Following Winter's Slower Pace
This post may include affiliate links* and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I believe in and use myself or that I believe my readers would enjoy. Thank you!
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?
You May Also Enjoy These Posts
Follow the Mabon House Adventures
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.
The Season of The Crone - Finding Peace Within
This post may include affiliate links* and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I believe in and use myself or that I believe my readers would enjoy. Thank you!
This time of year is one of my favorites. Even as a child I enjoyed daylight savings and the shorter days. Even then, I felt like I had permission from Mother Nature to slow down and cozy up inside. As an adult, it seems as though life never slows down. Or rather capitalism never slows down. I still try my hardest to follow nature’s lead and slow down as much as possible as we move closer to the long winter months.
I think that November, with its crisp air and quiet beauty, is a season deeply connected to the wisdom of the Crone, the third aspect of the Triple Goddess. This sacred archetype represents the wisdom of age, the mystery of endings, and the beauty in letting go. Through the phases of the moon and seasons of the year, the Triple Goddess—Maiden, Mother, and Crone—guides us to reflect, grow, and embrace each stage of life.
The Triple Goddess and the Phases of the Moon
The Triple Goddess is an ancient symbol of feminine energy, representing the Maiden, Mother, and Crone. Each phase reflects a distinct time in a woman’s life and offers a framework for self-growth and spiritual connection. Mirroring the moon’s cycle, these archetypes help us explore our own journey and recognize that life, like the moon, moves in natural cycles of beginning, growth, and release. Read more about connecting with the moon.
The Maiden (New Moon to Waxing Moon): Youth, new beginnings, curiosity, and discovery.
The Mother (Full Moon): Abundance, creativity, nurturing, and fulfillment.
The Crone (Waning Moon to New Moon): Wisdom, transformation, endings, and preparation for renewal.
The Seasonal Reflection of the Triple Goddess
Each season offers a unique opportunity to connect with these archetypes:
Spring to Summer: The Maiden – This is a season of growth and new possibilities, like the young shoots that emerge in the spring.
Summer to Autumn: The Mother – A time of abundance and harvest, mirroring the fullness of life and creation.
Late Autumn to Winter: The Crone – The final stage, a time of rest, reflection, and quiet wisdom. As the days grow shorter and colder, we enter the season of the Crone, a time to turn inward and prepare for new beginnings.
You may also enjoy this book: Maiden, Mother, Crone: The Myth & Reality of the Triple Goddess
November: A Natural Time to Embrace the Crone’s Energy
November, with its bare trees and shorter days, aligns perfectly with the wisdom of the Crone. Nature mirrors the Crone’s lessons as plants release their seeds, animals prepare for winter, and everything slows down. We can feel this cycle within ourselves—a time to rest, reflect, and prepare for a new season.
The Crone’s energy invites us to:
Reflect on the past year, honoring what we’ve achieved and learned.
Let go of old habits, relationships, or expectations that no longer serve us.
Embrace a deeper wisdom, one that recognizes the beauty in endings and transformation.
Embracing the Crone in Your Own Life
How can we connect with the Crone’s energy in practical ways? Here are a few ideas to make the most of November’s quiet wisdom.
1. Practice Introspection
November invites us to go inward, to spend time in quiet reflection. Consider journaling or meditating to connect with your inner self and release thoughts that no longer serve you. Set aside a quiet space where you can be alone with your thoughts.
These beautiful journals are part of my own daily reflection.
2. Release and Let Go
Just as the trees release their leaves, the Crone teaches us to let go. This can mean releasing old habits, beliefs, or even people who no longer fit in your life. Ask yourself: what can I let go of to make space for new growth?
3. Nurture Yourself with Simple Self-Care
Embracing the Crone is also about acknowledging the need for warmth, rest, and grounding activities. Take a gentle walk outdoors and notice the beauty in November’s quiet landscape. Enjoy a warm drink, create something with your hands, or just take time to relax.
The Crone’s Wisdom: Recognizing the Cycles of Life
The wisdom of the Crone isn’t just about age or experience; it’s a reminder that all of life moves in cycles. Nature, the moon, and even our own lives have times of growth and times of release. Embracing this truth can bring a sense of peace and patience, even during tough times.
The Crone’s energy encourages us to stop resisting life’s natural ebb and flow, allowing us to release expectations—whether from others or from ourselves. If something is not going as planned, this season offers a chance to let go of frustration and make peace with where you are right now.
Finding Strength in Letting Go
The Crone also reminds us that endings are not failures; they are simply part of the cycle of life. By learning to let go, we open ourselves to receive whatever may come next. As you reflect on this season, ask yourself: What do I want in my life right now? What do I need to let go of to make space for it?
