Wintering Woman | From Withdrawal to Wonder in 4 Uplifting Sessions

Are you feeling stuck, exhausted, lonely, or a little flounder-y? 'Pulling back from things you used to love, even from the people you hold dear? You may be wintering.
Wintering Women Still Lake Listening water colour image in pastel colours depicting a winter scene of leafless trees along a snowy ridge

Maybe you find yourself wishing to pull back from things you used to love — or even from the people you hold most dear? You may be wintering. What if the place you find yourself in is exactly where you are meant to be right now? And could it be that your energy, hope, and spark just need a little attention in order to resurface?

Hiding out and hunkering down | Wintering 101

There are so many stretches of our lives that demand our attention, resilience, and growth. ‘Times when we find ourselves facing challenges and uncertainties that shape our character and define our path forward. Wintering? Well, it may be one such season…but what if there’s an exploration of our wintering that lies outside of the typical confines of the metaphor? Like, yeah-yeah, we get it… Beauty to be found — Life emerges from death; crocuses through the snow and butterflies from cocoons and all that.

Good metaphors! Timeless, even. And, you may find yourself needing something richer, fuller, truer-of-You. You may be grasping for a lifeline in a season known for cold and darkness.

If you are finding yourself unmotivated or purposeless, you might be feeling the chill of a long winter. Are you asking yourself, “Is this depression? Will I ever feel better about myself again?” Could it be that you are in a wintering time?

Are you…

Withdrawing from people you actually really like?
Avoiding activities you've always enjoyed?
Trimming down your output to a fraction of what you used to accomplish in a day?
Feeling just-so-tired?
Feeling isolated, lonely, angry, stuck?
Experiencing confusion, despair, or a sense of being "lost"?
Wondering if you even care about any of this at all?

It’s okay — you may be experiencing a wintering season. As with every season, know that it will pass. The effect of it on your mind, heart, and body can be healing and profound growth.

Poetry that gives this a shape

When winter comes to a woman's soul, she withdraws into her inner self, her deepest spaces.
She refuses all connection, refutes all arguments that she should engage in the world. 
She may say she is resting, but she is more than resting: She is creating a new universe within herself, examining and breaking old patterns, destroying what should not be revived, feeding in secret what needs to thrive.

Winter women are those who bring into the next cycle what should be saved. They are the deep
conservators of knowledge and power. Not for nothing did ancient peoples honour the
grandmother. In her calm deliberateness, she winters over our truth, she freezes out false-
heartedness.

Look into her eyes, this winter woman. In their gray spaciousness you can see the future. Look
out of your own winter eyes. You too can see the future.

~ Patricia Monaghan

We get curious about this sometimes exhausting, detached, lonely, perplexing time by delving into the exploration in four parts

Join a small company of woman (groups are held to a maximum of 5 women) in discovering Self and deepening spiritual understanding. Over four weeks (each with one 2 hour session), together we will get curious about:

Wintering

Withdrawal and examination – We will dig into this with some unstuck, shared, all-about-you permissions to retreat, refuse, rebut, reject!
Intentional destruction – You will be invited into spacious exploration of the parts of your life (interior and exterior) that may be ready for the burning barrel.
Generative – We move from some of the icy darkness of winter into the What if’s… of a shift to Spring. What are the parts of your life (interior and exterior) that are thrumming with Life already?
Nurture – And then we get intentional about what You are ready to nurse along as you embark on a thriving, vibrant, hope-filled next phase of things.

Discovering You

Amidst the frosty stillness of winter, self-care is actually paramount. As a wintering woman you can learn to understand the importance of nurturing your physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional well-being. If you have been in this season before, you may notice the weariness and dread that it may bring. However, you may also feel more prepared for this time around! Perhaps you ready yourself when you feel the icy blast of Winter coming on.

As a small group of women we’ll delve deep into what wintering is about for you — and what it is not about for you.

Finding clarity and confidence in community

Facing a wintering season alone can feel difficult. Connecting with a supportive community of fellow Wintering Women allows for a network of strength, understanding, and encouragement. Foster connection, share in a safe(r) space, examine your own personal insights, listen for your Inner Wisdom, and provide mutual support.

Winter won’t last forever…but it sure feels like it will!

As a wintering woman, you embody strength, resilience, and pluck! What would it be like to be formed and re-formed by the power of wintering — emerging with a deeper understanding of the strength, Wisdom, and Life that is already in You?

Reach out for more information, or to sign up for our next Wintering Women sessions!