Winter Solace
A time to listen, replenish and come home.
In our small seaside town, winter has well and truly arrived.
Blue hour from the night before lingers well into the morning, the streets are cold and quiet and a gentle wisp of earthy smoke fills each day as we try to keep our homes and bodies warm. Chilled air, skies painted grey with blistering winds to match and days that shortly disappear into the night are here to stay for the next few months.
But still for some reason, we refuse to accept this change. For a place like Australia, it seems it’s become second nature to grieve the end of summer and despise the onset of the cold, wintery months almost as if it has been engraved into our very being. Many of us even flee to the other side of the world just to escape it. Have we simply become too attached to the idea of our golden sunlit summers or are we missing something valuable here?
Winter is a season to unwind, not escape.
If anything, it’s the reset we desperately all need. A momentary slowing of time that serves a necessary pause amongst our busy lives.
A season that pulls up a chair, offers a warm drink and welcomes us to slow down the pace of our hustling, bustling lives.
Here’s how our team are embracing the seasonal shift.
Slower mornings, less doing and more being.
Days that begin and end with meditation, from a simple moment of gratitude to mindfulness practices that deeply anchor us, are the foundation of our winter routines. We focus on slowness and moving intuitively — this extends to the forms of movement we partake in. Gentler days see yin yoga sessions, stretching and long walks along the coast and when we find our energy levels higher we seek invigoration through Pilates and vinyasa flow.
Reading, journalling and writing prayers through poetry fill the quiet moments, offering us an opportunity to immerse ourselves in reflection and introspect
in our own time. ‘The Power of Now’ by Eckhart Tolle and “Why We Meditate’ by Daniel Goleman & Tsoknyi Rinpoche are currently on our reading list — immersing us in wise teachings, encouraging us to challenge our mindset and return to a sense of presence.
“This time of year calls for deep rest and reflection, and I allow my daily rituals to mirror that softness.”
Eating to feel nourished, grounded and well.
This time of year calls us to lean into nourishing whole foods and dishes with warmth and heartiness to sustain us.
Warm lemon tea with a pinch of salt to encourage cellular detoxification and enhance our absorption of iron is a staple for most of our mornings. Breakfasts are warm and nourishing, often with grounding spices or eggs cooked our favourite ways and our hands are normally wrapped around mugs of something steaming — you’ll find us sipping on herbal tea or spiced cacao more often than not.
With a focus on simplicity and flavour meals often take a warm, spiced and iron-rich approach. Hearty soups and bone broth offer comfort and sustenance whilst in season citrus bolsters our immunity with a vibrant dose of vitamins — just the kind of support our bodies need during this season.
“Breakfast often looks like a warm bowl of porridge or eggs with as many veggies I have in my fridge.”
Welcoming rest and seeking warmth.
We like to take our time during this season. Creative endeavours, routine tasks and the daily commute all slow down. Time is savoured.
We favour pastimes where we can be present and maintain warmth. Evenings spent reading or soaking in hot baths are frequent and we often find ourselves seeking sauna sessions or indoor movement to support our bodies. Retaining heat becomes vital in winter — meaning socks, hot water bottles and natural fibres like merino wool are on high rotation. The shift into winter brings a new lifestyle with it; shorter, darker days make way for changes to our sleeping patterns and preferred forms of movement. Rather than resisting this we lean into it and adapt to living in tune with the season.
“Sinking into a hot bath with magnesium salts, zeolite, bentonite clay and a few drops of essential oil is one of
my favourite winter practices. It’s incredibly soothing and detoxifying.”
Leaning into the discomfort.
There is no denying the edge that winter entails.
Our coastline shows its raw and untamed side. There’s a bitterness in the wind and depth to the night that sends many to escape it.
It’s harsh and wild and testing. But it’s simply the polarity of nature.
It’s enticing to hibernate during this time but vital to remain connected to our communities. To ensure we keep this sense of connection we find ourselves braving the chill and seeking out events that incorporate yoga, meditation and sound to meet new people, expand our comfort zone and foster a feeling of belonging.
Amongst the discomfort, we delight in the sweet scent of burning embers and damp soil. A melancholic but comforting form of nostalgia.
A reminder that even in the midst of the darkest months we can find peace and solace.
This is an overlooked period of time when it comes to personal growth; it’s harder, more challenging and requires a deeper sense of commitment. But on the other side of it we often find profound growth and learnings.
“Winter brings bigger swell and more stormy days. I try to make the most of it by gently pushing my limits and
keeping consistent. It is, for me, the season of growth where I try to progress the most compared to the rest
of the year.”
Is our warm breath in the air not symbolic
of our breathless world?
Almost as if it’s habitual we stop to notice our own breath when the frostbitten mornings arrive.
We pause for a moment just say “look at this” as we exhale and watch a cloud of mist disappear into the air.
This small act of mindfulness quickly vanishes as we become swept away with our busy lives full of tasks and destinations, to-do lists and commitments. But if we’re clever enough, we can recognise this as a reminder
to slow down and come back to the very thing that sustains us. The next time you notice your own breath
on a still morning, allow it to be a gentle nudge towards a mindful state of being
— one of appreciation for this season we always seem to resist.
It’s our intention to encourage you to find solace in this season.
The next few months are an opportunity for inner restoration and replenishment so that when our favourite season eventually reappears we’re well nourished and balanced for the inevitable rush that it brings. These months are a chance to turn inwards with introspection and seek personal evolution. Unhurried and softly.
An opportunity gifted to us each year.
Shortly these cold days will have melted into nostalgia once again — we hope this post reminds you to find peace and presence here and now.
written by brooke josland