The transition from Winter to Spring is sensitive and important to honor well. A time I refer to as “coming through the narrows” – moving from the contracted cave of winter out into Spring. I actually feel that in earth time, Spring is the true new year, a powerful time to set ourselves up for the coming year with ground, power and clear vision. For most living beings this transition occurs seamlessly because they are synced with the cycles of the earth. People, however, are constantly trying to bypass natural cycles. We are addicted to doing and curse anything that gets in the way of our constructed cycles of productivity and time. So, instead of gradually transitioning into Spring, most of us leap into it at the earliest signs of warmth and new growth, setting ourselves up to repeat cycles of burn-out. But as living beings of this earth, we too have the ability to responsibly ease our way into the new year. In order to do so, we must look back to where we came from, Winter.

WINTERS WHISPERS

The last few years I’ve greeted Spring after spending an entire winter in one my cold Northern home - no escape to sunny locales - no escaping what’s writhing in me, begging to be noticed. I’m glad I stayed – it feels like the first time I have truly been able to sink into the medicine of winter’s quiescent touch. How it holds and cocoons in order to shape and digest the body from the previous year. A touch that works through stillness. It was beautiful and AGITATING! I realized at the end of it all that winter, when we surrender to it’s potency, is meant to be uncomfortable. Of all the seasons, it is the most discerning, contracting around us drawing focus inward and downward to the roots holding a mirror to the lives we have grown thus far asking with razor sharp focus:

“What is no longer tolerable to carry?” 

I could feel so viscerally the response, the actual weight and burden of thoughts, patterns, relationships and actions that have become outdated for the life that is drawing me in. It created an inertia so strong I had no choice but to be still. I was left with just enough reserves of energy that I had to choose my actions with mature, slow steps and a thoughtful heart to make it through the days without depleting myself. In this way I was able to feel – am I making choices that feed me or bleed me? The ultimate discernment process. At first I felt agony in this contracted space falling victim to familiar scripts of “Why me? Where is the support? Why can’t I do more? What’s the point?” Fortunately, I came to this crossing with winter after many years feeding the Sage inside of me. Sage let me wail and complain for a short while, than it’s ground came to soothe my cries while also telling tales of Winter’s beauty revealing it’s deeper purpose as a kind advocate for justice. The season that stands up for us – demanding release of anything that may be exploiting us. It drew me outside towards the snow and barren trees where I felt and saw immediate spaciousness. The contraction from the cold turned into comforting blankets to hold me as I stepped out into a landscape awaiting the release of my burdensome baggage. Mere breathing was all it took to let go so I could reclaim space and energy within my inner landscape. Here I learned how to flow in stillness and that the discernment process of winter is necessary so that we are left only with seeds for spring that serve our becoming. 

COMING THROUGH THE NARROWS: TOOLS AND RESOURCES

Moving through the contracted narrows of winter to Spring in a good way takes mindful reflection and action to help prepare the physical, emotional and energy body to slowly expand as the energy of the earth does as well. Taking time for this process allows us to sync with the energy of our earth so that we pace ourselves for the year to come. In fact, did you know that the spring blooms are an expression of buds that were created in the summer prior? Take that in - how does that change the way we might be approaching goals, making plans, “goals” and the idea of a “new year”?

In my work with empathic leaders and organizations, the one offering I consistently have to provide is support on healthy pacing. So much frustration, conflict, burn-out, overwhelm, “failure”, is often rooted in accelerated, urgent plans that do not account for natural imperative periods of rest and integration, or awareness of the time it takes to develop relational strength for a new pattern, project, or cycle to flourish.

I invite you to experiment with a new norm this year, to understand and feel in your body the true story of Spring and how to transition into it conciously. Below are some guiding steps to support you. Take what resonates and feels doable, leave what doesn’t, make it your own. Trust your intuition.

IF NOTHING ELSE DO THIS

The best way to sync up with the energy of spring is to be in close relationship with it. There really is no substitute. This can be as simple as meditative walks, or stepping outside your front door, paying attention to what’s blooming and what’s not. Feel the change in temperature, the increase in light, the fragrant scents and sounds of the changing season. This practice allows us to stay grounded in the pacing of the seasons transition, to soak up Spring into our cells through our senses and body. Spring doesn’t come all at once, the plants, air and light give beautiful reflections on how to use our energy and how to conserve it as the season unfurls, with time, into its blossoming. 

