Seasonal Rhythms

Photo by Maria Orlova from Pexels

There are many rhythms in the natural world. As our earth rotates on its axis, we have the cycles of day and night. Our moon dictates the ebb and flow of the tides, and our planet’s orbit around the sun creates our seasons. 

For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it is now time for the winter season. As we approach the winter solstice on December 21, our days are getting shorter and shorter. The plants and animals live in harmony with the cycles and seasons. Trees, plants, and seeds go dormant for winter, and some animals hibernate. It is a time to slow down and conserve energy.

Colder weather and shorter days herald this transition into winter, but we can feel it in other ways too. We respond to the hush, stillness, and purity that a fresh snowfall brings with a sense of awe and reverence, and it seems that all of nature does as well. 

As part of nature ourselves, we can benefit from honoring the natural flow of the seasons. Of course we want to take part in the holiday celebrations, but this is also a time to slow down, allow our bodies to rejuvenate, relax in the company of our loved ones, and feel the reverence that the hush of new fallen snow brings. 

Reading a good book is the perfect activity for this quiet, slower rhythm of winter. There are many excellent books to be found in the JMSI and Belk Libraries!