Notes From The Field: The Art of Wintering
How to Practice the Art of Wintering: Workshop + Practices
December invites us to pause: a time for reflection, gathering, and celebration.
Winter looks a little different for me this year. After spending the past few winters escaping to warmer climates, I’ll be staying in the Northern Hemisphere this time, splitting my time between northern Italy and my home country, Austria—nesting and preparing for our baby girl, due in early spring. 🪺🌸
So this month I want to carve out space to slow down, look back, and celebrate where we are now, and how we’ve grown this year.
While our (working) world often pushes us to "finish the year strong," this season invites us to embrace a different rhythm—a chance to slow down, get cozy, and replenish. And while for those who thrive on sun and energy, the darker months can feel daunting (myself included), instead of resisting, we can learn the art of "wintering". As nature teaches us: as the earth rests and roots grow deeper in winter, we too can use this time which is essential for growth and renewal and to gather strength for the new year.
Seasons Planning Session:
Year Reflection, Celebration + Intention Setting ✨
We’re currently running our Creative Lifestyle Program, and this month, we’re reflecting on our rhythms and seasons of work and life.
This theme inspires our upcoming quarterly Seasons Workshop. It will be a space and guided journey to reflect on the past year and intentionally step into the next. If you’re looking for some gentle guidance and warm space to reflect on the year and set intentions for the new one, please come join us! It will be magical.
📓 Ritual + Reflection Materials (Emailed in December): A pre-session ritual kit with activities and prompts to help you reflect on and celebrate the past year at your own pace throughout December and the holiday season.
🗓️ 90-Minute Online Group Workshop (January 8): A virtual session to accumulate what we learned and craft rituals to create an intentional start to your year.
P.S.: Paid newsletter subscribers get 50% off, so if you’ve been thinking about supporting this newsletter and becoming a paid subscriber, this would be a good time :)
Inspiration from the natural world
An excerpt from Ness Labs
Wintering: The act of withdrawing from the world to focus on one’s inner world; active acceptance of dark and cold times; a form of calm resilience.
Wintering was initially a term used in biology to describe how certain animals and birds survive cold seasons. While some species migrate to warmer climates, others stay in place and adapt their behaviors and physiology to survive harsh conditions.
This biological concept was translated to our human experience by Katherine May in her 2020 book Wintering, where she showed how humans, just like wintering animals, need periods of retreat to survive life’s different seasons. In essence, just as nature moves through cycles of activity and rest, humans too need periods of pulling back and recharging.
Research supports this idea that our bodies respond to seasonal changes with shifts in hormones, sleep patterns, and energy levels. Fighting these natural rhythms can lead to increased stress, decreased immunity, and emotional exhaustion.
How to Practice the Art of Wintering
Wintering isn’t about withdrawing completely—it’s about finding a balance between rest and activity, solitude and connection. Like a tree pulling energy into its roots, it’s about gathering strength for your next season of growth. Here are a few practices to guide you:
🐿️ Build a winter nest. Create a cozy area in your home for rest and reflection. Add soft lighting, warm blankets, herbal teas, and journaling supplies. Make it a screen-free sanctuary.
❄ Adjust your rhythm. Cut back on non-essential obligations (great exercise to practice saying no!) and leave room for spaciousness in your days. Pay attention to your energy levels and let yourself rest more deeply when needed.
📓 Nurture inner growth. Start a creative project purely for joy, not productivity. Set aside 15 minutes daily for reflective writing, reading, drawing, kitting (?) or whatever you’d like to do. (I’m reading and LOVING Elena Ferrante right now!)
🍲 Host friends. Focus on quality over quantity in your relationships. Cook nourishing meals, bake, or host intimate gatherings like tea, dinner, or a cozy, festive Sunday brunch.
As you move through December, consider how you might embrace wintering with intention. What could you let go of to create more space? Where would you like to focus your time and energy?
The answers will vary for each of us, but the invitation is universal: rather than simply enduring the darker moments, let’s honor them as opportunities for renewal and transformation.
I hope to see you at the workshop as we reflect, celebrate, and prepare for the new year (and life’s season!) ahead ✨
See you soon,
Alice