A look into the Seasons of the Soul.
I was hoping to find a catchy phrase within the word winter that could give meaning to this season at hand. While the root word comes from the German word ‘wintruz’ meaning winter (not so catchy), I thought of the prefix ‘inter’ which is found within the word winter. Although it is not a prefix here it is defined by Miriam Webster as ‘among, between, and in the midst’ , so I have created and titled this writing with the word ‘InterWinter’. The awareness that winter is among us and we are in the midst of its season. Winter gives a serene stillness in the space between fall and spring.
This is a season where Saskatchewan Canada and other Northern places of the world are found to be frozen and dormant. The snow sparkles like diamonds as it reflects the brightness of the sun, blanketing the evergreens with the stunning contrast of light and darkness beneath the brilliant hue of a clear blue sky. The air is cool, crisp, and smells so pure and fresh. It is healing to the soul to take it in and yet not feel it’s chill in the warmth of being bundled up in winter outer wear. Some mornings give the surprise of the glory of hoar frost glistening in iridescent brilliance, leaving the heart in awe and wonder.
Other days don’t feel so beautiful and brilliant. They are marked with biting winds, frigid temperatures, and blizzards. Winter can be a dreaded season, longed to be over, positioning oneself to endure. It can be a season filled with busyness and activity, going by without much notice.
Just as the seasons unfold in the world around us, they give a beautiful metaphor and parallel to seasons that unfold within the human soul. The season of winter within is described many ways; a season of the soul where things feel frozen, stuck, with no signs of life. A season where longings may have gone dormant, with no signs of fruition. A season of loss to what once was. A season of stillness where there is a sense of spinning our wheels with no outward movement. A season where things once full of life now feel cold, frigid, lifeless, with potential blizzards looming or happening. A season of change where there is the embracing and adapting to a new season. A season where in the awareness of embracing what is, there is a letting go of what was to take hold of what is to come.
Among many things, in the ‘inter’ of winter, there can be the temptation to endure and push through, to fill the soul with busyness leaving one unaware of the inner season. There can be the temptation to avoid, looking to anything else to keep the once felt warmth alive. Yet, winter in its stillness can be a season to slow the soul alongside nature. It can echo the call of the wild to become aware, notice, and take in the beauty of glistening, brilliant dormancy in anticipation of what is to come. It can become a time to reflect and embrace, to be in the midst of its presence in its days among us within the safety and comfort of the warmth of home. Home in this context being a safe space free from pressures and outcomes to embrace what is within and safety in relationships that make room for the exploration of embracing.
The heart of embracing the ‘inter’ in winter within the soul rather than avoiding or distracting in all its storms, felt coldness, and bitter winds, is vulnerable territory. The mix of beauty and frigidity in the ‘inter’ of winter takes courage and trusting the process. Just as we trust that winter breaks forth to the newness of spring, it is also trustworthy that in embracing what lies intertwined, interwoven, intervening within the winter of the human soul will break forth, in its time, to the wonder of newness in the blossoming of what is to come.
Is there or has there been a season of winter within your soul? Are you or have you been able to embrace and make room within for what is among, between, and in the midst? Are you anticipating or have you seen newness come from embracing a season of winter?
Tamara Strijack gives a beautiful reflection resonating the theme of 'InterWinter' in embracing the season within.
The Wonder of Wandering in the ‘Inter’ of Winter
“You were expecting something different I am guessing. Winter is often associated with the word ‘wonder’, but I want to talk a little about how, for me, winter is a time to wander. Wandering is about exploring without a set goal or time or expectation. This is a season where I feel especially drawn to wander - slowly, without agenda - through the woods and through my thoughts - to notice what has been quietly hiding, dormant. Emotions that may have been waiting to be unearthed are gently stirred, and in this space between there is room to feel both the earth and the awakening of my heart. If I linger in that place for a while, and not run away or distract myself, I may touch a loss still tender but somehow in this timeless space I can go there, for I am in good company. The trees, the flowers, the plants, are also grieving, but only for a season for they innately understand it is part of the process and spring will arrive . . .on its own time.” Tamara Strijack
Take a few moments to close your eyes, take a few deep breaths, become aware of your breathing and allow any tension in your body to drain away from the top of your head to the tip of your toes. Notice what is stirring within. What season are you in within your soul? How can you take steps to embrace this inner season?