yourself with social activities, etc. Get all your posts scheduled…
With the waning of the sun and the coming of a long night, our Christmas culture always seemed counterintuitive to me. There’s a lot of pressure to get things accomplished at work (to earn the rest of the Christmas break), to run around buying and wrapping gifts, overbook yourself with social activities, etc. Get all your posts scheduled ahead of time! Quick, write about the season’s change! This is the last opportunity you have to make the most out of the year!
As someone who is in tune with Earth, I want to do the exact opposite. I want to slow down to a complete stop, feel the stillness of the winter air, and be quiet enough to hear the coming of a new dawn.
Regardless of how you like to experience this season, I hope that all of you are able to find a moment of contentment with the progress you’ve made in 2023, and are able to have at least a small moment of stillness to welcome the dawn of a new year and the new challenges/accomplishments to come.
Absolutely feel the disconnect between the December social calendar and the natural rhythms. My solution this year is I've scheduled the first ten days of January to have NOTHING scheduled and just be with me to reset.
Brava! I think I will take a page from your journal. I just left ministry this year and thoughtful December 2023 would be nearly serene, but somehow it's be busier than ever. I write about Creation care and that means I have to align my rhythms with Earth if I am to be true to my content. Thanks for the affirmation / prompt.
really resonate with this, Kerry – I'm spending the last two weeks of the month reading through all my journal entries from the year and meditating on the themes that emerge. it's my favorite ritual of the year :) then heading into the woods with friends to set intentions for 2024!
Thank you for this gentle reminder! I'm also trying to harmonize more with the seasons and started a practice called Creative Contemplation this year to do so more intentionally. I'm hosting a soft, reflective Winter Solstice gathering tonight and will offer a meditation, pull some tarot cards and end with some journal prompts. I'd love for anyone who'd like a moment of sacred pause and connection to join!
You are so right Kerry! Our house is where the family gathers for Christmas, so I always feel pressured. Then I realized I can pair down and I bet no one would even notice! Still trying to get a few Christmas movie reviews up by the end of the week tho!
Totally with you on this Kerry. And, funnily enough, I have a poem I turned into a video on exactly this subject. It's called Alter the Frequency, and invites readers / listeners to pause and contemplate the wonder of a star-filled night sky. If it brings you some peace at this moment, please, be my guest!
It's a crazy time. So much going on and a lot of pressure both personally and professionally. That moment of stillness is so important! None of us ever seem to be still. Also may I add some silliness too! Let's laugh more. It's supposed to be a jolly time after all. Have a jolly, jolly Christmas everyone! sabrinalabow.substack.com
Thank you. YES. I did a video on my Holiday Monkey Business this week. My heart loves to create and make and share. But WOW the pressures this time of year make it harder to connect with the seasons of the Earth, the deeper pull of quiet and darkness. Next year I'm committed to unhook from Holiday madness.
Oh wow that's fascinating. As an Aussie I am about to experience summer solstice, and it's been a busy build up to the silly season (as always). I enjoy the big end of year build up to climax and the gentle run down into the lazy days of summer.
Until I read your comment, Kerry, I had no idea I had instinctively organised for today (solstice, it's already Friday here) to be my big work/chores climax, and for my year to wind down slowly from here. Now I realise I am following some beautiful cosmic energy pattern. Thank you!
Omg, this is it. I have not been feeling in the spirt of this season because it’s off. There’s too much pressure to decorate, meet up, purchase, eat… I have been wanting holidays to be slow and restful, contemplative. Winter Solstice is usually a relief for me, the days will be longer even if they’re not warmer and I can plan for the season.
I am with you on having more stillness. There is far too much noise.
It is weird but it’s Christmas and summer here, and all I want to do is get out of the heat. The weather has obliged by making it cool and rainy today.
With the waning of the sun and the coming of a long night, our Christmas culture always seemed counterintuitive to me. There’s a lot of pressure to get things accomplished at work (to earn the rest of the Christmas break), to run around buying and wrapping gifts, overbook yourself with social activities, etc. Get all your posts scheduled ahead of time! Quick, write about the season’s change! This is the last opportunity you have to make the most out of the year!
As someone who is in tune with Earth, I want to do the exact opposite. I want to slow down to a complete stop, feel the stillness of the winter air, and be quiet enough to hear the coming of a new dawn.
