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Winter: A Season for Inner Work

lauraindigowaters


"good work"
"good work"

Winter brings profound changes to our daily rhythms, often calling us inward. It’s a season for introspection and renewal—a time to replenish energy and incubate new beginnings. Whether we’re choosing sobriety, setting health goals, or planning for growth, the colder months offer an opportunity for transformation.


Imbolc and the Quickening of the Year

Imbolc, celebrated this year on February 1st, marks the “quickening of the year,” a moment to reflect on how we might emerge from winter’s darkness and carry forward what we’ve learned during this time of rest. For the women participating in Sacred Turning/Lunar Alchemy this year, Imbolc is a time to honor both the stillness of winter and the stirrings of new life.


As Glennie Kindred writes, “At Imbolc the unconscious is emerging from the time of incubation and rest, revitalized, potent, and fertile. Imbolc is the time for initiation and healing, for reclaiming what has been forgotten. It is a time for invocation of the life force and working with the dynamics of its potency.”


This festival invites us to reflect: What have we learned about ourselves during these quieter months? How can we step forward with renewed energy and intention?


Resetting with Intention

Recently, a rare snow-and-ice event in the southern U.S. offered me my own moment of reflection—a chance to reset. When the electricity went out, I had no idea what or how to reset, but I put the intention out into the universe. As my partner and I moved through the day, we realized everything we did had purpose—a kind of "chop wood, carry water" simplicity that felt grounding.


We shoveled the ice and snow from our driveway into large containers to keep our food cool. We collected the ice melt from the roof to use as flushing water, started a fire on the grill to heat water for tea and coffee, and warmed cast iron bowls to comfort our three indoor cats. Each action became intentional, purposeful.


When the sun set and temperatures dropped below freezing again, we were tired, but it was a “good” kind of tired—not the exhaustion of a long workday, but the fulfillment of meaningful effort.


“What’s the difference?” my partner asked.


“Everything we did had a purpose,” I answered. She agreed.


It reminded me of other moments of purposeful effort: listening and coaching, making art for healing or play, and spending time immersed in nature. These experiences leave me tired but deeply satisfied. They remind me of the value of aligning my energy with meaningful, intentional work.


Reclaiming Inner Power

Reflecting on my reset, I feel empowered, strong, and confident. This is recovery—season by season, phase by phase. With each turn of the year, I reclaim my inner power: the confidence I had before addiction, before toxic relationships, before I ever felt defeated by life. Today, I feel grounded, prepared, and aligned with the beautiful, purposeful work ahead.


What about you? What “good” kind of tired are you engaging with, and what changes are you making to your inner or outer life this winter? What seeds of intention are you planting for the months ahead?


If you’re ready to explore what this season could hold for you—whether through creativity, nature, or self-discovery—I’d love to connect. Let’s start the conversation.

 

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