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10 min read With spring just around the corner brings fresh perspectives and renewed hope as the daylight stretches, we witness snowdrops pierce their heads above the surface of the winter soil, and catkins pepper birch trees in light shades of green, the signs of a turning point between seasons. Let’s explore how the flux of the natural world can offer us a chance to align with our own wants and needs. You will find book recommendations and journal prompts at the end of the blog post to propel you into spring! Winter: The winter invites us to slow down, hibernate, and restore our energy ready for spring. The short, cold, wet days tell us it’s okay to stay indoors, keep warm, and eat hearty food. There is a wonderful book written by Katherine May, she illustrates “wintering” in such a beautiful way as we follow her experience of wintering through October to March. Her personal insights and that of others she talks to give the reader a greater perspective on what the effect of these colder months can have, and give us a chance to reflect on our personal wintering.  Wintery walk and talk location Spring: Spring steps in when we need it most, when the long stretch of the short days of winter have taken their toll and we ready ourselves for this hopeful season of new life and blossoms in bloom. Motivation increases along with the days as our natural body clock reawakens, we might feel more inclined to get back into the garden, go for longer dog walks or “spring clean” the house, clearing away the clutter that has built up over the last few months in order to make room for what is to come.  Pink plumes of Cherry Blossom Summer: Summer can be an energising time of year, with warm days and light evenings, there is a natural pull to spend more time outdoors among friends and absorbing the joy that the sunshine brings. BBQ’s are brushed down for afternoon feasts, and evenings are spent under festoon string lights as the sun goes down and the remnants of its warmth lingers.  Sun rays piercing through the trees on a warm summers day Autumm: Autumn reminds us that after a summer of expelling energy, we must also make time for rest, the woodlands turn from lush greens to soft russets and yellows, the trees expose their skeletons as they gift their foliage to the earth to send nutrition back into the soil, protecting the life below the forest floor from the anticipated winter frosts. Nature goes into “protective mode” readying for the winter, the gentle crisp in the air is a steadying reminder that it is okay to rest and recharge.  The ground blanketed in autumn leaves Out of our 4 seasons you may have a favourite? My favourite 2 are definitely the transitional seasons of spring and autumn, for me, they are a gift for change and growth, to rest and recharge, permission given to us from nature that although the modern world does not stop, the cyclical predictability of our changing environment overrides this, and it is okay to tune into what it means to be human and live in the natural world. In Lia Leedertz “The Almanac,” she offers guidance as to how to stay in touch with what each season has to offer. The book follows each month of the year, reflecting on how we can align with the 4 seasons according to the 12 months, this lovely book is a mindful way of connecting with the world around us, reminding us that we are intrinsically linked to nature and the elements, giving us the opportunity to enjoy each season for its unique offerings. The Seasons vs The 21st Century The modern world does not offer much room for us to stop, to look up and around, to readjust and align, or to reflect and ponder. With artificial lighting, caffeine, and the allure of that time-consuming screen attached to our hand it has become increasingly difficult to switch off from the demands of living in the 21st century, mind you, you won’t see me turning down my morning coffee anytime soon!  My attempt at latte art (lucky loveheart!) For most of us it requires a conscious effort to put down our phones and pause to take a full deep breath, one where you notice the rise and fall of your belly, not the short, sharp inhale that makes your chest rise and fall, even breathing has become more “efficient” in the mission to conquer how many hours we can get out of the day.* * Note, this is not a more efficient way to breathe, just a less mindful one, take this moment as a chance to notice how you are breathing, is your chest or belly moving up and down? Now take 3 full deep belly breaths with a longer out breaths, I promise you’ll feel better for it! If we listened to what the seasons were telling us then we might just give ourselves some breathing room and realise why we are feeling sluggish in January, why our new year’s resolutions to eat well, stick to a militant style exercise regime, journal daily, cut back on screen time, save more money (what money in January?!), text back to people quicker, and make sure to stay on top of the dusting have all but diminished by January the 6th. We are tired and depleted, we have just spent all of our emotional energy and financial reserves over the preparation and partaking in Christmas and New Year, at a time when nature is saying SLOW DOWN! We have gone from all to nothing in the space of a minute between 23:59 to 00:00 as the clock ticks over to the 1st of January. Our ancestors would have been afforded the luxury of time, they would have preserved their energy huddled together in caves and around fires, sleeping when the sun went down at 4pm and rising with it at 8am in the height of winter. Arguably, this could be seen as an “extreme” way of living for most of us now and one we couldn't afford to do but maybe we can learn something from our caveman ancestry. Maybe we can offer ourselves the grace needed at this time of the year to hibernate in which ever way we can such as, going to bed half an hour earlier, going for a walk in nature without that pesky device (or at least have it on silent), running a luxurious bubble bath, or saying “no” to events if we would rather hide under the comfort of a blanket (and yes, “no” is a full sentence, but I could reserve a whole blog post for that!). What can you do to slow down over the last few weeks of winter, what gift can nature give you before you welcome in the spring? Spring Forward As we approach the middle of February, the weather might still be drab and dreary but perhaps this is natures way of sending us a sign, the last chance to hunker down and regroup before we re-enter the world anew. For those who suffer with SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) the roll into spring can be the break in the clouds that is much needed. The National Institute of Mental Health states the symptoms of SAD can typically last for 4-5 months, and although it can be experienced during the summer period (known as summer-pattern SAD), it is more prevalent during the winter months (winter-pattern SAD). Symptoms of SAD can mirror that of depression, with those who suffer with it experiencing, a change in mood, anxiety, hopelessness, a loss of interest in doing things, difficulty concentrating and, changes in sleep patterns just to name a few (NIMH, 2023). If you or someone you know experiences SAD, therapy can be a healing space to explore this, you do not have to go through this alone and sometimes just knowing that someone is available to sit beside you during those months can be a comfort in itself. *** I have been reflecting on how I would like to spring forward and develop as a practitioner this year in ways that will align with who I am as a person. With this in mind, I have decided to challenge myself to write more, to delve into that creative part of me which I have neglected for far too long. This brings me to introduce this Blog, a space where I can share some professional insights as well as exploring topics of both personal and professional interest and have the chance to hear your thoughts too. Lucky you as you get to enjoy many more pictures of coffee cups and landscapes!  Laptop and coffee at the ready! Support for every season I offer Walk and Talk therapy through each of the seasons, holding space within nature to offer clients a chance to reflect, somewhere to be seen, and the opportunity to grow. Whether you experience SAD or if you have been considering going to counselling and would like to explore how walk and talk therapy could benefit you, I’d love to hear from you, my details can be found on the contact page. Journal Prompts for seasonal reflection:
Book Recommendations for seasonal comfort and insight:
References: (NIMH, 2023, Seasonal Affective Disorder, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/sites/default/files/documents/health/publications/seasonal-affective-disorder/seasonal-affective-disorder-508.pdf) If you made it this far, thank you for reading and I look forward to hearing your reflections below! :)
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