Trees Grow Most in Winter
We’ve arrived in spring!
For today...
1) Trees grow most in winter
2) Honoring the seasons and cycles
3) Courageous allowing
4) Invitation to pause and reflect
5) Want support navigating seasons and cycles?
Trees grow most in winter
After this migration to the Northeast last year, I’ll confess that I’m feeling all kinds of grateful for the shifting of the light, the singing of the birds, and the arrival of spring.
The snowy days have been lovely, and my kiddo has delighted in them, but returning to days of more light – and less clothing – is reason for celebration in my world!
But before we shift into spring, are you aware that trees grow most in winter?
While trees appear to be dormant in winter, there’s actually a whole lot happening beneath the surface. They are operating in this invisible, unseen world of the earth’s soil, deepening roots and preparing for spring.
They spend the season growing, searching, gathering and integrating water and nutrients from the soil.
They do this so that they can emerge in full bloom in spring - growing buds, flowers and leaves in the right timing.
And yet, all outward expressions are in a stage of rest. The branches will expend their outward-focused energy in another moment when the buds, flowers and leaves burst forth. But winter is their time for rest.
Honoring the seasons and cycles
An important part of my work involves recognizing and aligning with natural seasons and cycles – within us and around us (and it’s extraordinary to see how much of this supports nervous system healing).
When we humans allow ourselves to tap into these natural cycles within ourselves that call us to an inward focus and restoration, the deeper evolution, growth, and healing can happen with greater ease.
Even when nothing appears to be happening.
Even when we don’t see the results until a season (or more) later.
This past winter in the Northeastern US, I’ve found myself embracing winter more than ever. I’ve been able to tap into my own experience of winter in my body, mind and spirit.
I’ve been able to honor my desire to turn inward, to do deeper reflection in these darker days, to be quiet and restful in my inner exploration, and to resist the temptation to push through and override the quiet.
In giving myself permission to go deep into winter, I’ve been able to grow my capacity for heightened energy expenditure in another moment, and my understanding of how to support others in their winters.
I have a number of clients and students who have been moving through different stages of winter – and the more they’ve allowed the honest expression of the season within them, the more they’ve been growing and healing - and on the other side, they emerge with creativity and fresh energy for what's next.
Courageous allowing
The trees don’t question the cycles or feel they need to grow leaves in winter – they simply move with life's rhythms and cycles.
What if we gave ourselves permission to do the same - to move with life's rhythms and cycles?
For many, it’s an act of trust to do this – to allow winter to settle into our cells and take temporary residence.
It's a courageous act, because we are trained in our patriarchal, capitalist world that we must be always available, always working, always ON, and that we should override the cycles and seasons within us (and around us).
But here’s the thing – we move through winter, we allow the quiet and the rest. And then spring comes next.
In support of our nervous systems, we can seek what is stable and predictable – and this is built into the cycling of the seasons.
Our seasons are stable and predictable.
Spring follows winter.
Invitation to Pause and Reflect:
So before you leap into spring, I invite you to take a moment and ask yourself...
How have you allowed yourself to be in your own winter, presently or in the past (instead of fighting it)?
What is the growth, healing or nutrient gathering (emotional, physical, spiritual) you’ve been able to do in that time?
What have you noticed emerge following your winter?
What is one small thing you can do right now to honor the cycle or season you're in right now?
As always, please reflect with gentleness and self-compassion (no need for judgment).
Learning to honor and trust the cycles and seasons takes practice, and commitment.
Here's what I know...
The more you are able to trust in and honor your own inner rhythms, cycles and seasons, the more you can do in the world.
Honoring them allows you to do the inner capacity building, growth and healing needed to tend to the world, to your projects, your children, your students, your work and life.
The greater your capacity, the more you can serve in the world.
The world needs you well.
With love and many blessings,
Kelly
p.s. Our internal seasons don’t always align with the external seasons. That’s perfectly alright if yours aren't. But allowing ourselves to make note of how aligned we can be with cycles and seasons is a powerful thing – and can help us move to the next right aligned action in our lives.
Want support navigating seasons and cycles?
Perhaps you’re navigating your own shifting of seasons and would like support moving through winter and into spring.
Or you need to focus your attention on creating your own structure for self-care and well-being as you navigate the seasons and create change in the world.
Or you would like support navigating the impact on your nervous system of the seasons, internal and external, work or personal.
If any of the above applies, or you've got something big you're visioning and want support seeing it through, I invite you to reach out to have a conversation.
Connect with me HERE and we can set up a time to discuss what you're wanting and if we're a fit. Reach out if you're ready to do some deep work and want to explore what's possible.