As the days grow short and cold, a body naturally seeks to move inside and find quiet and comfort. This is a time of year that naturally invites us to introspection. The pace of nature slows as trees become still and their growth and preparations take place internally for the coming spring. 

While many of us are drawn into the rush of holiday preparations, to remain energized and vital, it’s essential to make space and time to tune into the natural rhythms of the season. It’s natural to want to go to bed earlier, rest more, slow the pace of work and become more contemplative.

This is an ideal time to go inside and listen to the yearnings of the soul and to respond. By going deep you can open a dialogue about the deeper meaning of your life and discover subtle impressions and feelings that will clue you into deep, intuitive insights.

If you can, schedule some quiet time for rest and repose during the day. Just a moment is enough. Assess your surroundings and tune into how you feel. How is it different from the way you feel physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually in the summer? A moment of full awareness can re-energize, revitalize and leave space open for new insights about who you are and where you’re going.

Bio: Debra Moffitt is author of Awake in the World: 108 Practices to Live a Divinely Inspired Life. A visionary, dreamer and teacher, she’s devoted to nurturing the spiritual in everyday life. She leads workshops on spiritual practices at the Sophia Institute and other venues in the U.S. and Europe. Her mind/body/spirit articles, essays and stories appear in publications around the globe and were broadcast by BBC World Services Radio. She has spent over fifteen years practicing meditation, working with dreams and doing spiritual practices. Visit her online at http://www.awakeintheworld.com.