Winter is a time of rest & to slow down.
I know it’s hard to do that. We’ve spent our entire lives believing we can continually produce. It’s in there, in your bones–the knowing of cycles and how to be with them. It’s going to take time to unravel that and that’s okay. Have you noticed that’s not what really happens in our culture? We push harder to meet end-of-year demands and put all the pressure toward going here and there for the holidays. I’m not suggesting you stop gathering. We need that more than ever. I’m questioning the pressure. Where can we lessen the pressure? Where can we find joy and move toward that?
The Winter solstice reminds us we can’t rush the sun. And we can’t rush healing or connection or unraveling. We can’t rush. The winter is truly the season of Wonder. Think about sitting inside in the warmth and viewing the first snow flurries falling. There’s a silence—fewer people on the roads and the animals finding their respite. I can hear the silence just by reading that, what a wonder.
The lights remind us that the sun will return again. We as may as well draw in the winter as fully as we can. Embracing the present moment that winter is here. We can pretend it’s a different cycle, one of growth and movement but living falsely like can only continue on for so long before the Great Mother Earth reminds us that we must honor her cycles so that we can live fully.
Candles, strings of lights, fireplaces.. all lights that bring us warm reminders that the sun will return. Is there a way to slow down and look for the joy in the slow? Can you take a mindful moment to feel how winter is different than fall or spring?
Various practices lean into the slow and warmth of the light in winter.
One of my kiddos was born on the winter solstice. Every year we read a book about how special it is to be born on that day. It’s the shortest day of the sun where we are. It’s a time to reflect and be with special people. There was once I time I didn’t honor this slowing down. You may remember that version of me.
December and winter is the picture of anticipation. This whole month feels like anticipation. Waiting for snowfall. Waiting for presents. Holidays being the precursor to the New Year. Waiting for the new year. Looking forward to family. Anticipating Spring.
If we want to live with the seasons so we can feel more of a flow (this has been my greatest life “hack”*) we can settle into this anticipatory feeling. What are looking forward to right now? And what would it be like if you felt into that feeling totally and completely? What arises for you when you think about allowing yourself to look forward to something? Where do you feeling it within your body?
For me, it’s a warming and tingling feeling in the front of my arms. It’s like I want to reach forward to hug someone I love.
I’m anticipating my new course in January. It feels so soothing to think about birthing this concept into the world. I’m so thrilled so many of you have reflected your curiosity and excitement back to me. That means so much to me. It’s never easy to be vulnerable and put a concept into the world and hope it’s received with the same love and diligence you gave to it.
With that, I’m super grateful to announce I’ll be adding a second course to the schedule because the first is full!! Thank you. Truly. It’s fulfilling to be of service to you and my community.
You can now join me for BODY WISDOM on Saturday morning or Sunday evening. The classes will be different because the vibe will be different but I ask you stick to one class so the group can begin building trust within their container. Many of you replied saying, “OMG this sounds amazing but the time doesn’t work.” I get it. It’s early! So, I hope for those of you, the Sunday time will work.
You will need to register for either Saturday or Sunday. And if you’re unsure, you can join me for the free preview, on zoom, on Thursday 1/2/25 at 530P
*I say hack here because we’ve gone away from this cyclical living that it seems almost counterculture at this point.
Sara Newberry, founder of Somatic Sole Massage in Saint Louis, MO, offers a sanctuary for mothers, blending massage therapy with reverence for the transformative journey of motherhood. Specializing in Myofascial Ashiatsu Barefoot Massage therapy and stress transformation, Sara’s holistic approach combines ancestral wisdom with contemporary practices to support mothers through childbirth and the postpartum period. Beyond the massage table, Sara fosters a trauma-informed environment at Somatic Sole, empowering clients to embrace wellness as a way of life, while also mentoring fellow therapists and nurturing a community dedicated to holistic healing.
