It is snowing today, and it is quiet. It’s still early in the morning, and everyone else in the house is asleep. This is the time when I can write, and it’s a time when I can be by myself, cultivating my introverted self.
This is the busy season, and it is also a season that is dark. This time of the year brings families together, and it is also a sad time for those who have lost friends and family – during this year, during any year. My aunt died suddenly and tragically at Christmas time, and my father’s family carries that with them into every Christmas season.
How can you create spaces in your home that center you, calm you, and help you look toward the light in this season?
Bringing Light
We have a simple beeswax candle in the middle of our dining table, and we have lights strung throughout our home. For me, sitting and looking at these lights or sitting in front of a warm and calming fire is the essence of the season. It is calm, it is quiet, and there is a little bit of light and warmth during a dark time.
Cultivating a Place for the Spirit
We have different ways to bring spirituality into our lives, and different ways of expressing it. Having a place that reminds me of what connects me to others and the universe as a whole is important. To me, natural objects bring some of the wonder of the world into our home. I have a small shelf that has items from the season, such as cedar boughs.
Creating Rituals of Gratitude
Some do this for Thanksgiving, some for the new year. Some people place notes of gratitude into a jar, others string them on the tree. This is a busy time, and having a ritual that allows you to stop, breathe, and be grateful is a way to celebrate the essence of the season.
Being Quiet
Is there a quiet place or a quiet time in your home? For me, this is my study where I write. For you, it might simply be a time of day when the children are napping, or a time that you designate as a quiet time to tell stories and be still.
Today I will cultivate quiet, gratitude, light and spirit.