Seasons of the Soul

It is winter at present where I live, which means wet, cold and shorter days. All of this means that life takes on a more inward existence. But this can bring its own blessings. Perhaps it gives more rest from frenetic activity, allowing space for reflection. Maybe even time for a spiritual stock take, timeout to look at what is of value or importance in your life. Are the things I’m looking towards of lasting value or just a momentary short-term endeavour?

 

The natural world goes through seasons each with its own beauty and part in the whole cycle. The dominancy of winter gives way to the new growth of spring. The abundance of summer turns into harvest and fall of autumn. This cycle is a mirror of an inward cycle – seasons of the soul.

 

Each season of the soul’s growth has its own challenges and its learning. To be aware of the inner season is to embrace it, allow it to be and learn the lesson it brings to us, even the more difficult waiting that can be part of the winter season.

 

Winter can involve waiting, perhaps struggle. Yet through this season in nature there is beauty that emerges from the cold damp earth. I’m waiting for the first signs of new growth – the first snowdrops that emerge from darkness into light. These bloom in the harshest of conditions. And sometimes from inner struggle comes beauty of soul. Perhaps we catch glimpses of this inner beauty radiating from those individuals have been moulded and refined by life experience and so shine with wisdom and peace.

 

Such glimpses give me hope and the courage to keep on with the promise of deeper insight being the treasure held within the challenge of my ‘winter’ inner season.

 

These words by Joyce Rupp give me hope –

 

… finally I stood before a new door:

the Hall of Oneness and Freedom.

uncertain and wary, I slowly opened,

discovering a space of welcoming light.

 

I entered the sacred inner room

where everything sings of Mystery.

no longer could I deny or resist

the decay of clenching control

and the silent gaps of surrender.

 

there in that sacred place of my Self

Love of a lasting kind came forth,

embracing me like a long beloved one

come home for the first time.

much that I thought to be “me”

crept to the corners and died.

in its place a Being named Peace

slipped beside and softly spoke my name:

“Welcome home, True Self,

I’ve been waiting for you.”

from the poem Preface