Regardless of how you like to experience this season, I hope that all of you are able to find a moment of contentment with the progress you’ve made in 2023, and are able to have at least a small moment of stillness to welcome the dawn of a new year and the new challenges/accomplishments to come.
Absolutely feel the disconnect between the December social calendar and the natural rhythms. My solution this year is I've scheduled the first ten days of January to have NOTHING scheduled and just be with me to reset.
Yes, exactly. And that’s excellent 👌 Unfortunately I have to work the new year, so I find myself being selfish with my time and space.
Sounds like self-protective in the best possible way to me.
Brava! I think I will take a page from your journal. I just left ministry this year and thoughtful December 2023 would be nearly serene, but somehow it's be busier than ever. I write about Creation care and that means I have to align my rhythms with Earth if I am to be true to my content. Thanks for the affirmation / prompt.
really resonate with this, Kerry – I'm spending the last two weeks of the month reading through all my journal entries from the year and meditating on the themes that emerge. it's my favorite ritual of the year :) then heading into the woods with friends to set intentions for 2024!
curious if others do an annual review?
https://www.moremyself.xyz/p/annual-23
Hi Cissy
I use Start. Stop. Continue. for my annual review.
It's simple and powerful.
love how simple it is! hope you had a meaningful 2023 review season
Thank you Cissy!
Yes indeed, had a very useful review 🙏🌷
A blessing of being Jewish. Hehehe.
I'm up here in the north pole with my eye on you CK Steefel, I might just tell Santa to stop by!!!❤
Pleeeaase! I’d love to meet Santa. 🎅
You would tickle his funny bone!
Thank you for this gentle reminder! I'm also trying to harmonize more with the seasons and started a practice called Creative Contemplation this year to do so more intentionally. I'm hosting a soft, reflective Winter Solstice gathering tonight and will offer a meditation, pull some tarot cards and end with some journal prompts. I'd love for anyone who'd like a moment of sacred pause and connection to join!
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tea-tarot-a-winter-solstice-gathering-tickets-761410558477
Sounds lovely. Lots of wisdom here...
You are so right Kerry! Our house is where the family gathers for Christmas, so I always feel pressured. Then I realized I can pair down and I bet no one would even notice! Still trying to get a few Christmas movie reviews up by the end of the week tho!
Totally with you on this Kerry. And, funnily enough, I have a poem I turned into a video on exactly this subject. It's called Alter the Frequency, and invites readers / listeners to pause and contemplate the wonder of a star-filled night sky. If it brings you some peace at this moment, please, be my guest!
https://vimeo.com/matthewcurlewis/alter-the-frequency
Thank you for this Matthew!
It's a crazy time. So much going on and a lot of pressure both personally and professionally. That moment of stillness is so important! None of us ever seem to be still. Also may I add some silliness too! Let's laugh more. It's supposed to be a jolly time after all. Have a jolly, jolly Christmas everyone! sabrinalabow.substack.com
Thank you. YES. I did a video on my Holiday Monkey Business this week. My heart loves to create and make and share. But WOW the pressures this time of year make it harder to connect with the seasons of the Earth, the deeper pull of quiet and darkness. Next year I'm committed to unhook from Holiday madness.
Oh wow that's fascinating. As an Aussie I am about to experience summer solstice, and it's been a busy build up to the silly season (as always). I enjoy the big end of year build up to climax and the gentle run down into the lazy days of summer.
Until I read your comment, Kerry, I had no idea I had instinctively organised for today (solstice, it's already Friday here) to be my big work/chores climax, and for my year to wind down slowly from here. Now I realise I am following some beautiful cosmic energy pattern. Thank you!
Ya, the un-synchronization probably contributes to the seasonal death bump that happens every year on the north side of the equator.
Blowing off the commercial portion of the season has helped us a lot.
Omg, this is it. I have not been feeling in the spirt of this season because it’s off. There’s too much pressure to decorate, meet up, purchase, eat… I have been wanting holidays to be slow and restful, contemplative. Winter Solstice is usually a relief for me, the days will be longer even if they’re not warmer and I can plan for the season.
I am with you on having more stillness. There is far too much noise.
Thank you Kerry. Very much feel the same about wanting to slow down and feel the stillness.
It is weird but it’s Christmas and summer here, and all I want to do is get out of the heat. The weather has obliged by making it cool and rainy today.
https://open.substack.com/pub/kerryjane/p/the-maritime-holly-forrest?r=1hz15g&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post