Nourishing Stillness
I am exploring 12 words this year - one every month to savour. You can think of each blog post in this series as a mini-guide, connected to the season and full of both the magical & the practical. This month, nourish stillness with poetry, reflection, an indoor nature bathing practice, and a scent exploration. There are also two online rest circles for you to attend. I’d love to have you join!
“A seed knows how to wait. Most seeds wait for several years before starting to grow; a cherry seed can wait for a hundred years with no problem.”
These words bring me comfort right now. They remind me that it is okay to be still. To not know. To wait.
There is wisdom in stillness. The poet Mary Oliver calls stillness one of the doors into the temple.
As we step into the New Year, I feel that - more than ever - we need moments of stillness in our lives.
There are so many gifts that stillness gives us.
Stillness…
Slows you down.
Calms the mind.
Soothes the body.
Brings clarity.
Sparks creativity.
Restores you.
Opens you up to wonder.
Brings you into the present moment.
Allows you to hear your intuition.
Just like the Winter Earth, we need stillness and rest.
Two Reflections on Stillness
The garden lies quiet and still.
It’s a time when I imagine the roots of trees and bushes, the filaments of garlic and tulips and crocus, to be quietly recharging, filled with dreaming. This quiet cycle of rest is crucial for their months ahead. This is also true for me. The amazing stillness in the world outside brings a stillness to my own heart and mind. Yes, there’s a voice telling me I could use this time more efficiently and productively. I value work and effort, but there’s a rhythm to it that includes rest and reflection, a quiet mind and body, recharging.
-Alanda Greene
Space Between the Stones
A lesson
I am still learning:
Not to toss
stones into the pond
one after the other,
compelled by
a seductive
yet attainable ideal
of constant
forward motion -
But rather
to allow space
between the stones,
to let
the ripples expand
into stillness
so I can
clearly see
the treasures
just below the surface.
-Kai Seidenberg
Prompts for deeper reflection
What is your relationship to stillness?
Take some time to reflect on these questions.
What does stillness mean to you?
What does it feel like in your body to be still?
When are you still in your day?
What do you do when you have to wait for someone or something?
What everyday moments can open you up to stillness?
A Simple Practice: Window Gazing
These practices were generously shared by Monique Kueker, Nature Bathing Practitioner and friend.
Window Gazing: Noticing Stillness
Oftentimes in winter, we are not able to spend as much time outdoors. However, research has shown that simply looking at a natural scene can have a profound positive effect on our wellbeing.
When you can’t physically get outside, perhaps you could spend some time near a window and focus your attention to the view of nature.
Window gazing can be appreciated by just sitting and looking.
If you would like to delve further into the experience, here are some questions to consider as you gaze out at the natural world.
What signs of winter rest do you see when looking at the landscape?
What is still and what is moving?
What creatures are missing that you see in other seasons?
How does the quiet of winter feel within your body?
Considering the purpose of rest in winter for the natural world, how do you see that reflected within yourself?
A Scent for Stillness
Frankincense (Boswellia carteri) promotes calmness and reflection. Used by spiritual traditions for centuries, its scent deepens breath, focuses the mind, and fosters a meditative state for experiencing and integrating inner wisdom. An excellent aid for meditation, it helps quiet mental chatter and brings stillness to the mind.
Scent Discovery
Put a drop of Frankincense essential oil on a tissue and inhale the aroma. You may wish to close your eyes while you do this.
Be with the scent.
What do you notice in your body?
Take a break from smelling the aroma and then smell again.
What do you notice in your body? Are there any words, images, or insights that arrive within you?
