Attending to the Changing Season
It is winter in the north country. Much of the plant and animal world is slowed down to the level of hibernation and dormancy—in survival mode. To survive our challenging political times let us remember the importance of rest and being refilled.
Ceremony invites a pause
In this early time in February the northern hemisphere is moving from the winter solstice to the spring equinox. (Our southern hemisphere friends are, of course, that much closer to the fall equinox and harvest.)
We usually have an outdoor fire to stop and take notice of this time, but this year because I am still recovering from hip surgery and get stiff in the cold, we gathered around the indoor wood stove with candles, drums, and poems. We began by drumming gratitude for the earth which sustains us in all we do and all we need. Then we offered prayers for humans all over the globe who are suffering from oppression, hunger, and pain. As a Minnesota native, I continue to be in regular contact with family and friends living there so much of our prayer energy focused on the brave people of Minnesota for their courageous resistance to the brutal attacks by ICE agents on their community.
A fire, a candle, a drum—all ingredients for an earth celebration.
Hundreds of Minnesotans stand on a frozen lake spelling out and SOS from their state to the world (Instagram photo)
Spending time outside to feel the earth
Whether we are 8 or 80, spending actual time outdoors walking, playing, gardening, watching birds or just sitting enlivens and opens our physical bodies to the wisdom we all carry within.
- If you are in the far north and hearty, walk on the snow or ice, sled down a nearby hill, feel the crisp cold on your cheeks. How are the wild animals you cherish surviving in these times? The plants? Do you feed the birds? How often? What species do you notice?
- If you are in a moderate climate like my own, go to your garden or yard or a park and be amazed at how much activity there is—heather blooming, insects beginning to “wake up”, humming birds zipping around feeders. If you are a dog owner, pay attention to what they are sniffing and noticing on your walks. Have the cottontails begun to move around? How does rain or mist feel on your face?
Ann “side dressing the garlic” in February by adding blood meal to the soil near where the bulb will form.
- If you live in a southern climate, be appreciative of a relief from hot temperatures and notice how plants are marking the movement from full blossom into harvest time. Have you seen migrating birds? What plants are beginning to bloom near the end of summer? What plants have already completed their cycle?
We are mostly human centric in the dailyness of our lives. And we don’t necessarily need to go outdoors to heighten that connection.
The arts connect us to the natural world
Artists, poets, writers, singers and photographers help bring our beleaguered hearts into open connection with the profound, healing beauty of the natural world.
- There are many master nature writers that call us into story or information that reminds us that we are as much a part of the natural world as we are the human created world: Terry Tempest Williams, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson, Merlin Sheldrake, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Sy Montgomery, David George Haskell, and Suzanne Simard to name a few. I highly recommend this new book: All Creation Waits, The Advent Mystery of New Beginningsby Gayle Boss with marvelous illustrations by Sharon Spitz.
A potpourri of nature book titles from Ann’s bookshelf
- And the poets, oh, the poets! They pull us into such deep connection with the natural world. Mary Oliver is a master nature poet of our times. Any number of her titles can open our hearts to Nature: “Invitation” from her book Red Bird; “When I am Among Trees” from her book Thirst; “Mushrooms” from American Primitive ;and “First Snow” also from American Primitive.
- I don’t draw or doodle much, but I remember a time decades ago coming indoors about this time of the year after making a northern Minnesota snowman with my children, Brian, age 9, and Sally, age 6. We pulled off our considerable snow gear and brought out paints and crayons and attempted to move our outdoor creation indoors onto the page. My outstanding memory from that session was Brian saying, “Mom, that is a really good picture!” Not sure my artwork has been appreciated before or since but drawing with children can be very empowering!
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Christina is our sunset photographer, even creating an annual calendar of sunsets
- Music opens the whole body, the whole soul. When I am feeling happiest outdoors, I burst into song. In a very different approach to protesting the abuses of ICE right now, people have joined “singing resistance” choirs. They are practicing in churches and community centers and often travel to places where ICE agents are staying or working to appeal to the humanity that resides inside all of us.
Friends, these are trying times. Let us do our best to fill our souls with joy and beauty and radiate that out into a world desperately in need of both.
I close with this poem from a newly published book of poetry and photographs by my friend, Katharine Weinman—Skyborne Insight, Homemade Love. (Blog: www.awabisabilife.ca Website: www.katharineweinmann.com
Email: panache@interbaun.com) It touches my heart deeply to see how exquisitely she honors an old tree in this poem that speaks to her the truths of aging.
Where a Poem Resides
With a fleeting first glance,
I walked past you standing along the path,
instead giving more attention to my footing
and my morning conversation.
But something about your
weathered features struck me. I knew
I needed to see more of you.
So, I turned around.
Retraced my steps.
Approached you, reverently.
Raised my camera ready.
And at that moment,
the sun shone through the clouds,
and through your whole and broken branches,
giving me light enough to take you in.
