deep in the void

a mid-november moment of reflection

Hello, you.

It’s mid-November and we continue to sink deeper and deeper into darkness. How are you doing with it all? What are you feeling and experiencing as the month unfolds and draws us further into the shadows?

I am very slowly feeling a bit more settled. Welcome and unwelcome changes and challenges in life have caused my entire autumn to feel a bit chaotic and disconnected; but I feel like, just as November arrived, with her haunting mystery and warm darkness, my life began to slowly settle a bit. At least some things have come to an end, allowing for a sense of closure.

Which leads me to think about the cycles and rhythms of life. And how grateful I am that things come and go, begin and end.

The cycle of it all

The rhythm of life is cyclical. Not linear. Time moves in a spiral, filled with endings and beginnings, evolutions and growth, action and rest.

In nature, the cycle moves from life to death to rebirth. The way of life for us is also cyclical. Literally, our lives are physically cyclical, but they also spiritually and developmentally cyclical. And we are invited to consciously live in rhythm with nature and the seasons. Not just observing and marking them, but experiencing, aligning with, and embodying them.

When we align and live in rhythm with the cycles of the seasons, then we can easily see and feel our own lives in alignment with the natural flow of it all. The moments, days, months, and years of our own lives seem to move through the same rhythms as the earth and sky. And the ordinary days of everyday life are infused with magic and meaning.

We accept that there are little deaths, little endings, and little moments of letting go all throughout life. And, we move through them, trusting the rhythms and cycles of life, knowing that with each ending, there is a new beginning.

Growth. Fullness. Release. Void.

These are the four seasons of life. Found in nature, but also found in our own lives. Spring. Summer. Autumn. Winter. Each season bringing its own energy. Each one necessary and needed for life to continue.

Now that we are in the depths of November, we have come to the season of the void. The growth of spring led to the fullness of summer, which gave way to the release of autumn, who then surrendered to the darkness of the void of winter.

So, here we are. Moving deeper each day down into the void. For me, the only thing to do now is to embrace that this is the season of death. We cannot begin something new without releasing the old. Every birth requires a death first. And when we release with reverence, accept that death is part of it all, then we create space for rebirth. This is the work of November.

It is important to remember that out of the darkness of death a new cycle begins again. In November, we walk through the gateway of death and spend time in the liminal space of nothingness, between Halloween and the December holidays, known as the void. A portal that guides us toward the door to new beginnings.

This is the reset

In the dark, empty, haunting mood of November, we begin again. It is the month, the moment of the year, when we just let go. This month is the year’s last, long, deep, slow exhale. A time of softening and gentleness as we settle in for all things home and hearth.

The earth turns inward and prepares for her season of rest. The last of the leaves drop to the ground. The first frost arrives. Smoke from chimneys, bonfires, and our own breath fill the cold air. Birds flit to and fro outside my window, eating berries. Squirrels gather nuts. The trees stand bare, vulnerable and naked, but strong, ready for winter winds and snow. Everything in nature is slowing, settling, preparing.

Even in the middle of the city the sounds are dampened, softer and muted, like the browns and grays of November. The streets, while still active with shoppers and wanderers, even have a different energy. People move with intention, bundled up with scarves and hats, gripping hot cups of coffee and cider, moving around with the knowledge that this year is coming to a close, gathering what is needed for the next few months of darkness and hibernation, preparing our homes for the season ahead.

We are drawn inward as well, returning to our homes for warmth, safety, and cozy gatherings around firelight. Filling our bellies with hearty food and warm, earthy spices.

Our bodies and souls, begin to yearn for stillness and silence as well. That explains why we are extra tired with now. It’s natural. Daylight hours disappear, nights grow longer, our melatonin rises, giving us literally an extra dose of the desire to slow down and rest.

During these dark days and nights at home, we are invited to use the void of November for deep reflection. It is a chance to dig deeper into our inner life, to meet our souls and embrace the shadows. Spending this quiet time tending to our souls is exactly what leads to the growth and healing that will come in the season after winter.

But, the void, the emptiness, the space, and the darkness of November are not the end. This is the portal to something new.

Even though it is November, all around me, the holidays seem to be beginning. It’s easy to get caught up in it all. I love holiday decorations and lights and songs and the joy of it all. And, even though I am longing for it and so excited for the holidays, I want to stay in the void.

I don’t want to rush things. I want to feel the darkness and experience the emptiness of these long, melancholic nights. I want to create warm, cozy moments for reflection, stillness, and magic. I want to listen to the whispers of the spirits and the guidance of my elders. I want to feel the haunting shadows of my own soul. I want to keep releasing and letting go. I want to make space for silence.

So, for now, at least for the next two weeks, I want to live in the void of November. Tending to magic of this portal. Soon enough, the holidays will be here and then the rest of winter will arrive. For now, though, this is the time for the wisdom of the night. For being quiet and brave. For mystery and emptiness. For just letting it be.

Wishing you deep magic for the rest of November. Tend to your soul and listen to the whispers in the void.

xoxo. liz.

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