Winter is the season of cold and dark, of rest and storage. The lifeforce is quiet, withdrawn, and retreats deep within the earth where roots are in hibernation, preparing for new growth in Spring. In the still calm of Winter we might look to nature to remind us to move slowly, taking time to notice inner changes and reflect honestly on the life we have been so busily cultivating throughout the year. Metaphorically, Winter is the season of death. Listening inwardly, we are instructed to die to parts of ourselves that no longer suit our needs, taking the steps necessary to embrace change, to move forward preparing for renewal and rebirth in Spring. Herein lie the seeds of healing...

Winter Healing

Researchers are finding that emotional responses actually organize our minds, that all thoughts and memories are coded by subtle "feeling tones." These feeling tones serve to integrate the formation of our perceptions of our experiences and of ourselves. They further trigger the release of hormones in the hypothalamus, the part of the brain responsible for governing the way our bodies respond to stress. Scores of studies affirm a correlation between emotional states and immune response, indicating that a positive, self-aware, fearless outlook can have a powerful impact on our ability to resist illness and expel existing disease.

It is estimated that more than 75% of all doctor visits are ultimately related to stress. We have become a nation of sufferers taking tranquilizers and neurotransmitter-altering drugs (recently approved for use in children 8 years and older) to deal with the stresses of daily living. But is stress our real issue? Or is it our response to stress, our ability to cope? When we face long-term stress with fear and pessimism, our negative response interferes with our natural physiological restorative capacity, our ability to heal. A positive emotional state not only helps prevent imbalances and illness in the living, but also helps cultivate a sense of clarity, peace, and surrender in the dying.

Inevitably there will come a day when we and those we love are faced with more than metaphorical deaths, the changes we must make and weather throughout life. It may surprise us to find that when faced with terminal illness and physical death we could actually embark upon the greatest healing journey of our lives. If we overcome our fear and come to accept death as part of life, we learn to let go, become open to the full exploration of each passing moment, and stop struggling against illness, pain, and death. Contrary to most modern medical practice, we can realize that death is not our enemy to be avoided at all costs, that it is a certainty of life, that we can in essence heal into death as confirmation of a life well lived.

Living requires strength and clarity to confront all the obstacles that come before us. Cultivating a healing attitude can help us to cope with the stresses of living and dying. A positive emotional outlook can guide us toward overcoming our fears, especially our fear of death, and consequently our fear of living. Confronting our mortality honestly and positively can enable us to muster the courage to live the life we want and are meant to live. It can motivate us to actualize our full potential, to stop procrastinating and do the things we truly would like to do. It can help us be a better caregiver and friend and it can help us stay well and resist illness until it is our own time to rest into Winter's final journey.

copyright © January 2003