The Portal of The North, Winter.

Each year it happens, the cold and dark begin to creep in and it’s all of a sudden Winter.

The Trees energy descend into their roots, loosing vitality, their leaves changing colors, falling to the ground, leaving the branches bare.

The flowers have turned to seed that bury themselves under the decomposing leaves.

Looking around I’ve found I am not much different.

Filled with a desire to ground back down, to release the year and descend into the fertile void of the winter.

The mornings beg me to stay in bed just a little bit longer.

The early nights fuel the desire- to cozy up on the couch and bury myself under alpaca wool blankets.

Every thing in nature taking a break, except for me and the city surrounding me. Its filled with consumerism and humans who buy in.

I’ve been bombarded ads to get ready for the holidays, do you hair, get your nails done, don’t forget the perfect dress, and dishware. Oh and you know how aunt sally always drives you crazy sign up for this meditation course so you can make it through. Buy, buy, buy. Do, do, do. Everyone trying to make their last buck before the year comes to end.

Today I had to leave the algorithm, and the hustle behind and went to the river.

The air was crisp, and the warmth of the sun kissed my cheeks.

The rivers and creeks babbled, as deer walked by grazing.

I walked the route I walked so many times before during the spring and summer noticing how all of the plants I connected with this year were taking their break.

The black walnut leaves turning yellow, the elderberry leafless, the buckwheat and the star thistle turned to brown, the beautiful Datura with only it’s spiky seed pods left.

As I tuned into the energy surrounding me the land gave me a gentle reminder, to slow down and rest.

Don’t get me wrong though not all was resting, some plants were alive and thriving. The plantain, some mugwort, grey pine, oaks, and horehound all back from their summer break. Many plants in California go dormant during the summers heat. They key though is at some point they all take a break.

To think we don’t need extended breaks as humans when all of nature does is just naïve.

But how do we do it in this modern day life? You know the one where we have to work to pay the bills of the groceries that have near doubled..

The biggest thing that came through today was let yourself be tired.

Let yourself cancel the plans, skip the gatherings.

Ditch the 2pm pick me up cup of coffee, or the adaptogens to cope with the stress.

Give yourself permission to stay in bed for that moment longer, and even better get in it earlier.

Lighten your load & say no more often.

Make big batches of crockpot soups and stews to nourish yourself yet take away the burden of cooking so much.

Let yourself be tired.

It’s okay to slow down.