This time of year is such a strange mix, isn’t it?

There’s beauty everywhere, twinkling lights, friendly kindness, the quiet of winter mornings…and at the same time, so many hearts feel stretched thin. 

Some people are juggling too much, while others are aching from not having enough. Stress shows up in a hundred different disguises.

Nature knows all about this kind of complexity.

In December, when branches look bare and the world seems to be slowing down, there is a whole lot happening beneath the surface. Roots are gathering strength. Animals are conserving energy. The earth is quietly preparing for what comes next. 

Nothing is stagnant — not even stillness.

A few days ago, I was rushing around, trying to manage errands, obligations, and a to-do list that was multiplying like the brooms in Fantasia. 

My mind was racing, and my shoulders were up around my ears. Does that happen to you?

But then, as I was driving to work, something simple stopped me: a dance of leaves in the road ahead of me. The sunlight shimmered on them, everything glowing as if lit from within.

It wasn’t an extraordinary scene, but it somehow felt like a message. 

In that tiny moment, delight captured me, and everything melted away. I relaxed, dropped into the present moment and smiled from the inside out. 

That’s when I noticed a huge red-tailed hawk on the telephone line, like a wise old being watching me from above.  

There it was: the subtle magic of the season. Not the big showy kind, but the quiet magic that nudges us back to ourselves when we’re overwhelmed or drifting too far from center.

Nature’s message felt clear:

“Yes, life is full right now. Yes, there is both fun and strain. But wonder is still here, like it always is. You don’t have to search. Just stop long enough to notice.”

The holidays aren’t meant to be perfect, nor are you meant to glide through them in a state of uninterrupted peace. We’re human, feeling creatures living through a busy, emotional time.

But you can choose to open the door to magic… even if it's just with a small gesture of attention.

The magic is already waiting for you, just slightly out of focus until the moment you stop and notice.

Here’s a 3-minute tiny but mighty practice to help you pause for some seasonal magic:

• Step outside, or simply look out a window. Take three slow breaths and let your body soften and reconnect with the earth. Gently widen your gaze. Let your eyes relax and allow anything in your field - light, shadow, movement, stillness - to come to your attention.

• Ask quietly: “What small magic is here for me right now?”

• Don’t strain. Don’t hunt. Let something catch your attention naturally: a bird call, a glimmer, a leaf in the wind, a color you hadn’t noticed.

• Receive it. Let that tiny moment be enough. Feel how your nervous system shifts when you allow beauty, even simple beauty, to land.

• Carry that soft magic with you into the rest of your day.

Seasonal/Winter-Based Self-Care Routine

As the holiday season approaches, it's easy to get overwhelmed by the demands and expectations placed upon us. Here’s a simple, nature-inspired self-care routine to help you navigate the season with more ease and presence:

Morning Ritual: Grounding in Stillness

1. Breathe with the Trees: Take 3-5 minutes each morning to breathe deeply, imagining roots growing from the soles of your feet into the earth. As you inhale, feel energy and calm flow up through these roots. As you exhale, let go of stress and tension.

2. Notice the Light: Step outside or look out a window. Notice the quality of light—whether it’s soft and diffused or bright and sparkling. Let it remind you of the beauty and magic in small moments.

Midday Pause: Finding Delight

1. Leaf Moment: Pause for a moment and notice something small that brings you joy—a leaf, a scent, a song, or a memory. Let it anchor you in the present and shift your perspective.

2. Hawk’s Wisdom: Take a moment to reflect on what you need in this season. Are you overextending? Do you need rest? Let the wisdom of nature guide you.

Evening Wind-Down: Surrender and Release

1. Let Go Like the Trees: As night falls, imagine the trees shedding their leaves, letting go of what no longer serves them. Release your worries, expectations, and to-do lists.

2. Soft Glow: Light a candle or dim the lights and let the soft glow remind you that even in darkness, there is beauty and peace.

Bonus Tip: Create a “Magic Jar”

Keep a small jar or bowl where you jot down moments of wonder, gratitude, or small joys each day. When you need a boost, revisit these notes and remember the magic around you.

The magic is already here—you just need to pause and notice.

Reflection Questions

1. What are some ways you can prioritize stillness and presence in your daily life, especially during the busy holiday season?

2. Think about a recent moment when you felt overwhelmed or stressed. How might you have approached it differently if you'd been more connected to nature's rhythms and wisdom?

3. What small gestures or practices can you incorporate into your daily routine to help you notice and appreciate the magic in everyday moments?