Following Winter's Slower Pace
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Winter isn’t just a season; it’s a reminder to pause, reflect, and restore. In a world that’s always rushing forward, winter gives us permission to stop and breathe. It's a time to nurture our bodies, minds, and spirits, preparing for the growth and energy of spring. In the same way that plants rest and animals hibernate, we too can use this time to regroup. Winter reminds us that rest is a natural part of the cycle. Just like the earth takes time to prepare for spring, we can give ourselves permission to rest without guilt.
Here in Western Maine the winter is lonnggg. And cold. And dark. It naturally invites slowing down (it also invites seasonal depression, so it is definitely a balance). Over the years I’ve cultivated a pretty good mindset about winter. I focus on all the things I enjoy about the season, like the holidays, sitting by my woodstove with a cup of tea, watching the winter woods from my sitting room window. So while there are still days when I struggle with Winter, most of the time I can find peace and calm in the stillness.
The Spiritual and Physical Benefits of Slowing Down in the Winter
Quiet moments during winter give us space to think about what’s working in our lives—and what’s not. Slowing down allows us to let go of what no longer serves us, making room for fresh ideas and growth. When life is quieter, it’s easier to connect with ourselves. Whether through meditation, journaling, or simply sitting with a cup of tea, we can use winter’s stillness to find
It’s not just your spirit that benefits from slowing down—your body and mind will thank you too.
Physical Rest: With less daylight, winter naturally encourages us to sleep more. Lean into that! Quality rest gives your body a chance to recover and recharge.
Mental Clarity: Slowing down helps clear the constant mental chatter. Taking time to unplug and focus on simple tasks can reduce stress and boost creativity. For me this is often cleaning up the house or working on a creative project. Honestly, writing out ideas for Mabon House is one the best ways I unwind and quiet my mind.
Emotional Renewal: This season is perfect for reconnecting with yourself and loved ones. Cozy evenings spent journaling, reading, or talking with family can help you feel recharged emotionally. I definitely journal and write more in the winter. )These are my absolute favorite journals). Spending time with friends and family is a little trickier and takes more planning, as all my kiddos live away from home now. So I set a goal of seeing them at least once a month. I always feel better after visiting.
Tips for Connecting with Winter’s Slower Energy
If slowing down feels unnatural, here are a few simple ways to embrace winter’s rhythm while balancing work and family obligations:
Make Your Space Cozy: A warm, inviting home makes it easier to relax. Add soft blankets, candles, and warm lighting to create a space that feels like a hug. If you’ve seen my house on Instagram you know that I love a cozy vibe in winter.
Practice Journaling: Spend 5–10 minutes a day jotting down your thoughts. Ask yourself questions like: What am I grateful for? What do I want to let go of before spring?
Mindful Eating: Winter is the perfect time for hearty, nourishing meals. Focus on warm soups, stews, and seasonal vegetables to fuel your body. My crockpot is my best friend in the winter and makes it easy to have a good meal prepared after work.
Move Gently: Yoga, stretching, or even a slow walk outside can help you stay grounded. Movement doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. I do most of my movement inside during the winter. I like to practice yoga in front of my woodstove or walk on my 10 year old treadmill while listening to music. Over the years I’ve let go of the idea that I need to exercise for at least 45 minutes to an hour in order for it to “count” - whatever that means. Now I strive for 30 minutes a day on most days. And this can be broken up into smaller chunks, like a quick walk at lunch in the parking lot (if it’s not too icy) or busting out 20 minutes of housework in one go. I keep it simple.
Preparing for New Beginnings: Intentional Goal-Setting
Even though winter is about rest, it’s also a time to dream about what’s next. Use this season to lay the groundwork for the year ahead.
Set Intentions: What do you want your spring to look like? Use this quiet time to think about your goals and how you can align your life with them. I know that my spring is going to be very busy with nursing school and work, so I want to spend time now reigning in my stress and learning to be okay prioritizing some areas of my life over others.
Vision Boards or Planning: Create a vision board or jot down ideas for what you want to accomplish. This process doesn’t have to be perfect; it’s about dreaming and getting inspired. I like to use my Wheel of the Year planner or a pretty notebook to sketch out the things I want to be, do and have.
Simplify: Use winter to declutter your home, schedule, or mind. Clearing out what no longer feels right helps create space for what truly matters. Again, because I know I will be extra busy this spring and summer, I am trying (somewhat unsuccessfully TBH) to simplify as much as I can - everything from my wardrobe, to my kitchen cupboards, to aligning my finances. I know that if I can take care of at least some of these things now, life will be easier later.
