Do you dread the clock changing at the end of October?  So many people really dread the onset of the long dark nights that we are faced with right now.  We are less than a week into winter time and already I have heard people say they are feeling down about the thought of the days becoming shorter.  There is another way to look at this time of year.  This article will give you a few ideas about how the long dark nights of winter can be used in a way that is therapeutic for body, mind and spirit. 

On a physical level, the days are shorter so we tend to work a bit less.  The outdoor work that we do during the summertime is over till next year.  Farmers have the harvest safely in and animals are being housed for the winter.  The squirrels here beside me in the Phoenix park have been busy this last while gathering food for the winter and are starting to take it easy too.  So as the natural light wanes from now until the winter solstice on 21st December, it is an ideal opportunity to rest our physical bodies.  The natural environment around us can support us to rest because nature around us is setlling down to draw inwards and rest and is maybe suggesting that we would be well advised to do the same. 

On a mental level it is helpful to follow the lack of natural light and use our minds in a different way.  Generally we are outer focussed and are absorbing and processing information from a range of sources that are never ending - we have 24 hour access to as much information as we can take in.  The mind also needs quiet time to download this information.  So in the long evenings as you light a fire, or a candle, try sitting in the dim glow of the natural flame and letting your mind rest.  Allow it to settle and not be filled with information to digest.  Maybe certain types of music might support creating this kind of reflective time for yourself, some people like music others prefer silence.  Discover your personal preference and if you're not sure - experiment - till you find what suits you best. 

On a spiritual level it often takes time in stillness to get a sense of what is true deep inside ourselves.  Winter in a sense forces us in some ways to be still simply because there is less to do.  When we are outside, nature reflects a stillness back to us.  It seems as if nothing is happening and that everything in nature is dead.  Yet this couldn't be farther from the truth.  A lot is happening beneath the surface ready to burst through when the days begin to lengthen.  If the snowdrops and daffodills that bring us such joy early into the new year were not nourished by their rest in the darkness we would have no flowers.  Its much the same with us.  This is not to suggest that resting in the depths of who and how we are is always easy.  A common mistake is when people assume that this is an experience that is all warm and peaceful inside.  It's not.  It can be like that at times, but whatever is true for us will be felt in the stillness.  As with life in general there will be the natural ups and downs of the human condition.

So this is the most ideal time of year to rest and recharge our body, mind and spirit in preparation for the challenges we are likely to meet in 2012 and beyond.  If in doubt why not try it out this winter and see what you discover. 

As always, I welcome your comments and questions.  Know you are not alone as you rest in the quiet of winter - many of us are doing just that.  Because we may be out of sight we have certainly not disappeared.  Call me if you need to on 353-86-8545407 or e-mail me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .