This poem by Emily Pearce pretty perfectly captures how I’m feeling this winter solstice. Naturally, the poet puts it in words far better than I ever could:
She speaks slowly
with a voice like moss,
soft, deep and damp.
If you’re not listening carefully
you might just miss it,
rising out from the earth
like vapour,
gently tugging at your ankles.
“Rest” she says,
“Deeper. Rest as deep as I am.
You are moving too fast.
Become soil,
become the slow-growing tree.
Send your roots deep
into the rich darkness
where they can truly be nourished.
Winter is sanctuary
and you are weary.
Come drink of my stillness
and dream in the dark earth.”
***
“Rest,” she says, “Deeper….You are moving too fast.” Who among us doesn’t relate to these words, particularly this time of year? To heed this call, the winter solstice is perfectly timed. Some may bemoan the shortest day of the year but today it feels a gift; a reminder to drink in some much-needed stillness. In the sprint to the 2018 finish line, many of us (hand held high over here!) have felt fuelled by nothing more than fumes. I had my final client hour of the year yesterday, wrapped the last Christmas present last night. Predictably, I woke up this morning with the flu to accompany my son’s that arrived yesterday. No matter, yet another excuse to laze on the sofa reading, dozing and enjoying the Christmas lights. Winter is sanctuary and you are weary. Come drink of my stillness and dream in the dark earth. Pretty perfect, right?
This blog originally appeared on www.w11wellbeing.com