Notelets on Nurture #07

Making space for creativity as autumn fades + winter falls

As autumn fades and winter falls, I’m reminded to slow my pace, but not to stop. This can be a deeply nourishing transition, and an opportunity to focus on creative input—laying the groundwork for our future endeavours—without the pressure of immediate output.

“I find a new sense of comfort, fullness and wonder in the slower, quieter seasons.”

–

Lyndsay Kaldor

This week, I’m joined by guest writer

Lyndsay Kaldor

who magically captures the essence of the seasons at

Story & Thread.

Lyndsay's most recent reflections unearth the hidden gems of autumn. And today, she explores the shift from autumn into winter—a time ripe for contemplation, creativity and crisp beginnings.

This is her invitation to celebrate stillness and gather inspiration as we shift into the slower months.

Creativity in the slower seasons
by Lyndsay Kaldor

I have been tentatively peering through the otherworldly portal between late autumn into winter — part of the year I used to dread — and as we tiptoe towards the shortest day, I can now fully feel the rich and raw beauty of this time.

A shift towards a deep appreciation of the slower seasons seems to be interwoven with the seasons playing out in my life. Where I was once striving for the outward growth of a flower turning towards the sun, the last few years have initiated a cavernous inward spiral of expansion within a backdrop of mothering — reaching into the depths, softening the edges, with an intention of being rather than doing. 

I have begun to pay attention to the reassuring familiarity of the seasonal shifts and rhythms as a way to anchor and orient myself. I find a new sense of comfort and wonder in the slower, quieter seasons with an array of learnings that touch every aspect of my life, including creativity.

• Holding fullness

  Autumn teaches us to hold more than one truth at the same time — although it is a time of harvesting abundance, it is also a time of clearing, with layers to peel away. The season embodies both a fading and a fullness — by holding the existence of both, we create a richer experience for ourselves and others.

• Embracing change

  Autumn embodies movement and transition — as leaves fall from the trees and seedpods are scattered, it is both an ending and a beginning. I find that sitting down to refine and let go of extraneous layers creates space, moving me away from overwhelm to a place where hints of new ideas and opportunities are able to come to the surface.

• Taking a pause

  Despite the movement, autumn also requires us to pause — stopping to draw inwards, to harvest and take stock. It is an opportunity to discern, refine and shed, and then to nourish and integrate what remains. The pause acts as a reminder for me to fill my cup first and allow myself to be held.

• Trusting in unseen growth

  As visible growth above ground halts, some trees spend their remaining energy on root growth (as long as the soil is not frozen), searching for and retaining nutrients in preparation for spring. Just like the trees, it is true for us and our creativity that resting during inward-looking seasons allows us to foster deeper growth.

• Listening inwards

  A cloak of quiet stillness falls over the living world during the winter months. In quietude, I can hear my thoughts and ideas more clearly. When I take time to be still, scattered pieces of myself come back together, rearranged. The slower seasons remind us that we don’t need to do everything at once and to prioritise rest. There is a time for everything.

• Envisioning in the dark

  In darkness, my visions become brighter. Whilst we bring light into our homes and celebrations in the winter months, perhaps the darkness should also be welcomed. When distractions dissolve, we can hone our ideas, tune into our vision and create our dreams in the dark.

• Collective warmth

  In the living world, winter is a time of hibernation, and we too, are often drawn to nestling ourselves within our homes, away from the outside world. However, it is a natural time to gather — throughout history, communities have come together in winter to share warmth, light and food. Rest is essential, but we can also be nourished by companionship and community.

This is a time where we can create a soft glow of connection in the darkness, and ignite ideas for the lighter months ahead.

A mindful letting go, and allowing space for deep rooting, creates a secure base for envisioning, intention-setting and a quiet, unseen growth below ground level. By embracing the slower seasons of creativity, we are laying the foundations for our next period of expansion and expression.

Discover more about Lyndsay or subscribe to her nourishing Substack publication, Story & Thread. Here, Lyndsay writes beautifully and thoughtfully on the intersection of creativity, mothering and the natural world.

As a free subscriber, you can enjoy articles and essays exploring the rhythms of our creative lives and work, written through the lenses of curiosity, creativity, and connection.

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