Wildlife biologists believe that birds know when it’s time to migrate for the winter by the position of the sun in the sky. As fall approaches, they instinctively recognize the shortening days and the changing angle of light and feel unease as the time for their great journey approaches.
Animals also prepare for winter. Squirrels forage for nuts and acorns. Bears eat more than normal to store up fat reserves for hibernation. Wolves grow thicker fur coats.
Although we might try to pretend otherwise, underneath our intellect and our reasoning, we are animals too. We feel many of the same instinctual reactions to the change of seasons as the four-leggeds.
Late autumn can be an unsettling time of year, particularly if we’ve lost our connection to the earth and to the seasons. We may wonder where the urge to nest or the push to complete a flurry of activity is coming from. We may be curious (and mildly concerned) why our sleeping patterns have changed or why our bodies are more tired and move slower than usual.
It’s interesting to consider our ancestors and how they would be preparing for the rapidly approaching winter. Our ancestor mothers would preserve extra food and sew or mend winter clothes. Our ancestor fathers would chop firewood and repair the shelter.
They would go to bed earlier and sleep longer due to the lengthening days, and they would ready themselves for a quiet winter at home – many of the same things we feel an urge to do. It’s not that surprising. We share DNA with our ancestors. Their survival instincts live on in our bones and in our cellular memory.
By acknowledging seasonal changes, we honor our animal instincts and our ancestors. We nurture ourselves and welcome the coming winter instead of fearing it.
What changes in your body, energy field, and attitude do you notice this time of year?