Today I make a slow start. The deep winter is here.
January brings, at last, the space I’ve been longing for. 2017 stretches out ahead, silently for now.
Illness has contributed to lower energy than usual but when I look into the fields I sense some common ground. There is a quiet stillness amongst the trees and the hedgerows. Sleepy and solid.
So far so good, they whisper. All is right with this wintery world. We are waiting too, but when coming out of hibernation always start slowly………
Happy New Year dear friends, I wish you a wonderful, magical 2017. May you find everything you dream and wish for but at your own individual cosmic pace……
Sleeping in the forest by Mary Oliver
I thought the earth remembered me, she
took me back so tenderly, arranging
her dark skirts, her pockets
full of lichens and seeds. I slept
as never before, a stone
on the riverbed, nothing
between me and the white fire of the stars
but my thoughts, and they floated
light as moths among the branches
of the perfect trees. All night
I heard the small kingdoms breathing
around me, the insects, and the birds
who do their work in the darkness. All night
I rose and fell, as if in water, grappling
with a luminous doom. By morning
I had vanished at least a dozen times
into something better.
I am quite ready for 2017. I am convinced this will finally be a good year for me. A year of new adventures, new beginnings. A year of happiness.
Stephanie, I love that every January feels like a fresh start. I guess we need to make every day another fresh start……funny how we forget that at the best of times. Thank you for your optomism and wishing you lots more for 2017 x
Here’s to magic aplenty
And lots of magic to all in Russianside too:~)))
Happy New Year to you too Catherine!
Here’s to an ongoing creative life for us both Robin, and lots of love :~)))
This is a lovely post Catherine. The first and last photographs are beautiful – I love the way you have captured the light and the frost on the berries. Oh that Mary Oliver poem is truly magical; the way she has to pick just the right words for the right feelings. May 2017 bring everything you wish for too – I am so looking forward to the adventures and explorations I shall undertake this year in whichever direction I choose – so exciting to see what a new year may bring.
Don’t you lust love Mary Oliver Elaine? As you say the wonder of capturing the right words for the right feelings. Yes, here we go around the sun again, much love to you and a wonderful magical New Year too:~)
I think we need a timeline after the craziness of the holidays to feel fresh and dust the cobwebs away. I just read about when to take the decorations down and apparently it’s January 5th after the 12 days from Christmas eve. I was going to do it the other day and I’m glad I waited…a few more days of twinkling fairy lights and stars and glittery decor. Mary Oliver has such a way with words…and your photos so evocative of these words.
Hi Kerry, the tradition here is to wait until after Women’s Little Christmas on 6th January to take down everything. That was always a celebration of women’s hard work over the season and often a day out or a least a day off. Do times really change at all? A woman’s work is still never done…….thank you!
Wishing you the best for 2017! And thank you for sharing Mary Oliver’s poem. I thought I’d read them all but this one is new to me. I’ll be taking it to a writer’s group tonight where the topic is beauty and we’re to bring a poem to read. This one will be perfect.
Just delighted to hear that Maery Rose, I will be picturing you and your group. Isn’t she always so perfect. Happy New Year x
Completely with you on the pace. Most beautiful photographs and poem. Here’s wishing you a healthy and wondrous joyful year Catherine XOX
Thanks Pat and the very same to you, an nice slow start to 2017:~)
Catherine ..read your post. Hope i didn’t miss interpret when you talked about low energy and illness. Hope all is well with Ya.
About the 6th of Jan. I’ve always known it was Little X MAS . BUT DIDN’T KNOW IT RELATED TO Women.
P.S.
You really like Mary Oliver not the first time.
You mentioned here.
Hi Jimmy! On the mend now. I think Women’s Little Christmas is a rural thing but not sure if they have it in Dublin? Yes!!! Love Mary Oliver!!! Well spotted. If in doubt, she will have the right words…….
Winter does have it’s own slower, sleepier rhythm, doesn’t it.
Such beauty here, Catherine. I always leave feeling nourished.
Thank you,
Jennifer
Thanks Jennifer. That slow winter rhythm is most welcome. Instead of crashing into goals and wants, it keeps all that at bay. Hibernation is the new goal setting!!!!
Well, it’s a new January day, a new year as I make my way to your beloved blog because you shared the sad news of a favorite poet’s passing … but I sure love seeing your beautiful, winter images.
Ah you are very welcome!! Love seeing you here. Sad about Mary though……