The Bear Totem
In this life, I’m a woman. In my next life, I’d like to come back as a bear.
When you’re a bear, you get to hibernate. You do nothing but sleep for six months. I could deal with that.
Before you hibernate, you’re supposed to eat yourself stupid. I could deal with that too.
When you’re a girl bear, you birth your children (who are the size of walnuts) while you’re sleeping and wake to partially grown, cute, cuddly cubs. I could definitely deal with that.
If you’re mama bear, everyone knows you mean business. You swat anyone who bothers your cubs. If your cubs get out of line, you swat them too. I could deal with that.
If you’re a bear, your mate EXPECTS you to wake up growling. He EXPECTS that you will have hairy legs and excess body fat.
Yup, gonna be a bear!
Author Unknown
But more seriously…
We need the rest.
We need the darkness.
We need the silence, the stillness and the peace.
Winter is a pause in the dark and invites us to a suspension, a moment out of time. There is a strong pull to slow down, to go within, to quieten, to nurture ourselves. It is the most Yin time of year, that means the most dark, most cold, most still, most quiet, most inward, most receptive, most feminine, most Watery time of the year…We are invited to stay in the silent cold darkness and ponder, to actually HONOR that (rather than push against it or try to keep going), well, that’s what will serve us, our energy and our health the most this Winter... Our modern world and the demands we put on ourselves can keep us from our most important work in winter: REST.
Winter can be a really nurturing time. It is meant to nourish our spirit deeply. Like nature and the animal kingdom around us, this time of hibernation is necessary for our tired limbs, our burdened minds.
It asks us to allow for the Listening, Visioning and Dreaming, to align, as much as we can, with the Winter energy. Plus… Well, Mercury is in the microwave again… as my husband would put it…
Really a good time of the year to embrace the Bear Totem!
Understanding Women's Cyclic Nature
As the world outside settles into the quiet embrace of winter, it’s a perfect time to reflect on the intrinsic connection between the female body’s cyclic nature and the seasonal changes. For centuries, women have been intimately attuned to their bodies' ebbs and flows, mirroring the rhythm of the changing seasons. This natural synchronicity between a woman's internal cycles and the external environment deserves attention, especially when considering the significance of rest during the winter season.
A woman's body operates in cycles—monthly menstrual rhythms, hormonal fluctuations, and energy variations—that are inextricably linked to our overall well-being. These cyclic patterns echo the cycles of the Moon and the changing seasons, with winter representing a period of inward reflection and restoration. The overlapping nature of a woman's internal cycles and the winter season underscores the importance of honoring these rhythms for holistic health.
Winter's Influence on Women's Well-being
Winter's arrival often brings challenges that can impact a woman's physical, mental, and emotional health. The colder, darker days might coincide with feelings of fatigue, mood changes, and heightened introspection. For many women, these seasonal shifts can intertwine with their natural cycles, potentially amplifying the need for rest and self-care during this time.
Amidst the wintry landscape, embracing rest becomes not just a luxury but a necessity for women. Rest is a cornerstone of nurturing our cyclic nature during this season. It allows for replenishment, aids in harmonizing internal rhythms, and supports the body's natural ability to rejuvenate.
Nurturing Self-care Practices
To embrace the winter rest, we can cultivate self-care practices tailored to honor our cyclic nature. This might include cozy moments of solitude, reading, knitting or creating art, indulging in warm herbal teas, gentle movement like Qi Gong or nature walks, and fostering mindfulness through meditation or journaling. Prioritizing sleep and nourishing foods also play pivotal roles in sustaining women’s well-being during the winter months
It's crucial to encourage a mindset shift that celebrates honoring our cyclic nature . Rather than resisting the need for rest or feeling pressured to maintain constant productivity, embracing these natural rhythms fosters self-compassion and empowerment. Winter serves as an invitation to honor the innate cyclic patterns within, allowing us to reconnect with ourselves on a deeper level.
As the winter season blankets the world in its serene embrace, let's acknowledge and honour our cyclic feminine nature. By recognizing the importance of rest during this season and aligning with our natural rhythms, we can navigate winter with grace, nurturing our well-being and fostering a deeper connection to our inner selves. Embracing the restorative power of winter ultimately leads to a more harmonious and fulfilling journey through this cyclically evolving life, as well as a renewed energy and dynamism when the season changes and spring arrives to wake us up!
So much for today ...
I would be so happy to hear from you about all that.
Thank you in advance for your comment.
See you soon, for my next online adventures!
Until then I send you love, light and gratitude.
Isaya
PS: And yet...
Winter is also a season to dream, to plan, to create a vision for the year to come… and for that, I’ve got you covered!
How about entering 2024 in a creative, fun, aligned way?
Let's spend 3 hours together creating our vision boards for 2024 in inspiration, intuition, and imagination !
We start with a meditation so we open up for change and the new coming... We let go of the old and welcome the new...
Then we get our fingers dirty and create a physical Vision Board for our 2024 amazing year! (We work with limited art supplies, you get sent a list when you book, this is NOT a digital vision board workshop)
We meet on Zoom on Saturday, January 13th, 4pm UK (check your time zones here: https://bit.ly/3FFRJMR)
The workshop lasts around 3 hours.
BEGINNERS AND ALL ARTISTS WELCOME!!
https://isayabelle.thrivecart.com/2024-vision-board-afternoon/
