Traditionally in mid-winter, people would hibernate, a little like our friends in the animal kingdom. Even plants know to conserve their energy when the weathers icy cold. Squirrels hoard their nuts, bears hunker down in their cave, and people, many years ago, hunted, gathered, collected, and preserved foods in preparation for the cold. In the Middle Ages, not only was it cold, lots colder than now, but it was darker for longer. Less daylight hours. People had to stay inside, in their caves, huts or houses, to keep warm.

How different it is to live in today’s world, where many of us are blessed with heating in our homes, electricity, and cars or public transportation. Home is warmer than those of our ancestors. If we have to leave the warmth of our homes, we can get to our destination relatively safely. Life goes on, no matter what the weather is like.

There are people who chose to, or have to, live as nomads, traveling around this wonderful world of ours. They’re more attuned to natures cycles. It’s cold living in a tent, a van or caravan, but then in the summer it’d be hot. Apart from the discomfort of weather extremes, I prefer the fresh air to air conditioning.

Would I survive living a nomadic life? No fixed address, pitching a tent or a van wherever we wish? As long as there was enough to keep me occupied. I don’t mean sight seeing or paying for tours, that’s not me, I’d soon tire of that. I mean, something to keep me active, body, mind and spirit. Not watching television, I’d go stir crazy. Reading? Maybe. Walking? Maybe.

The last six months have taught me to change and adapt constantly. To let things go, even let go of control, but I’m still not so good at that. I can sit and write all day, as long as I get breaks to get up and walk around.

Mid-winter magic for me is the gratitude that we live in an age where I’m warm and safe and dry and out of the weather. Though part of me yearns to live in a forest, I’m realistic. There are choices, now more than ever before. Part of the magic is that reminder that we can re-learn the old way – harvests, preserving food, living by the moon and the stars, living with an appreciation of nature and the cycles of the seasons.

(Typing this on my laptop as hubby drives us around on chores. Warm and dry in our metal chariot.)