Natural Reflections: Winmonath
In the dark times
Will there also be singing?
Yes, there will also be singing.
About the dark times.
Bertolt Brecht
I came across this poem last summer (Alexandra Blakely has put it to a catchy melody which I will definitely be sharing at our next retreat). Brecht wrote this in 1939, a time of impending war and global turmoil, inviting artistic expression and all that that involves, even in the bleakest of circumstances. Art both as a bearing of witness to difficult times and atrocities and giving physiological and psychological support.
And whilst I can enjoy the beautiful mornings here in London, and anticipate warmth and sanctuary of home over the darker winter months, the suffering of so many right now around the planet is tangible. Joanna Macy named this troubling time ‘the great unravelling or the great turning’ and she has left us a jewel of a legacy in the Work That Reconnects that I am endlessly drawing on and being personally resourced by.
Whether we feel it close to home or not, it is hard to dispute that these are indeed dark times for much of the global south, those in war zones, and much of the more-than-human world. I might also add that our young people and future generations have some dark pathways to navigate given the tipping points crossed in relation to our heating planet and related crises.
Perhaps it is not surprising that my reflections these last weeks have included a contemplation of dark times (and whether there will be singing, metaphoric or otherwise) as in seasonal terms we are heading into the darkest period of the year. Days are noticeably getting shorter and nights longer as we move towards winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. And yet, even in this slide towards the dark, I have been enjoying the brightness and sometimes sharp cool of the air on my many walks in this ebb-tide of equinox. Not only that, we have three brighter than bright supermoons through October (6/7th) November (5th) and December (6th) as the moon swings closest to the earth in its elliptical orbit.
There is something in deeply sensing the dark times that puts me in touch with all that I love and cherish and the anchoring of my attention and energy towards life and my own sense of aliveness. The significant illness of a loved one a few years ago did the same. I have a strong sense that we might more consciously harness creativity to support us through the dark times, whether seasonal, global or personal.
The connection between dark times and creativity is well known, whether that is the necessity to think in new ways during a crisis, emotional intensity spurring creative expression and processing traumatic events that can lead to new perspectives.
As we connect with the dark times of the anthropocene, or indeed the coming winter months, might we now harness some of our inherent human creative capacity in service of our own wellbeing and that of our community? What new creative expression or outlet might you experiment with before midwinter? What better time to try out that thing that has been gently calling you this last while.
Last month I was surprised and delighted to get replies to the newsletter. Do keep your reflections and responses coming.
And in case you were wondering about Winmonath, that’s the old English name for October when wine was traditionally made. There might just be some creative inspiration in there - either in the making or drinking!
Enjoy.
Practices
Mindful witnessing of inner and outer Nature
Choose a place to sit in Nature - have a go at allowing your body take you there rather than your mind - where actually feels right in your body as opposed to where you think will be right.
Attend closely to the comfort of your body - allow yourself to adjust and get really at home in the spot.
Set a timer for 15 minutes (if you are using your phone do then put it out of sight).
Sit for 15 minutes giving all of your attention to these moments. Watching and listening to what is around you. Have your attention zoom in to the micro, close in of what’s right by you, and zoom out to the wider horizon in front, and sky or treetop canopy above. Notice the thoughts and sensations that arise in you.
If this is a place that you can come back repeatedly it might become your ‘sit spot’, a place you come back to, to quietly witness the changing seasons and foster a deeper connection to the more-than-human
A highly recommended addition to this sit spot mindful practice is to write a witnessing poem:
Staying seated in the same spot, spend another timed 15 minutes writing a short poem (no more than 14 lines).
Resources
Coming Back to Life, Joanna Macy & Molly Brown
Podcast- As the Season Turns, Ffern