Winter Newsletter - Earth Dance 2026

Hello Earth Dancers!

As we move out of the darkest weeks of winter and settle into this new year, I want to share a few seasonal reflections and more about the plant and animal allies I chose to depict in the Earth Dance Calendar for this time of year. 

But first, I need to tell you that I MADE A MISTAKE! Yes, it’s true… I am human, and I make mistakes. 

Pisces season begins on Feb. 18 in Mountain Time Zone. It does not begin on Feb. 20 as it is shown on the calendar. I’m very sorry for the error. If this information is important to someone you gifted this calendar to, please let them know and pass along my apologies. Also feel free to direct them to this page.

Bump that dotted line to the left 2 days!

Ok, now to the fun stuff. Grab some tea and settle in. This turned into something longer than expected. Here we go!

A FEW EARLY-WINTER REFLECTIONS

So far, Winter has been warmer and drier this year–at least in the areas where I’ve spent time. In Georgia, where I visited for the first few days of winter, it hit 75 degrees on Christmas. Pretty strange, but also pretty pleasant. Here in Red Lodge, Montana, there’s been very little snow and the mountains are only partially covered instead of the usual full white blanket that dawns the landscape this time of year. Only a fraction of the ski runs have opened, and they are reliant on man-made snow right now.

Many of the locals lament the conditions, wishing for more snow to play in and anxious about the potential for a destructive fire season ahead. Meanwhile I remind myself that I cannot control the elemental forces outside of me, but I can influence the elements within. And with that reminder, I drink some water, and I recommit to deep hydration for myself this season and beyond.

Even with a lighter coat this year, Winter is still Winter. It is cold. The days are short. The plants are (mostly) dormant. And internally, winter has definitely taken root!  I’m craving and allowing more rest and more time to be with myself. Reflecting, writing, drawing, yoga and mellow snowboarding are some of my current joys. I’ve successfully gained my “winter layer” with rich, warm meals and decadent desserts. I’m observing my habits, thought patterns, and emotions, as I slowly and thoughtfully lay the groundwork for the year to come. 

Questions to ponder: What is winter looking like in the lands where you live or visit? How is winter being expressed in your inner life?

Winter Allies: Mountain Lion & Hawthorn

INTRODUCING SEASONAL ALLIES

New this year, I’m diving deeper into the beings I chose to illustrate for each season of the Earth Dance Calendar, learning from them and sharing some of what I discover. For each season, one plant and one animal were chosen intuitively, through a meditative practice, dreams, or simply a gut feeling that linked them to that particular season.

We begin with Hawthorn and Mountain Lion–two powerful beings who I’ve been delighted to get to know more during this season. My studies and relationship with them are still in the early stages, but here are some themes that have stood out during my initial reflections and research. Please note that I’m no expert, just a student of the earth inspired to learn, write, and share.

Reflect on the themes that resonate with you as we move through the rest of this season. And, if you feel called, do your own research on Hawthorn and Mountain Lion and develop your own relationship with these earth elders. I would love to hear what you learn!

HAWTHORN 

healthy protective boundaries
heart tending
deep & sustainable nourishment

Healthy Protective Boundaries

If you’ve ever met a Hawthorn tree, you are probably familiar with their strong woody thorns, sometimes measuring up to 3 inches long. More visible during the winter months, these thorns serve as protection against larger animals while creating safe havens for nesting birds and small mammals. 

Thorns are a powerful, non-aggressive method for plants to create and communicate healthy boundaries because they show themselves visibly to all that come into contact with them. They do not attack, yet if someone comes into their space without care and awareness, Hawthorn will likely scratch or even pierce the visitor. In this way, Hawthorn allows closeness and even harvesting of their flowers, leaves, and berries, while clearly asking for respect and care as you do so. 

Hawthorn reminds us that winter is a natural time for boundary work, as we are asked to conserve our energy and protect our inner light and vitality through the darker, sometimes more challenging, months of the year. 

Questions to ponder: What areas in your life could use more protection from outside influences? What does a healthy boundary look like to you and how can you create some healthy boundaries in your life this season? 

Heart Tending

Hawthorn is known in Western Herbalism and Traditional Chinese Medicine to be a versatile heart tonic, strengthening the circulatory system and the heart muscle itself, aiding many of its functions and bringing balance to an array of cardiac conditions. 

Beyond the physical, Hawthorn has long been associated with emotional and spiritual heart healing as she opens and strengthens the heart while calming and relaxing the nervous system. Hawthorn is said to elevate and brighten our mood by cleansing the heart of negativity, soothing heartache, and attuning us to the subtle (and not so subtle) messages of the heart. 

Winter can be a time when the heart feels heavier, more tender, or more sensitive for some. As the external world contracts and we spend more time with ourselves, we may notice more unprocessed emotions, regrets, longings, or grief to surface. This season doesn’t ask us to fix or resolve what surfaces, but simply asks us to listen, notice, and be with the experiences, allowing healing to unfold in its own time.

Just as Hawthorn tends to the heart by offering gentle, steady nourishment to the cardiovascular system, we too can tend to our hearts through listening to our emotions, honoring our sensitivity, and providing gentle support to our bodies, minds and spirits. Through this kind of care, we can create conditions for the heart to strengthen, soften, open and heal this season. 

