There’s a Kind of Hush*

According to the meteorological calendar, yesterday (1st December) was the first day of Winter and this morning, we awoke to this:

The winter wood is like a strong old man,
Grizzled, rugged, and gray¹

Here in Essex County, our mornings are decidedly brisk.  Mid-day, and ‘though much lower at this time of year, the the sun continues to spread some warmth through the woodlands. Our dusks are arriving ever earlier and our nights are positively frosty.

Winter always brings a special serenity to woodlands.  For me, tramping along forest trails during winter, snow on the ground muffling my footfall, is a deeply spiritual, personal experience.  I’m slowly learning to embrace that quietude, and engage in some cold weather forest bathing (Shinrin-yoku). I always look for a sheltered area in the sun, but where the breeze is hindered, a cosy spot with a stump to sit on, all the better to relax and observe nature.  

‘Though vastly different from the other seasons, winter does have a unique beauty and appeal; the soft thud made by a clump of snow falling from a branch, birdsong (especially the Cardinals), and the more noticeable fragrance of the conifers.  Absent the canopy, with all the shrubs essentially bare (saving, perhaps, for some berries), and with snow on the ground, the forest takes on a new charm.  The woodland architecture emerges, wildlife tracks appear ‒ think foxes and bunnies ‒ icicles sparkle in the sunlight, and the snow settles on tree trunks and branches, temporarily hiding their textures. It has a very different, but no less appealing charisma and through my winter explorations, I’ve amassed a “library” of wonderful, winter, woodland, memories.

For comfort, I’m always well-muffled, head to toe, and I always take my flask, filled with hot, herbal tea (usually red rooibos).  Then, whilst plunked on that handy stump, I’m comfortably able to meditate, write in my journal, or engage in some mindful breathing exercises to enhance my relaxation.  Or simply sit still and remember that a cycle of rest and renewal is essential to the forest biome’s enduring health, and my own.

‘Til next time, y’all…

*There’s a Kind of Hush, performed by Herman’s Hermits, songwriters Les Reed and Geoff Stephens.
*¹Eleanor Hammond from her poem “Winter Woods” ‒ full text below.

Note: The meteorological calendar divides the year into four, three month seasons that align with the Gregorian calendar, which simplifies the tracking of weather patterns. In the northern hemisphere, the seasons are:

Spring: March 1 – May 31
Summer: June 1 – August 31
Autumn: September 1 – November 30
Winter: December 1 – February 28 

Winter Woods

The winter wood is like a strong old man,
Grizzled, rugged, and gray,
With long white locks tattered by many storms.
He lifts gnarled arms defiant of the blasts,
And rears his old head proudly
Under the menace of the winter sky.