Winter may be cold and dark, but it’s also a season of quiet beauty and restoration. By embracing the slower pace, we give ourselves time to rest, reflect, and grow. When spring comes, we’ll be ready to bloom. So grab a cozy blanket, light a candle, and let this season remind you that slowing down isn’t just okay—it’s necessary.
Are you slowing down this winter?
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The content provided above was developed in collaboration with ChatGPT, an AI language model by OpenAI. The initial ideas and concepts for the piece were provided by me, and ChatGPT assisted in organizing, formatting, and refining these ideas into the final written post. While the AI contributed to the structure and clarity of the content, the core ideas and creative direction remain my own.
Mabon House in 2022 - A Letter to My Readers
As I write this post winter has arrived in all its simple splendor. Outside my window the gardens and trees sleep peacefully, awash in soft shades of white, gray, green and brown. The blue skies are softer this time of year, as if the sunlight is perpetually filtered by thin clouds and sharp air. Every season has its own beauty and winter is no exception.
I’ve wanted to write to you all for some time, to let you know I have not fallen off the face of the earth. The seasons turn and here in Maine, it’s a time for nature to rest and recharge. And that, dear friends, is what I’ve been doing these past few months. My body and spirit were both calling out for me to slow down, wayyyy down and pause. And I’m finally old enough to know that when the body and spirit call, you had best listen. And so I’ve rested. I went on a total creative hiatus and just spent time focusing on the present moment, my health and my family.
And I spent a lot of time thinking about Mabon House and if I still wanted to keep it running.
What had started as a lovely creative idea had morphed into a full fledged micro-business almost overnight. It was delightful - who knew so many people would dig my printables? - but also added a new layer of stress to an already over-stressed life. I felt pressure to produce a steady stream of new prints and planners. I began thinking in terms of SEO, keywords, traffic and open rates. All the joy and creativity that had motivated me to start Mabon House in the first place was gone.
And there was also the imposter syndrome.
I’ve been open about the fact that I don’t identify as any particular denomination or as a witch. While I do draw strength from nature and the seasons, my interest in the Wheel of the Year was more cultural & academic than spiritual. I have my undergrad degree in history (at the time, my practical parents were not thrilled about my liberal arts major - what kind of paying job will you get with a history degree?!) and I have always been fascinated by the history of holidays and other cultural celebrations and how they have evolved over time.
I saw a gap in the digital printables market - there were like, 8 million Christmas planners on Etsy, but nothing for Yule let alone for the lesser known holidays like Imbolc or Lughnasadh. And the few witchy printables I found all looked like halloween party invitations - so much gothic fonts and skulls and bats. To me, that did not represent a celebration of the seasons and nature. So I decided, on a bit of whim if I am being honest, to make my own and share them. I chose the name Pagan Planner because it sounded catchy and would be easy for folks to find in a search - not because I was a pagan.
As Mabon House grew, occasionally readers would reach out with very specific questions about sabbats or manifestations or how to honor loved ones who had died, and I was kind of like…erhhh…I don’t know? I mean, I have trouble meditating during yoga - I would never be able to cast a spell that worked. And death is not something I am at all qualified to discuss with strangers. And so all of this gave me an uneasy feeling that I was fooling people and eventually someone was going to figure out I was full of beans. And so, rather than deal with all that anxiety and stress, I just opted out.
But the thing is, I really like writing for Mabon House and creating pretty printables. And I love sending out this newsletter and hearing from folks (but please don’t ask me how to honor your late cat - it’s just not my thing).
So, I’ve decided on two things about the future of Mabon House:
The first is that I am not reopening the Etsy shop. Thank you to everyone who bought something from Etsy - you helped me grow this site and printables library so much over the past couple of years. Moving forward, all the printables I make will live right on Mabon House in the Members Library, for free. I’ll be adding in printables previously only available on Etsy over the next couple of months, including the 2022 Pagan Planner.
The second thing I’ve decided is that I am going to write more from my heart about things I enjoy. This will include some Wheel of the Year topics, but also more content on styling, saving money, sustainability and simplifying life (AKA minimalism for people who don’t want to give away all their stuff). I love sharing with others how I live beautifully, inside and out, on a budget.
I think the world - especially the digital world - needs more authenticity and transparency. And I want Mabon House to be a reflection of myself, not a carefully curated brand.
So, over the next few weeks I’ll be sharing more about the new look and feel of Mabon House, new content and new printables. You can check out all the free printables right in the Members Library.