6 More Weeks of Winter (Or so the Groundhog has said)

 

"I love when a truly fabulous Wiccan Tradition or other type of Witch Lore, pops it's little head into mainstream life."

                                Lilac

Blessed Imbolc and Winter to All

Although I have removed many of my Christmas-type decorations of the season, My Family and I have left the lights out in the yard and on the house.  I love seeing them come on at dusk and brighten up our otherwise DREARY boulevard.  Now don't get me wrong...with yesterday's beautiful snowfall, a blanket of white has silenced the noisy dreariness.  However, the street is very dark at night.  It's just cheery to have icicle lights hanging from the boughs.  I disapprove of anyone who may dare to judge me for it.

So as the groundhog of Witch Lore has poked his head up and seen his shadow and predicted more weeks of winter, we all follow the path that leads us to Spring (no matter how long it takes to get there).  The winter doldrums combined with Covid shutting down many of our usual winter boredom-busters such as malls and movie theaters, leaves us little option but "at home" activities.  Depending on who lives at home with you and what people's ages and interests are, there are many ways to break up the slow winter days.  For one:  hybernate.  Many animals do it.  Sleep a little more.  Do things a little slower.  Conserve.  Plan.  Dream.  Gather and store.

Here are a few of my favorite ways to overcome the slow and dragged out days of winter during this 2021 Covid Winter season.

1.  PLAN for the future

Not everyone reading this is interested in planning things.  But for those of you out there who (like me) are exceptionally skilled at waiting and postponing celebration...you will like this idea.  I strongly recommend starting with a Vision Board.  Not only will the process to create the Vision board be fun and exciting, it will pass a bit of time.  When warmer sunny days come back into fashion, you may not relish doing it.  Winter and especially the long days that follow Christmas every year, is the perfect time for such tasks!  

After you have developed your Vision Board, you will probably see remnants of what you wish to achieve, sitting right there.  I created a Vision Board a few months ago in the Autumn with my son.  We were doing a lot of designing at the time and it just seemed appropriate.  He had never made one before and he indulged me.  His actually came out great!  He clearly has identified a personal style for himself and at a young age too.  It is unlikely that his attraction to square and glass and pristine elements with clean and distinct lines, will ever change.  After all- it is the modern way.  As for me, I see the world through an entirely different lens.  Our Visions, although cut from the same magazines, look VERY DIFFERENT from one another. The key is to See Yourself.  When you look at what you created with paper and glue, what did you learn?  What emerges and comes to the forefront for you to see?

I love to create new things, collect unique pieces of home furnishings that tell a story to me or about me.  I love to read.  I love old books.  I love cozy spaces where unexpected friends come and sit and pour their hearts out to me.  I enjoy making them feel comfortable because whatever I or they need is just there at the ready.  It might be food or a cozy blanket...doesn't matter what it is.  Sometimes it's a cat.  I have four.  Take your pick.  My Vision Board clearly tells me the story of where my priorities lie.  They are at home with my family and my animals.

But part of what makes Home (in my case) so magical...will also involve leaving it from time to time.  SO planning excursions and travel opportunities is also important.  I love to bring home a map, print one out or use a Street Map book if you have a favorite State.  Pinterest is a great way to get ideas on how to "Map out" an adventure.  There are many travel tools online.  Or...if you just need to go somewhere, call a Travel Agent.  They can open the doors for you if that is your style.  Maybe you cannot travel due to Covid...but you can always PLAN.  It is a great and vital exercise for your imagination.

2.    Shake things up.

You need to make some changes.  It's not personal...we all do!  We all need to refresh the haircut or color.  We all need to change the workout routine.  We all need to make changes sometimes.  Shaking off these winter doldrums means we need to push back against the tendency to just sit there and fall deeply into unhealthy patterns.  I have come to really really love my NetFlix account.  Before Covid happened, I really could NOT relate to all of the television watching...it just was NOT my thing.  But now...oh boy do I love some quiet tv time.  My family seem shocked when they walk in and I am watching some program or another that I randomly chose.  I usually watch whatever someone else put on.  Look at me go!

But I know that it would be too easy to get sucked into spending hours watching tv and not getting anything else accomplished.  When I say accomplished...I do not mean chores and responsibilities.  I mean, what nourishes your soul and stimulates your creative mind?  

We all have things that we enjoy doing that are worthy distractions.  But pushing ourselves to do them is what matters!  My son is 12 years old and we are often together due to Covid 19.  He goes to school 2 days per week and I drive him there and I pick him up.  He spends every other weekend at his father's house.  Otherwise...we are together.  If I leave him to his own choices, my son will play on his Nintendo Switch in his bedroom or Gaming online with friends on his PS4.  When those things are no longer interesting to him, he will resort to watching YouTube Video of other "Gamers" gaming.  He does not like sports and does not look for any outdoor activities for engagement.  He does not seem to like exercise much at all.  Particularly, this is an issue in the winter.

So to beat the boredom and bust down the bad habits, I HAVE TO GET CREATIVE.  Fortunately, my years of running a Home Childcare come in handy.  I ALWAYS had activities ready to go to engage the kids and keep them busy.  So I have learned to adjust them from 4-6 year olds and make them for 12-20 year olds.  Not easy.  Not easy at all.  But I use a little process that makes it work.  I VARY activities and stagger them throughout the day.  It does involve me shadowing other people and telling them when to change activities but if that is what it takes, then so be it!  I do not NEED anyone to tell me these things...but it is highly apparent that the rest of my family does.

We do building projects, tabletop games and go on short winter hiking trips.  We blend small adventures into regular chores.  Taking the dog out becomes a walk through the cemetery on a snowy afternoon.  Checking the mail becomes a wintery photo shoot, chasing squirrels round the front yard.  Playing with our indoor animals also takes on a new level...any activity that burns calories and changes your overall perspective is required regularly throughout the day. Cleaning the house is made more pleasurable when we make the cleaning products ourselves.  Small projects that are easy to make in an hour or less become a new favorite pastime.  Reading aloud while people listen and cuddle in warm blankets with the dog is not just a cherished activity but also creates a lasting memory.

3.    Celebrate any and all victories.

Life really does come at you fast.  So fast.  You just don't know it until it's gone. Ostara will be here soon -and the seedlings, newly tucked into their wet soil pods on my kitchen island, will be tiny sprouts that are ready for the garden.  My son's birthday is approaching.  He will be 13 years old.  A teenager.  My baby...a teen.  My Wedding Anniversary is coming in the Spring...6 years.  Where did those 6 years go?  We MUST celebrate the milestones and share the joy, and try to remember it always.  It goes by fast.

Commemorate the days that you cherish.  Buy the cake, or the car or the leather handbag- whatever it is you love.  Celebrate your victories.  Take the time off from working to go on a day-hike with a friend.  Visit an elderly loved one with NO TIME LIMIT on the day.  Play Gin Rummy.  Be Bored.  I cannot say it enough.  Let your hair down.  Color it purple!  Celebrate your life.

My advice is really very simple indeed.  Do what you love.  Do MORE of what you love and less of what you dislike altogether.  My level of joy has increased so much since I have made those types of changes.  I like myself again.  I see myself.  I know who I am.  I know what I can and cannot tolerate or support.  Your life really can be what you imagine it to be.  

Why can't this Spring usher in the new you and your new life?  It can if you let it.  

Refer to number 1...plan it. 

Then number 2:  Shake things up.  Make changes.  

Number 3 will be easier if you have done well with number 2.  

You can stay in "Shake it up" mode as long as you need to...just don't get stuck planning and never start.

Good luck!

~Namaste

Lilac