Depending on where you live, winter can be a time of dormancy or growth. In our part of the northern hemisphere the ground is frozen and covered with snow and spring seems far off. We are happy to have the slower quieter days. Gardens are planned, potting soil prepared and seeds ordered. All these are engaging, creative activities that make me excited for what will be. But my favorite winter farm-related activity is to engage meditatively with the land around me.
Rudolf Steiner (1861 – 1925), the founder of biodynamic practices, suggested that the life of the Earth is especially strong during the winter season; that much is going on beneath the surface of the Earth that has to do with the enlivening of the Earth by cosmic energies.
I like to step outside each winter day and quietly stand on our farm. As I get still, I pay attention to my breathing and imagine this flow of vital energy between the Cosmos and the Earth. Then I open my eyes and ears to the sights and sounds around me. I focus on what draws my attention and give thanks for it. As I stand in stillness, with beauty surrounding me, and gratitude in my heart, I am at peace.
