Normally my bedtime is before 10 pm but I stayed up late so I could honor the arrival of the Winter Solstice, which was 12/21/23 at 10:27 pm where I live. I stood outside, gazing at the dark starlit sky, breathing in the brisk, cool air. I expressed my gratitude for this moment, and welcomed Winter with my arms outstretched to the heavens.
Winter here in Upstate New York can be brutal, both in temperature and snowfall amounts. Syracuse is often on the list of top 10 cities in the country for snowfall amounts, averaging about 120 inches per year (our record is 208 inches). The amount of snow can be credited to the geography of central NY, and what's known as lake effect. Snowstorms coming off Lake Ontario intensify and move eastward across the state, sometimes dumping up to 7 feet at once in areas like the Tug Hill Plateau. Winter, technically in terms of days, is the shortest of our four seasons, but feels like the longest sometimes. There have been years when it's snowed from October through May. Sunny days are few and cherished when they occur, as our skies are often blanketed with grays.
As you can imagine, I've had to figure out ways to embrace this season and make the most of it. Once I started doing this, I began noticing the true beauty that is winter, and now I cherish this season and all it has to offer. I offer here some ideas for creating a beautiful winter ritual based on nature, nourishing the body and soul, and nestling in.
Some words and phrases I associate with Winter are:
A time of turning inward
Coziness (Hygge is a Scandinavian concept similar to coziness)
Lights - candles, fires
Gathering
Comfort
Warmth
Peace
Welcoming the dark and cold
Food and drink, cooking
Building - fires for warmth, pantry staples for soups and stews, energy stores in the body
Flow - of Nature and its cycles
Resilience
Pause
Reflect
Restore
Renew
Recharge
Inner growth
Quiet
Slowness
Rest
Winter is a time of year when Nature tends to slow down. The leaves are no longer on trees. I see less wildlife activity in the forest - bears hibernate, deer are less visible, foxes curl up on sunny hillsides to sleep, the chirping of birds is less frequent. Activity doesn't stop, it just slows down. We also need to move a bit slower, so we don't slip on ice or snow, or have an accident while driving. While some may feel invigorated by the chill of Winter, some people may feel that their bodies move a bit slower.
Because of the reduced activity it's also a season of peace - I've stood in the forest many times, only to hear a crackling branch, the wind, or even falling snow. It's one of the most ethereal feelings I've experienced. During this season, Nature is resting, restoring, and recharging for the life that will emerge in the Spring. It's a time when people gather to stay warm, cook and eat together, and may even reduce their activity as the daylight hours and temperatures decrease. It's an opportunity to rest, reflect, restore and renew, as we prepare for the energy and life that Spring brings forth.
It's a season that tests our resilience, as we face the cold, weather, darkness, and illnesses common in the Winter. It's a season that tests our ability to balance cold and warmth, comfort and discomfort. It tests our patience, as we start longing for warmer and sunnier days, and yet it just keeps snowing. Through all of this, we realize how strong we truly are.
Nature
Connecting with Nature is vitally important to human existence and well-being, and doing so in the Winter has had the most impact on how I was able to change the way I felt about and experienced this season.
Walking in a wooded or forested area can be exceptionally grounding, relaxing and invigorating at the same time.
I will still open windows during Winter - the temperature outside of course dictates how long I keep them open, but I do try to allow fresh air inside whenever I can.
Walking outdoors is a wonderful activity any time of year, and Winter is no exception. I walk as long as the weather or temperatures aren't severe, and surfaces are not icy.
Winter activities are another way to get outdoors and embrace the season. Skiiers love this time of year. Since I don't ski, I took up snow shoeing, which is often quite an intense workout, but one that allows me to get some vigorous exercise outdoors.
Spread some bird seed as an offering to creatures who may be struggling to find food this time of year.
Honor the return of the sun with yoga, meditation or an expression of gratitude.
Stand outside and watch snowflakes fall. I love watching them fall onto my winter coat which is dark in color so they stand out - each one is unique. Look at how the snow glistens on the ground, almost like diamonds. Try using the camera on your phone to take a picture of the snow on the ground - you may be surprised how incredibly beautiful your picture turns out, capturing individual snowflakes on a canvas.
Engage your senses and notice the beauty around you. Look at snow on branches of trees, hear the crunch of snow beneath your feet, taste snowflakes on your tongue, smell the pure cold winter air, feel the cold air against your skin and the warmth of your winter garments. Maybe you'll hear an owl in the dark of night, or see the unmistakable figure of a hawk flying overhead.
Notice the color palette of winter with its blues, grays, purples, whites and pinks. There are pops of evergreens, or the brilliant red of the male cardinal sitting among branches covered in snow.
Nourish
Winter is a wonderful time of year to nourish your body, mind and spirit. There are many opportunities to do this during this season.
It's a great time to cook warm meals. Think soups, stews, root vegetables, beans, casseroles. Hearty, comforting foods. Warm drinks like cocoa, coffee, tea, herbal tea, warm water with lemon and honey.
It's a wonderful time to read books or do puzzles or other activities that engage the mind.
Take up a new hobby or stay active in those your already enjoy.
Practice Gluggavedur - an Icelandic word that loosely translates to "window weather." It's weather that is good to watch from indoors through a window, but would be less than enjoyable when outside. Ideally with a warm drink in hand. It allows a break from the stress of life, a time to contemplate and find a moment of calm and quiet.
Caring for our skin is important during the winter months, as lower humidity can lead to dryness. Exfoliating and moisturizing the skin is important, but so is staying healthy from the inside out with proper hydration and wholesome food.
Nestle
Make it cozy and warm!
Soft, cozy fabrics in blankets, pillows, and clothing can make winter much more enjoyable. A plush blanket, warm slippers or fuzzy socks, a good book, a cup of tea...sounds like a cozy nook to me.
Soft lighting can make the indoors feel magical, so anything from a simple table lamp, to candles, to fairy lights.
Proper clothing and footwear. Once I learned how to layer my clothing (sites such as Eastern Mountain Sports or REI have great articles on how to layer), and invested in good quality clothing, outerwear and footwear (that have lasted me for decades), I was able to tolerate the cold of this season much better.
I hope this article inspires you to find ways to look at Winter as the beautiful season it is, full of opportunity for growth, reflection, slowing down and calm, as we recharge and welcome the return of the sun.
Health and joy,
Jeannette
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