REFLECTION EXERCISES

• REMEMBER. Take a moment to remember the winter – at first just reflect on the season as a whole. What stands out, how did it feel (sensations, textures, or emotions)? You can do this through movement, drawing, writing, singing, whatever you are called to do.

• MAKE A LIST. After taking yourself back see if you can easily identify any recurring thoughts, emotions, patterns or experiences that felt frustrating or agitating (besides weather related frustration). OR complete the prompt “It is no longer tolerable to carry….” As an example, I was consistently moving through feelings of loneliness.

• FIND THE GEM. Take each “agitation” and complete the prompt “The gift of (insert agitation here) is….”. For example, the loneliness I felt caused me to reflect deeply on how my current lifestyle feeds an experience of loneliness which than allowed me to identify key shifts I need to make in order to feel more connected.

• DISTILL. Distill the gifts of winter’s agitations into prayers or intentions – seeds that you want to cultivate over this year. For example, I have planted a seed of welcoming aligned collaboration into my home and work life this year. 

• REPEAT. Repeat the process with what felt consistently supportive throughout the Winter. Tune into the persistent thoughts, actions, or people, that offered new perspective, and support through the hard Wintery days. Bring them with you into Spring.

The reflection process can be challenging at times BE GENTLE. It’s a delicate balance identifying gifts from our wounds. Also the process of creating medicine from difficult emotions or circumstances can feel impossible at times. Do what feels doable, trust what comes – whatever insights you come to are worthy of celebrating and will build in the years to come. It can also be really helpful to get support from a practitioner through this process, or reflect in community if it feels good. 

FOR YOUR BODY

• MOVE YOUR BODY. It is especially important to move our bodies more than usual during the winter-spring transition. The inertia from winter causes us to slow down creating stagnation in our muscles, cells and energy. Begin with more gentle movement and gradually strengthen your routines over the weeks. Check out Dr. Montserrat Andrey’s Instagram feed for simple, fun, foundational movement exercises @hearthealthcareforartists

• LOVE YOUR LEGS AND FEET. Give them lots of attention. They are the point of contact for your grounding – self massage, walks, exercises (squats, lunges, foam rolling the legs) to activate, strengthen and care for our lower bodies. This will help ground as spring energy asks us to expand. We cannot expand safely without having solid rooting and grounding. 

• WATER. Drink extra amounts of water – making sure to add minerals and electrolytes to help with absorption and replenishing after the winter.

• SLEEP. It’s OK and natural if you are sleeping more than usual at this time. The transition into Spring takes roughly a month after equinox. Did you know that in the Spring, trees spend most of their energy growing their roots to prepare for the growth that comes in Summer? It takes them a lot of energy to do all that foundational growth. In the same way, for the humxn body, once it warms and we can move more readily, our body needs time and continued rest to actively root and wake up into our Spring bodies. 

FOR YOUR ENERGY BODY

• BREATHE. Seasonal transitions often coincide with the release of lots of latent energy. To help release that energy take deep sweeping breaths directed into your feet, and soft belly breaths often. This can happen in the morning, at night, or throughout the day. Let your body be a guide to how and when. 

• WEED. The winter is a time to recognize what has become a weed in our lives and needs removing. Winter offers the opportunity to become consciously aware of our “weeds” and the weeks of transition into Spring are prime for doing the work of removing our “weeds”. It’s also the time when weeds physically pop-up from the earth - becoming visible. Weeding as a meditative and cleansing practice can be very potent at this time for energetically, physically and emotionally releasing 

• GET SUPPORT from a practitioner. There is a lot you can do on your own and, when we are able, it’s important to also get support. Outside guidance, so we can see ourselves and our evolution clearly is especially important during seasonal thresholds. I like to go to a trusted practitioner at this time of year to help me with my own pacing. To share what I’m dreaming of and have them reflect back to me what is possible for the year while honouring my body, my healing process, my relationships and my spirit.

Congratulations on making it through the Winter. Regardless of how you spent the Winter, it’s a feat to make it to the other side. I hope you can take time to recognize that and find space to slowly ease your way into Spring and the new year.

With so much love,
Kirin

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  Thank you, from my heart to yours.

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