It is early morning, and golden sunlight illuminates the damp forest. The dew hovers just above the ground, rising slowly and evaporating over the fields. I am walking along the soggy tracks near my home, sidestepping deep, dark puddles. It is hard to imagine the soil will completely dry up in the heat of Summer.
The birds are waking up, and their song tickles my heart. Winter is slowly giving way to new beginnings. I have now lived consciously with the seasonal cycles for eight years. During this time, I have become more aware of subtle changes, accumulating slowly until a collective moment of pause in which we decide that Winter is now gone, both within and without.
With the days noticeably lengthening, I notice my inner masculine waking up and inspiring me to commit to a natural rhythm. I feel inspired to introduce more structure in my days, and I wake up earlier to study, read, and write. My energy levels are rising, and I am developing the first beginnings of new projects.
We are in a beautiful time to consider what kind of daily rhythm our newly-born self seems to enjoy. With the coming of Spring, we are starting to build the preliminary structures that will facilitate our initial burst of growth later in the season. Flexible structures that give space to breathe are the most resilient. Therefore, I am resisting the temptation to get carried away by my inner drill sergeant by trying to keep up with some killer morning routine (the kind that promises to make you a millionaire in thirty days).
The feminine energy is still dominant in nature, so I give myself ample time to rest, feel, and dream. In unguarded moments like these, inspiration comes naturally and points me in the right direction. Although much of us is still veiled, hidden from our view in the long arms of Winter, new life is waking up with the first light of Spring. Let that spark of new life be your guiding light.
Published on by Sacha Post. This essay is part of the weekly letters. Explore more essays on winter in the archives.