Welcoming Winter

Welcoming Winter.

Begin by finding a comfortable position,

Seated or lying down.

Let your body begin to settle.

Allow your eyes to close gently,

And take a slow,

Deep breath in,

And exhale fully.

Find three more full breaths here.

Let your breath be your anchor,

Steady,

Soft,

And slow.

With each exhale,

Feel yourself arriving,

Here,

In this moment,

Here,

In the quiet turning of the season.

Imagine yourself standing in a winter landscape.

Everything is still,

A hush in the air,

Like the world has paused.

Snow gently covers the ground.

The sky is soft and grey.

You are bundled and warm,

And the cold air kisses your cheeks.

Each breath you take creates a cloud that drifts gently in front of you.

As you begin to walk slowly through this landscape,

Notice how peaceful it feels.

The crunch of snow beneath your feet.

The bare branches resting,

Waiting.

This season asks nothing of you,

Only that you be.

Let yourself settle into the rhythm of winter,

The slowing,

The softening.

This is a time to turn inward,

To gather,

To restore.

Breathe here.

Feel your breath like a gentle winter wind,

Cool and clear.

Inhale,

And exhale.

Let your body become heavier,

Sinking deeper into stillness with every breath.

Now,

Imagine a warm light glowing in the center of your chest.

It is soft,

Steady,

Like the warm light of a candle in a window on a dark night.

This light is your own inner warmth,

Your own quiet spark.

Even in the cold and dark,

It is always here,

Glowing within.

Take a moment to rest in this warmth.

To trust in the natural rhythm of retreat and rest.

To honor this season not as emptiness,

But as preparation.

A time when life slows,

So new life can begin again.

Beneath the surface,

In the quiet.

Repeat softly in your mind,

Like a winter prayer.

I welcome the stillness.

I honor the rest.

I trust the quiet.

I am held by a winter's peace.

Let these words linger with you for a few breaths.

And now,

Slowly begin to return.

Feel your body where it touches the earth beneath you.

Wiggle your fingers and toes.

Take a deep breath in through your nose.

And a full exhale through your mouth.

When you're ready,

Gently open your eyes.

Return to your day with softness.

Carrying winter's quiet within you.