To appreciate the gnarled beauty of your trunk
and your mottled bark skin, life force rallying
in your autumn leaves’ amber glory.
And at that moment,
I knew a truth of yours and mine.
That inside both of us is where a poem resides.
A poem that speaks to aging and how it takes us
to the edge. Makes us less visible, and eventually
barely there.
That despite our hard-won strength
and wizened beauty, our steadfast presence
through life’s seasons and storms, soon will come
the one that fells us. Breaks our limbs. Pulls us
from the ground of our being. Then falling
to the earth, or buried within,
we’ll become the compost for new life.
Our death our new beginning.
Thank you for bringing me into your world Annie! The pictures and stories/memories are wonderful. Yes, these are trying times and it makes my heart happy to know you are personally connecting with your friends and family and the brave people of Minnesota. They are reminding us, again, of the importance of community. And that poem–how fabulous to feel like an old tree today.
Dear Sabine, So very good to hear from you! Appreciate your comments and, yes, to Katharine’s beautiful poem1 Annie
Thanks so much for being uplifting.
Appreciate your comment, Larry.
I recently put a collection of Mary Oliver’s poems next to my bed and choose a poem at random each day. Her words offer glimpses of simple beauty.
Hello Laura! Yes, Mary Oliver offers such a clear window to the soul of the world—an inspiration so needed today.
Ann, Such beautiful advise/suggestions for connecting with nature in winter when everything seems so dormant but not really… lots of quiet activity happening. And, Katharine’s poem is so beautiful! Thank you both for this lovely post.
Marcia
You are welcome, Marcia. And thank you for acknowledging Katharine’s poem! It sure speaks to the heart of my aging body. Ann
Love this, Ann. Thank you.
You are welcome, Gretchen—you who wonder and trek outside in all kinds of weather!
Dear Ann,
Thank you for the inspiration. After reading your blog I experienced an idea a seed a beginning and a letting go. I cannot formulate words yet and this is the time for me in our snow covered land to sit with idea and let it germinate.
We can only feed the birds from late fall to early spring to prevent the bears from destroying bird feeders. Many of the birds that we fed year round came for the winter. We have 5 pairs of Cardinals, Blue Jays, Doves, Finches, Juncos, Chickadees, Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers and the one with an orange head. We have a trio of Crows, along with squirrels and rabbits. Of course we have a couple hawks who have taken a few of the birds. The three Vizslas have been chasing the small birds from tree to tree. So they have stayed in good condition. This year is the most snow we have had in the 18 winters we have lived here. So it is a winter wonderland still and it will gradually warm up by mid March. Thank you again for the inspiration. Love Sharon
Dear Sharon, What a gift to my readers that you have responded in such depth about the birds at your feeder! Our feeder also brings me such joy in the winter. After Christmas, we take our tree in its stand and place it next to the bird feeder. They love it! And it definitely adds a challenge to hawks. For the record, our little corgi Vivi also chases the birds at the feeder. Somehow she has gotten the idea that her job is to keep them out of the garden. fortunately, she has never been successful. Glad you have gotten so much snow. The western U.S. is quite barren of snow this year! Be well, Ann
Beautifully done, Annie …
😘💓🤗
Appreciate your presence always, Julie!
Dear Ann,
What a rich offering of practices for healing one’s heart and being in community. You honor me by including my poem along side your references to Mary Oliver. Thank you for uplifting me, my heart, our world.
You are so welcome, Katharine. May many discover the rich poetry that flows from your own pen! Ann
Thank you for continuing to radiate love.
You are so welcome, dear Erica. It is good to hear from you! Aunt Ann
I love this, Ann. I have been surprised by both the lack of snowpack at the mountain and the appearance of a few “early birds” on my walks. I saw a Harris sparrow near my house and a few other songbirds that seem tricked by the mild winter. It’s an unusual year for sure in so many ways. Thanks for sharing your observations. Loved the poem too. Hope that hip is healing up well!
My goodness, Bonnie Rae, did not expect to hear from you so soon after your surgery. Love the birding knowledge you share—the siting of a Harris sparrow. This helps educated us all. Heal quickly and well! Ann
Good morning, Ann,
The poem is lovely! I’ve been singing a bit with a Resistance Choir here in Tacoma. It feels so good to sing the songs of Woody Guthrie and many more! It is a good release for all the tension in the media. Your words painted a lovely picture of the wakening earth around us. The small yard surrounding my little bungalow is a haven for many birds and I have an agreement with a neighborhood cat that often comes to hunt that when I tap on the window, he is expected to sprint home to his yard! Nature keeps us grounded. I so appreciate all of the lessons learned on the mountain! I have deep and nourishing memories from Skalitude! Sending love and good hip recovery!
Hello Diane! Lovely to hear from a member of a Resistance Choir! And also good to hear your own neighborhood observations at this time of the year. Nature so keeps us grounded! Thank you for your good wishes. Ann