Changing Seasons: Winter's Invitation

“Seasons” is a wise metaphor for the movement of life, I think. It suggests that life is neither a battlefield nor a game of chance but something infinitely richer, more promising, more real. The notion that our lives are like the eternal cycle of the seasons does not deny the struggle or the joy, the loss or the gain, the darkness or the light, but encourages us to embrace it all – and to find in all of it opportunities for growth.— Parker J. Palmer

Winter has its own way of teaching us. In the quiet months, when light is scarce and the world appears stripped back to its essentials, we are invited to slow down and listen for the deeper currents moving through our lives just below the surface. Winter encourages us toward reflection and rest, toward remembering our place in the long arc of time, and toward reconnecting with the stories – ancestral, communal, and personal – that shape who we are becoming.

This session in our three-part “Changing Seasons” series focuses on winter as a guide for navigating life’s transitions. What can this season teach us about pausing, reflecting, letting go, and trusting what is emerging beneath the surface? How might the stillness of winter help us discern what is ours to carry forward – and what is ready to be set down? And how does deep time, lineage, and the presence of those who came before us offer grounding and perspective as we enter the next phase of our lives?

Together, we will reflect on these questions, drawing inspiration from the wisdom of Parker Palmer, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and other elders who speak to the rhythm and mystery of change. Guided by the principles and practices of the Courage & Renewal® approach, we’ll cultivate a calm and confidential space where we can hear ourselves – and one another – more clearly.

Whether you are navigating a transition now or simply feel the pull of winter’s quiet invitation, we welcome you to join us for this in-person retreat.

For more information please contact Kristin Philipson at kphilipson@rosedaleunited.org