Align with your self and the season

Return to Reverence

Juliette Jarvis

As we move through the longest nights of the year, many of us feel a pull toward cozy time indoors, maybe quiet crafting, reading, baking, or sipping tea while watching the weather outside.

Many also feel a call to gather with friends and family for feasting, revelry, gift giving, and uplifting spirits through what have traditionally been the leanest months.

Festivals, rituals, and celebrations abound through winter holy days of many traditions; Hanukkah, Solstice, St. Lucia’s Day, Kwanzaa, and Christmas are just a few! All are rich with acts of devotion that bring a sense of meaning, whether observed alone or with others.

It is also a time where many of us feel heightened pain of loved ones not present with us through our annual traditions. Long dark nights on their own can be very hard on a hurting heart. Added financial strain from social pressure to entertain, give gifts, or prepare feasts can compound feelings of overwhelm along with the incongruence of added busy-ness while the natural world invites us into slower living.

Wherever we land along this wide spectrum of experiencing this time of year, we may find soul level remedies with first honouring what is present within our feeling body, followed with a dedication to tend to what we personally need most, particularly through any activities, obligations or expectations – even those we are excited for.

This may mean reaching out to community for cultivating connection, or politely passing on invi tations being extended. It may mean finding alterna tives to increased spend ing like hosting a potluck rather than providing a full spread, or opting for one or two simple, mean ingful gifts rather than giving a pile of presents.

Collaborating with others to plan a festivity, or letting others take the lead may bring relief to those who tend to “do it all” or provide an avenue for those who desire company, but don’t know where to begin. Scaling back expectations or being honest about limited energy resources instead of travelling to multiple destinations helps with tired tempers, and vice versa, increasing time with friends, family, or community engagement can help keep loneliness at bay.

Even making efforts to pause for self nurturing times in between activities can make a big difference.

Take an extended coffee break, disconnect from social media for a little while, sneak away to nap mid-gathering, do what you need to follow your in nermost needs and restore a sense of alignment with Self and season.

Juliette Jarvis offers sacred living programs online, de votional arts, and divination sessions. Find her at www. SelkieSanctuary.com and www.3FoldBalance.com