Question to ponder: How is my heart doing? How can I tend to my heart this season, physically, emotionally, or spiritually? 

Deep & Sustainable Nourishment

I’ve been reading a book called “Hawthorn” by Bill Vaughn this season and through that book, I’ve learned many things about this incredible tree, one of which is the strength and density of the wood. Hawthorn wood is extremely dense making it slow-burning, producing a steady, lasting heat, rather than a flashy fire that burns out quickly. Because of this quality, Hawthorn charcoal was used in forges and smelters across Europe well into the Middle Ages for metal extraction and tool fabrication.

This quality feels relevant to this season because Winter asks us to build our inner fires with care, and to tend to them with presence and intention, and most importantly, good fuel. This fuel might look like nutrient-dense foods, sleeping in, warmth, hot baths, nourishing movements, soulful activities, supportive relationships, and uplifting community connections. 

The energy that is cultivated and preserved through these nurturing inputs can sustain us through the months and seasons ahead. Hawthorn reminds us that the way we feed ourselves this season–physically, emotionally, and spiritually–becomes the fuel that carries us through the rest of the year.

Questions to ponder: What truly nourishes you at a deep level? What helps you build steady, sustainable energy and how can you incorporate those things into your life?

MOUNTAIN LION

navigating darkness
keen awareness
adaptability through presence

Navigating Darkness

Mountain Lions have exceptional night vision, due to their forward-facing eyes, an abundance of rods, and a reflective tapetum lucidum that sits behind the retina creating their eerie eye-glow in darkness. Because of these traits, Mountain Lions are skillful nocturnal hunters as they are able to move through the landscape with stealth and grace, and navigate darkness with confidence and ease. 

But for those of us without this ability to see in the dark, it can be scary! Winter invites us to gently navigate the darkness within, the unseen, unconscious or overlooked parts of ourselves, which, just like entering a dark basement, can be a bit daunting, especially if we aren’t very familiar with the terrain.

So as we venture within, exploring hidden aspects of our inner world–emotions, subconscious patterns, thoughts, and self-talk–Mountain Lion reminds us to get curious about what’s there and to pay attention to whatever we are able to perceive, no matter how small. We may notice a certain quality, sensation, texture, or gesture. It may be subtle and formless, but the more we pay attention, the more we are able to perceive, and more ease and grace we will have while navigating the space.  

Questions to ponder: What part of your inner world feels unfamiliar or shadowed right now, and how might you approach that space with curiosity rather than fear?

Keen Awareness: 

When I think about Mountain Lion, two distinct images come to mind. The first, is a Mountain Cat lounging–with alertness–up on a high perch, looking down at the landscape, patiently waiting and observing, while gently resting until it is time to act. Then comes the second image.  When it’s time to hunt, I envision Mountain Lion hyper focused, watching every move of its prey, quietly stalking, carefully approaching, never losing sight of what they have set their sights on. 

With open, alert eyes and a steady mind Mountain Lions are skilled trackers, able to notice the finest details while maintaining a broad birds-eye view of their surroundings. This combination of precision and perspective allows them to act purposefully and patiently.

Winter can be a time to cultivate this same awareness within ourselves–tracking emotions and somatic patterns, observing recurring thoughts, and maintaining a mindful perspective on the bigger picture of our lives.

For my own awareness practice, I’ve started a simple emotional and somatic tracking technique where I reflect on and record “5 Feels” each day, focusing on the most memorable and impactful emotions and physical sensations of the day. This simple daily reflection has helped me build awareness through each day, observe how quickly feelings come and go, and discover how vast my range of feelings can be. 

Questions to ponder: How can you balance noticing the small details of your life with maintaining awareness of the bigger picture? In what areas of your life could tracking patterns (thoughts, habits, emotions) help you gain clarity?

Adaptability through Presence

This theme feels especially alive for me in this season of my life. Since 2020 I’ve lived in five different homes. That’s five different communities, ecosystems, and ways of being. With each move, I’ve had to learn a new landscape: its climate, rhythms, plants, animals, and social fabric. I’ve also had to learn about myself within each new place.  Who I am here, what do I need to feel grounded, and how do I belong here?

Mountain Lions are able to thrive across a vast range of habitats because of their deep attunement to the land they inhabit. They don’t force themselves onto a landscape; they listen, observe, and adapt. They study the terrain (with their keen awareness) and cultivate an intimate relationship with it, deeply knowing its different spaces, pathways, and cycles, until it becomes their home.

This kind of adaptability comes from presence, from paying attention, and from allowing ourselves to be shaped by the landscapes we inhabit, the communities we co-create, and seasons we move through.

Questions to ponder: Where in your life are you being asked to adapt right now? How can you meet change with curiosity rather than resistance? 

Final thoughts

As we continue to move through mid and late winter, I hope you’re able to find moments of rest, reflection, and nourishment, however that may look for you. 

Thank you for being here, for reading, and for walking this cyclical path through the year with me. 

May you allow yourself to move with the pace of the season. May Hawthorn help you create healthy boundaries, tend to your heart, and nourish yourself deeply. May Mountain Lion guide you through the darkness with keen awareness, presence, and adaptability. 

With warmth and gratitude,
Cat

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