The Crone’s season of endings offers an opportunity for transformation. Embrace this time to connect with your own inner wisdom, aligning with nature’s rhythm and finding strength in its cycles.
Hagitude: Imagining the Second Half of Life
Walking in November’s Quiet Beauty
Take a moment to step outside, breathe in the crisp air, and take in the quiet beauty of November. Notice how the trees stand bare, preparing for winter’s rest, and let that remind you of the Crone’s message. Let go of what is no longer needed, make space for quiet wisdom, and embrace this season as an invitation to grow.
How will you embrace the season of the crone in your own life?
Recommended Reading
Follow the Adventures
A History of Christmas Trees and Their Ancient Roots
This post may include affiliate links* and I may earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. Mabon House only features products that I use myself or that I believe my readers would enjoy. Thank you!
One of my first freelance writing gigs almost 20 years ago was a series called The History of Christmas for a now defunct website. I wrote 10 or so different articles about various Christmas traditions from around the world. It remains to this day one of my favorite writing projects. So, for this post I thought I would write about the history of Christmas trees, since the use of evergreens for winter celebrations goes back to ancient times and carries across many different cultures.
Ancient Celebrations & Evergreens
Ancient Celts, Norse, and Germanic people each incorporated evergreen plants into their winter celebrations with unique symbolic meanings. The Celts believed evergreen plants like holly and ivy, with the ability to stay green during winter, represented life's continuity in the darkness. Norse celebrations of Yule included evergreen trees, particularly fir trees, to symbolize the perseverance of life through winter. Germanic tribes utilized evergreen branches and trees for decoration, viewing them as protective symbols against malevolent spirits during the harsh winter months. Across these cultures, evergreens held significance as symbols of protection, resilience, and the cyclical nature of life. Adorning these plants with candles, fruits, and symbolic ornaments added festive elements to rituals and festivities, laying the foundation for the eventual evolution of modern Christmas tree traditions.
Germanic Beginnings
The 16th-century Germans are often credited with popularizing the Christmas tree as we know it today. Bringing entire evergreen trees into their homes, they adorned them with candles, fruits, and nuts, symbolizing hope for the coming spring. One story credits the Reformation leader Martin Luther, for bringing the first Christmas tree home. There is little historical evidence that this actually happened. It was likely a story to help further absorb ancient customs into Christianity.
English and American Customs
The Christmas tree tradition crossed borders, reaching England through Queen Charlotte's influence in the 18th century. However, it wasn't until the 19th century that the Christmas tree gained widespread popularity in England and the United States. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert's illustration with a Christmas tree in the Illustrated London News in 1848 further fueled the tradition's acceptance.
Early American puritans actually banned Christmas in some parts of what is now New England. The Mid Atlantic States, which were settled by many Catholics and members of the Church of England carried on with many of the same Yuletide festivities that included feasting and decorating with evergreens. What we would consider a traditional Christmas tree in the United States is credited to German immigrants in the 19th century, with the first recorded tree appearing in the 1830s. The 1850s saw widespread acceptance, and Godey's Lady's Book played a pivotal role in popularizing the tradition with a depiction of the British royal family celebrating around a Christmas tree.
Neopagans and Christmas Tree
Within neopaganism, the adoption of Christmas trees varies. For some, the evergreen tree symbolizes nature, renewal, and the enduring spirit of life. Neopagans often incorporate unique decorations that hold spiritual significance, aligning with their individual beliefs and practices. Some neopagans celebrate with a Yule Tree or Celebration Tree as part of their Winter Solstice celebrations.
The history of Christmas trees is a tale of cultural fusion and adaptation, with roots reaching deep into the past. As this beloved tradition continues to evolve, neopagans contribute their unique perspectives, adding layers of meaning and symbolism to winter solstice celebrations. The Evergreen Tree, whether it is called a Christmas tree, Yule Tree or something else all together, remains a symbol of hope, connection, and the enduring spirit of the season.
References and Recommended Reading*
The Battle for Christmas by Stephen Nissenbaum
The Book of Holidays Around the World by Alice van Straalen
History of Christmas Trees from History Channel
How the Vikings gave us Christmas from History Channel
Keeping Christmas: Yuletide Traditions in Norway and the New Land by Kathleen Stokker
The Modern Witchcraft Guide to the Wheel of the Year by Judy Ann Nock
**In the process of creating this blog post, I utilized ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. ChatGPT provided assistance in generating content and refining ideas.
Follow the Mabon House Adventures