In the winter time the Rat slept a great deal, retiring early and rising late. During his short day he sometimes scribbled poetry or did other small domestic jobs about the house.
—Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows
Draw alongside the silence of stone
Until its calmness can claim you.
Be excessively gentle with yourself.
—John O’Donohue, from For One Who Is Exhausted, a Blessing
I'm writing to you in the early morning by candlelight. It is very peaceful here. A few days ago my mantle clock stopped and, despite winding it, I’ve been unable to start it ticking again. The absence of the usually comforting tick-tock adds to the feeling of peace by adding a layer of stillness. I am happy here in the near darkness, sitting with a mug of tea until it’s time to let the chickens out and go and stand at my garden gate to greet the day.
A three-month hibernation
Just as my clock has stopped, so have I.
At the winter solstice I announced that I was taking a three-month break from publicly podcasting and would also be withdrawing from social media. I’m not making any plans and won’t be undertaking any new projects until the spring. I’m not planning to venture far from my hillside.
I’m hoping to emerge with a little bit of a spring in my step around the vernal equinox.
It has been quite a long journey to get to the point where I have felt confident enough to stop for this long and to trust that I would be okay financially, emotionally and physically. But this year I do feel ready.
Building on last year
Last winter I had a semi-hibernation, a practice run I suppose. For a number of years I’ve been nudging when I start the new year further into January. Last year I decided to extend it even further, into February. It did feel a little difficult and I was shy about telling people abut my new year plans (or lack of them!). However, for the first time I told people I was hibernating.
Last year did feel like a semi-success. A semi-success from a semi-hibernation. When I did start to get back to my normal routine in February, I noticed I was dragging my feet. Energy was still low (and I felt rather embarrassed about that considering how long my rest had been!).
I ended up limping towards the spring, alternating between taking more time off and working, but not doing either properly. My hibernation up until February had felt lovely and I was missing being immersed in it.
When spring did arrive, I was feeling more rested than I usually did around that time of the year, but not as rested as I hoped and thought I could be.
Being open to what comes
This year, I’ve resolved to do things differently. I started winding down towards hibernating when the clocks changed here in Wales at the end of October and I have properly withdrawn since the solstice.
I feel a sense of spaciousness around me and am looking forward to see what the coming months bring. I am expecting downs as well as ups (I’ve had both already), but do feel ready to deal with what comes.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Sending best wishes for a gentle start to the year from my hillside in Wales.
Michael <3
Follow my hibernation
The Hibernation Podcast
You can follow my hibernation, or even hibernate alongside me, over on my Patreon page.
There, I’m currently posting a three-month series of audio podcasts called The Hibernation Podcast, along with gentle twenty-minute video pondering and creativity sessions and regular vlog posts.
Listen to the first episode of The Hibernation Podcast.
To receive the Go Gently Letter directly in your inbox whenever I send it out, subscribe for free here.
