Harvest Season is so full of expectations in such a small amounts of time, it’s a shock to our system when we’re suddenly switching gears into a slower pace.
For me, my body is ready to rest as soon as the cold settles in. I don’t want to do much, let alone outside. The month of November tends to be especially volatile and unpredictable; sometimes a untrustworthy warm sunny day can take a swift turn into cold and rainy in a matter of hours. The days are also increasingly shorter and colder, a clear sign to slow down.
My brain, unlike my body, struggles with the abrupt change in routine. It protests, demanding progress and urging me to make use of the nicer days.
Yet once freezing temps and threats of snowstorms loom, my brain finally lets go of hope there is anything to be done outside. Nothing grows under the blanket of snow.
The Earth rests.
As a creature of Nature, we all must do the same.
Yet still the world pushes, the month of December an increasingly stressful time of forced work when we should be resting, and higher demand of costs just to exist, putting even more pressure on us to “make money” in order to survive. It’s no wonder so many of us struggle, and we’re often told we have a ‘disorder’ because our body and mind won’t comply with an unnatural society.
I made a choice long ago that if the weather is bad (cold, snowing, icy), I do not leave the house. This means calling off a day’s work, if the hours were available in the first place, and losing what little means I may have had to keep us afloat.
Meanwhile, the economy marches on, and the rich get richer. Even those who have managed to set up a successful virtual business are still subject to processing fees and delivery charges that go into the pockets of the already wealthy. As individuals, we’ve tried to play modern society’s game, but still can not manage to get ahead. Earned income is never 100% ours, and we’re constantly paying someone else to receive our crumbs.
This imbalance was especially noticeable this year, with ‘holiday deals’ laser focused on corporate entities and days that overlook small shops. Coverage of ‘Small Business Saturday’ was replaced by talk of a major snowstorm and how it was going to disrupt travel.
It’s very apparent the current structure is not holding, and that ignoring the cues of Nature has consequences. As the economy demands growth, the Earth demands it stops. They can strip language and hide facts, but the truth is the environment is changing. Society can not exist in a bubble void of the natural world, and it’s a lesson some may be learning the hard way very soon.
While it’s hard to avoid the nonsense they’re spewing on news outlets and social media, it’s vital we all take some time to recognize the Natural World and rest.
One of the many tiny scenes I create around the house during the Winter Season. Creativity and lots of illumination are important traditions for the cold months - they help us feel satisfied and comfortable, while honoring the slower, darker days.