As I have dived deep in the frozen waters of winter, matched rhythm of my breath with the silent whispers of this season, found the goddess earth in her deepest meditation of the year, walked miles across the forest of snow with my eyes following the eyes of the baby deer, hugged leafless trees and barren branches, collected old seeds and the last red berries, made mandalas of winter leaves and twigs for the full moon, my heart has found the soul and body of winter. Like a twin sister, I can feel the seemingly lifeless earth on her inward journey, deep, so deep, in her being.
It is not that she is preparing for spring or is nostalgic about the summers and autumns that passed by. She is just this, the quiet, cold, naked, barren, wild and majestic beauty in her most meditative form. My dreams have been of her. A body of snow and branches with deep red berry eyes, closed.
If you look closely, you can find all the mythical creatures, ancient spirits, gods and goddesses, in the snowy garden of mother winter. I have witnessed them following me in my trails, or I have followed their sacred steps. As I have walked through the winter forest in late nights and early dawns, I have heard the oldest hymn of the living soul of the world.
Such mysteries and visions have entered my being as I have touched the roots of oak, dipped my hands in the icy water of the creek, splashed it on my forehead, held it close to my heart and prayed to the divine goddess for forever keeping me connected to her secrets and her creations. I have asked for her forgiveness, her love, her attention. She has arrived to me in many forms, on the night of full moon leaving me a half glass of water, during a setting sun, filling my entire world with golden bliss. What a winter it has been as I taste life of a hermit in the lap of the divine mother as she goes through her special season.
