Winter And The Death Card
Embracing Winter: Reflections on Death as the Archetype of the Season
As the days grow shorter and the air turns crisp, the natural world around us begins its descent into darkness. Winter is a time of introspection, transformation, and the perfect season to truly embrace of the archetype of Death.
In many cultures and spiritual traditions, Death is not seen as an end, but rather as a necessary part of the cycle of life. Just as the trees shed their leaves and the earth lies dormant in winter, so too must we let go of what no longer serves us in order to make space for new growth and transformation.
The winter serves as a potent reminder of the impermanence of all things and the importance of releasing that which no longer serves us. It is a time to reflect on the past year, to honour our gains and our losses, our failures and our successful endeavours, and to prepare for the new beginnings that lie ahead.
In many mythologies and spiritual traditions, Death is personified as a wise elder or guide who ushers souls from one phase of existence to the next. In this way, Death becomes not a force to be feared, but a necessary and natural part of the cycle of life. In the Tarot card entitled Death, we see imagery that connects us to Charon the ferryman who transports the souls of the dead across the river Styx, and again, in Van Morrison’s song ‘Dweller on the Threshold’, we can hear the yearning, and perhaps the frustration of waiting to cross from one reality to the other. We want that – to cross, to move out of darkness and into the light.
Just as the winter solstice marks the rebirth of the sun and the gradual return of light to the world, so too can we use this time in the deepest part of winter, to embrace our own inner light, to nurture and feed it in order to awaken to new possibilities. By embracing the archetype of Death and honouring the wisdom it brings, we can open ourselves to transformation and renewal.
As we gather around the heater, as we snuggle on the couch under warm woolly blankets, lets really go inwards to discover what might be hiding deep inside of us. Let’s ask ourselves what it is that is ready to emerge. Let us welcome the darkness as a time of rest and reflection, knowing that the light will return and new life will emerge once more.
Great oils to diffuse in the house throughout this season are the essential oils of Cypress, Pine, Fir Needle and of course Lemon. To support you in connecting with the Death archetype and squeezing all of this archetypes good juices out for your own personal benefit, think about the Death Tarot Oil, I often place a drop of it over my heart and on the soles of my feet during this time-frame.
May the winter inspire us all to release that which no longer serves us, to embrace the wisdom of Death, and to welcome the light of new beginnings. In the darkness of winter, may we find the seeds of renewal and growth, and may we emerge into the light with open hearts and minds, ready to embrace all that the year beyond this time has to offer.