“When winter comes to a woman’s soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces.
She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world.
She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive.
Winter women are those who bring into the next cycle what should be saved.
They are the deep conservators of knowledge and power.
Not for nothing did ancient peoples honour the grandmother.
In her calm deliberateness, she winters over our truth, she freezes out false-heartedness.
Look into her eyes, this winter woman.
In their gray spaciousness you can see the future.
Look out of your own winter eyes… You too can see the future.”
~ Patricia Monaghan

This is where I am.
'Feeding in secret what needs to thrive.'
Sitting around the fires of The Ancestors, listening intently to them speak
as I stir the cauldron of collateral beauty and kindness.
Here,
I am quiet and still.
As one must be if one wants to listen.
I want to listen.
I want to hear what has been already experienced.
I want to re-member that my challenge and our crisis is not the first
to have come to pass.
So, I listen.
And what I hear is words and stories that bring me to COMMUNITY
COMMUNITY as a place of being in listening, learning and healing.
COMMUNITY in which diversity is needed, wanted and welcomed.
COMMUNITY where reliability is law.
COMMUNITY where we are not required to agree but invited to honour.
COMMUNITY as the back bone of humanity.
So I listen.
And as I listen, I tend.
And as I tend, I expand.
And as I expand, I root in, 
and I stand firmly in place.
The winds blow, the rains fall, the storms rage.
And I remain rooted in,
sitting around the fires of The Ancestors, listening intently to them speak 
as I stir the cauldron,
as I examine and break down old patterns,
as I destroy what should not be revived.
as I feed in secret what needs to thrive.
Here I remain.
Winter Woman.

February

the medicine:

*Elk – protect the herd, honour eldership/elderhood, teach the young, watch over the compromised, lead with integrity
*The North/The time of Winter – finding wisdom in challenge, embracing the earth in our bones, sitting at the fires of the ancestors to listen, learn and heal
*Imbolc – The slow, yet promising return of The Light. A time of emergence, birth, intention, celebration.
*The Dark Moon – The time to set prayers, ignite intentions, dream
*Brigid The Saint/The Goddess – New Beginnings, awaking’s, birth
*Chinese New Year – The Year of The Tiger – prosperity, courage, strength

Springs Beginnings
Winters Thaw
And perhaps
in this place
Love will be invite and will be allowed to Rise
Love shown in troubled times is the most precious of all
It is easy to love when there isn't
tragedy
hurt
strife
challenge
Bone Love happens when it is hard
Love built with the sturdy, rock solid commitment Flourishes
Love when it hurts creates Fortitude
Love forged in a time of Challenge lives Forever
It takes great courage to stand
in this kind of Love
May we all have such courage
May new life begin
May seeds be planted
May patience rise
May roots be strong
May flames burn bright
May compassion be our guide
May renewal and rebirth come forth
May grace be given
May we always know the ones who stand with and for us
May we know when to let things lie
May we know when to unearth the bones
May we have courage to live this human life
May vulnerability become our trusted companion
May it be so
May it be so
May it be so
aho
aha
amen
may it be so

image: Teaching the Young * Elk Medicine
2015 collected by me