Rest Now & Be Still- Listening to the Dream Seeds of Winter
As I write this, the sun is glistening through the window of our home. I’ve been on hiatus for quite a few weeks- while still offering individual Breathwork Sessions and Groups, I’ve internally been in a quiet place. Any moments of downtime outside of family time have been spent alone in contemplation- walking the land, drumming, sitting in the sunlight in our living room looking out at the field outside our window. And it’s been, in this very necessary pause/respite, that I’ve also been planting what I’ve heard referred to as “dream seeds”.
The “Dream Seeds” are seeds we plant in the germination phase of our life. They are intentions not yet spoken, visions not yet realized and without the fortitude of “action” or planning- instead- they simply lay dormant- in silent rest.
But the dormancy does not mean the dream seeds are any less potent. In fact- it is in this highly sophisticated transformational phase of life that all future vision is formed. It takes time and quiet to access these stiller places- and, I’ve often found- it takes courage as well- courage to enter the not knowing, the un-clear/un-defined path.
And yet- sitting with ourselves in stillness, whether alone or with others, is a skill that has been practiced for millennia by humans—though often lost in today’s hurrying culture.
I recently heard of the concept of REST being a quiet “revolution”- which offers a similar guidepost in looking at the ancient practices of stillness as a beacon of truth. In hibernation, or the sacred “dream seed” process, finding the articulation of a clear path is like trying to find your way while riding a bike in a deep fog—when, after circling in the same location for many minutes, one finally stops and surrenders to the mist on their face and opens their mouth wide open to catch the droplets. It is this surrender to the “no clear path” that has yet been forged that is the most delicate process.
All of nature relies on this temporary PAUSE- or what some would call the “goo” phase of the butterfly transformation (when caterpillar moves from “form to non-form” before transforming to butterfly).
I notice for myself, when this phase occurs that for a few days my mind relentlessly chatters on about all the things I need to be getting to and responsibilities I’ve made until finally the inertia of stillness settles in—like mud settling further into itself on a damp spring day.
But we are not in spring- we are in winter- and the winter of quiet whispers to us so sweetly to listen to the dream seeds. The winter beckons toward slowness and “still” resonance and is something we can all harmonize to from our own homes, with our own breathing, in our own bodies, with our own being, and with the natural world around us.
1) A simple way to deepen into this process is to give yourself permission to recognize when this is happening- and to give over to it rather than resist it. Consider it a time where you might put a DO NOT DISTURB sign on your door. It’s ok to do this- it’s ok to not go to one more thing or create any action at all. It’s ok to simply BE.
2) Another simple way is to find a few simple comforts that help you delight in this time. A warm bathrobe, a special candle, soft lighting, pleasant aromas, closed doors- and dedicated time.
3) Once you’ve begun the process of SURRENDER- the next phase can sometimes be the most difficult. It is the period where the mind wants to keep on behind distracted- to check the phone, sign up for something, do the laundry. The “activity” is simply a way to keep us going but is not actually deep listening- it is deep busying and tireless and ENDLESS with activity.
4) Through the gates of the mental chatter, comes perhaps a deeper layer of disturbance- sometimes the underlying belief systems that keep us all driving forward become more present (beliefs of undervalue, not enough, comparison, etc. are the most common), or even strong emotions like grief, or sadness or fear. These are all within your ability to be with- no one is given more they can handle. Follow your breath. Follow the Earth. Take your time. Be patient- and go gently as you meet yourself in all your tenderness.
5) Finally- perhaps once a few tears falls, or the mud of the mind settles just a bit more- there comes a greater sense of peace/of knowing. This peace is not tied to any particular breath practice and yet the breath is present. There is a sense of sinking down, dropping down and being held by the Earth-womb- like the skirts of the ground rising up to encircle you for protection and healing.
6) From here- nothing is needed. Notice the inner heartbeat. Notice where you are guided to next- or the courage it takes to NOT be guided anywhere. Take these small steps towards the one thing, the no-thing, the BE-thing of BEING. And just BE.
Sometimes from this place- a last tendril of the mind comes again- beliefs like “I’ll always be here and will never again be re-born into action” may rise up for fear of missing our, falling behind, etc.. But this is the nature of us all in the deep winter- to think the spring will not come again. BUT IT WILL. It will. The spring and action always comes again- have faith!
May you rest and BE STILL. May you have rest and be at peace in stillness. May you be. Until we meet again!! In light- Tania