The world aslumber

Afternoon in Eastern Finland, December 24th, 2012. Photo courtesy of the Woodsbabe.

In the north, mid-winter is a peculiar time. It’s dark, quiet, cold and in some ways, life has ceased. It’s as if the world itself is deep in hibernation. In the wild, strange mixed feelings arise in me. At times, there’s a feeling of being the only person in a hostile world, with no-one else around but an icy mother nature who’s more than willing to dispatch me should I make a serious mistake. At other times, there’s a sense of intense peace and perfection in my surroundings. Winter in the north is a time for both quiet reflection and exciting new endeavors. Once resisted and ignored, I have come to embrace it.