The Nourishing Dark of Winter

The winter solstice is somewhat of a paradox. On December 21st, we mark the time in which the day is shortest and night is longest. We often view this as "the beginning of winter," the entry point into a time of greatest darkness, when nature all around and within us quiets down. 

And yet, from the winter solstice on, every day ushers in more light. Every day brings us closer to the growing season and the full sunlight of summer under which the previously dormant seeds of winter bear fruit. 

Perhaps this paradox holds the key to balance in this season. Knowing that the light lengthens each day helps us trust the darkness. 

After all, this darkness is the rich nutritive substance -- not unlike the dark womb in which we began life -- where dreams are seeded and from which new possibilities are born.

PERSONAL PRACTICE FOR WINTER BALANCE: 
Amidst the hub-bub of daily life, the holiday season, and the wrapping up of the year, it's vital to find some space for nourishing silence. This recalibrates our energy and helps us regenerate the fuel to keep going. Whenever you can and for as long as you can, turn your attention to the silence all around you. Listen for it. Find it in between sounds. Discover the places inside your body where the same silence resides. Breathe into the silence inside. Breathe out to the silence outside. Let the quiet nourish you.