Reminder—Last call to get on the waitlist for my Writing Retreat in Tuscany!
Registration will open next week. Those on the waitlist will have first priority to sign up. We only have 8 spaces, and they will fill up!
This is the season for slowing down—how do we do that in the modern age?
This past week, I made hand pies from the orchard apples I picked. It took time to make the crust, to cut and stew the apples, to let the pastry dough rest, to roll it out, to bake the pies. As I was cooking, I reflected on the move towards slowness as fall turns into winter.
Many religions and spiritual teachings believe we mirror the seasons. If we think of ourselves going through the same cycles as the outside world, then how we take care of ourselves, what we eat, and our daily habits should change too as we approach winter.
Our bodies are in fact shifting, without us particularly noticing.
As sunlight fades, our serotonin levels fall, and our oxytocin levels rise. We desire social bonding and closeness.
Colder temperatures may increase insulin resistance and fat production in the fall to prepare for winter months. We hunger for rich stews.
Less sunlight means the pineal gland in the brain produces more melatonin, making us drowsier. We naturally desire early to bed and longer sleeps.
Overall, we may naturally feel less energetic and generally a bit down in the winter months. In some cultures, these changes in our bodies are a cue to lean in to the softness and ease, to slow down and synchronize our days with Earth’s natural flow. For example, in Chinese Medicine, winter is storage season. The idea is that during this time the body is meant to gather and store yang energy, the energy of action, so that it is ready for the spring. We are not meant to be busy. We are meant to turn inward.
Unfortunately, we have created a world in which we are meant to feel the same every day, 24/7, optimized for peak productivity. We are addicted to more. The capitalist machine needs us to feed it, needs to be constantly growing, or it collapses. This is such a modern concept, one that even just a few generations ago would have seemed like madness.
We have to be very intentional, almost disciplined, to follow the natural rhythms of the Earth.
Here are a few ways we can lean into slowing and storage, supporting our bodies as we transition into the winter season.
Before electricity, we lived by the light. Winding down with the sunset and waking up with the sunrise helps us to restore our circadian rhythms—which regulate many parts of our bodies, like hormones, body temperature, immune response, digestion, blood pressure and heart rate.
Dimming our lights as evening sets in, and reducing super bright and blue light emitting electronics, helps us to support this natural shift in our brain chemistry. Go light some candles! Romance yourself!
We are naturally able to better digest heavier foods like meat, potatoes, and grains during the winter months. We are adapted to eat the nutrient dense foods that also happen to be easy to store over the winter, like pumpkins, sweet potatoes, beets, squash, and apples—all of which are rich in vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
How amazing that our bodies have adapted to the soft glow of candlelight and fires. To the foods naturally abundant at this time of year. We crave cuddles, coziness and sweet connection with others—what better way to spend a dark cold evening.
Turn off your phone, make a stew, and go snuggle a dog!
Scroll below for this week’s writing prompts!
Last call to get on the waitlist for my Writing Retreat in Tuscany!
Registration will open next week. Those on the waitlist will have first priority to sign up. We only have 8 spaces, and they will fill up!
Through group and individual writing exercises, daily morning practices, and delicious meals together, we will tap into our creativity and illuminate deeper truths about ourselves and the world around us.
We will connect with the land and local community, meet people from around the world, and emerge from the retreat refreshed, renewed, and re-inspired.
Learn more and get on the waitlist here, so you have priority access once we open registration. It’s going to be a magical week!
Do you like reading these short missives each week? Or wish to support my writing in general? Join the club with a paid subscription. If you don’t want to commit to a full year subscription, you can pay monthly for the price of a two apple hand pies.
Also, no one will be turned away for lack of funds. If you think you would benefit from these prompts but can’t afford them at this time, email me at ginarae@substack.com, and I will gift you a subscription.
