19 Comments

I am so grateful for your timely reassurance that 'simply being' is a gift of great kindness to ourselves - allowing the cold chill and grey skies of continuing winter to be lived with gentle quietness.

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That's so lovely to hear, you're welcome. I hope you can continue to be kind to yourself and go gently this Winter ❤️

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So beautiful. I too am resisting the conditioning to "take off running" in the new year. This is still the time for lots of added warmth - self kindness, hot beverages, meditative fires.

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Thank you! It's hard to resist when there's so much noise around this, but I'm with you on trying to lean into the warmth ❤️

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You're welcome. It is hard, and I haven't done a great job so far - been doing more than planned. But I've still got the rest of the month to practice more adding more 'warmth' into my winter days.

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Be kind to yourself! January can be relentless. Hope you can have a bit more warmth as the days go on. X

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And of course, here in the southern half of the world, we are glorying in the fact that New Year gives us summer and fresh summery food, gardens in bloom and a warm sea in which to swim. For me personally, it's important to acknowledge that there are two ways of life in the world and two ways to celebrate the New Year. Both can be lovely, and worth sitting quietly and being mindful of.

I never make resolutions and as I age, I just take the best of each day's offerings, no matter how small, and make something of it.

Have a gentle and safe 2024.

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Of course, I'm writing from my own perspective in the Northern Hemisphere and it's lovely to hear your perspective in the Southern Hemisphere - thanks for sharing ❤️

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I love this so much, Rosie. Thank you. For me also, Imbolc is the start of a new year (it also happens to be my saint’s day, so I take it personally!) Looking forward to following Slow Seasons throughout the year.

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Thank you very much, and you're so welcome. That's really lovely, definitely a double celebration then! ❤️

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I have also decided that I am not going to see Jan 1 as my New Year and like the idea of taking Imbolc, looking for signs of Spring, and beginning to come out of hibernation.

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Lovely ❤️ hope you enjoy spotting those signs of Spring!

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Happy new year Rosie! I have your book on audible and a heartwarming, soothing listen it is. Thank you

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Thank you, that is so lovely to hear! Happy New Year to you too ❤️

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This is the exact energy I want to bring into 2024 with me. I was always someone who hated winter and wished it away, desperately waiting for spring. This year I have been leaning into it more and it has been such a wonderful season so far.

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Brilliant, so glad it resonated - thank you ❤️ hope you can continue embracing Winter!

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This gentle approach to the New Year makes much sense in the Northern Hemisphere. It does seem completely absurd to be entering a new calendar year all guns blazing when nature is inviting you inward. I'd never considered this before living in Australia with Summer in full blaze come January. I adore this time of year and always feel energetic and inspired to begin the year with gusto in service of all I want to milk from it. Sometimes living down here and following the wheel of the year can feel a little out of sync (Yule in July for example) but New Year vibes do perfectly align with Litha energy. Enjoy your slow January 💫

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Thank you for sharing your perspective! I made sure to include both Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere dates in 'Slow Seasons' as I was mindful of that. Definitely agree that Litha aligns way more with New Year! You too ❤️

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