“There are so many things we’ve been brought up to believe that it takes you an awfully long time to realize that they aren’t you.”
—Edward Gorey

I visited the Edward Gorey House over the weekend in Yarmouth, MA. Gorey, described as humorous, complex, serious, and provocative, created work that wove joy with melancholy and light with shadow. Being immersed in his world felt refreshing. He moved against the grain of societal norms, trusting his own vision, and in doing so he revealed how opposite qualities can coexist in harmony.

His work made me think about, and deeply appreciate, the season we’re entering: Winter, the time of the Water Element. A season of darkness, mystery, ancestral knowing, trust, and patience. The darkness wants to be honored just as fully as summer’s light. One cannot exist without the other. Through cycles of death and rebirth, we grow closer to who we truly are and the self that rises from the heart.

What are you noticing surfacing for you at this time of year?
Is there resistance to stillness? To slowing down and reflecting?
Can you allow discomfort to sit at your table without needing to resolve it immediately?

I feel a combination of all these things, and I’m learning that acknowledging them is the way in. I would love to hear your reflections on going against the grain to honor your truth and what begins to emerge when you do. Comment and let me know.