Tao of Inner Peace Newsletter
Diane Dreher

Seasonal Newsletter: Winter 2022
Winter: Light in the Season of Winter
Our gardens reveal lessons in every season. In winter, much of my garden is dormant and the trees along our street are bare.

The brightest colors in the neighborhood are holiday decorations, the light of many traditions, set against the winter grays and browns.  
Centuries ago, in a world without electricity, there was an even greater need for holiday color and warmth in this dark time of year. In the Renaissance, most people stayed close to home, gathering around the fire and sustaining themselves with stored provisions and spiritual practices. Holiday festivities brightened the darkness, blending religious and agrarian rituals into a round of seasonal celebrations. Today, beneath all the busy shopping and spending, these seasonal rituals still affirm the recurring miracle of life.

In mid-December, near the time of the winter solstice, my Jewish friends celebrate the eight days of Hanukkah, the festival of lights. From ancient times, many people throughout Northern Europe have celebrated the solstice by lighting fires against the darkness. Scandinavians celebrated with evergreen trees, gifts and burning the yule log. The Romans celebrated the end of December as Saturnalia, honoring the agrarian cycle with drinking and feasting.
Beginning in the Middle Ages, Christian celebrations became interwoven with many earlier traditions such as yule logs, candles, gifts, and evergreen trees. Men and women decorated their homes with holly, mistletoe, rosemary, and evergreens, ancient symbols of life that endured throughout the dark of winter.

They celebrated the four Sundays before Christmas as Advent, a time of spiritual anticipation. During my childhood in Germany, I learned to make traditional Advent wreaths of pine branches with four red candles, lighting one additional candle on each successive Sunday until all four would shine the Sunday before Christmas.

Whether we’re lighting holiday candles, celebrating with loved ones or curling up by the fire on a cold winter night, this season can be a time of spiritual renewal. We can take this time not only to celebrate but to reflect on the lessons of the past year and visualize new possibilities for the year to come. We can ask ourselves how we can share our light with others, acknowledging our differences while celebrating the light of our common humanity.
In this season, the lessons of nature encircle and include us all. As the final month of the calendar year leads to a new annual cycle, the season of winter leads to another spring. In our lives, in so many ways, the end touches the beginning, as the darkness of winter affirms the renewal of life.

Earlier version appeared in Dreher, D. (2001). Inner Gardening: A Seasonal Path to Inner Peace. New York, NY: HarperCollins.
My Latest Podcasts

I’ve been doing lots of podcasts and interviews to promote the new audiobook edition of The Tao of Inner Peace.
         
For the past few weeks, I’ve had conversations with wonderful podcasters including Brilliant Miller on the School for Good Living podcast; Bookable Space with Yvonne Battle-Felton; Soulful Series with Annie Cathryn; and, an interview with Brahm Memone on Leadership Mastery Series, Authors that Make a Difference.

I look forward to more thought-provoking conversations in the days to come and wish you joy and peace in this golden season of autumn.
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About Diane

I am a best-selling author, researcher, and positive psychology coach. My books include The Tao of Inner Peace, The Tao of Personal Leadership, The Tao of Womanhood, Inner Gardening: A Seasonal Path to Inner Peace, and Your Personal Renaissance: 12 Steps to Finding Your Life’s True Calling.

My coaching uses the latest research in positive psychology, mindful listening, powerful questions, and other creative techniques to help people like you overcome roadblocks, achieve your goals, and discover greater joy and meaning in life.  MORE
Free Coaching Available

Are you looking for the light of greater possibility this season? I’m offering two free positive psychology coaching sessions to the first person who contacts me at this link.
Certifications

I am an Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF) a leading global organization dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high standards, providing independent certification and building a worldwide network of trained coaching professionals. 
I am also a Certified MentorCoach (CMC) with the internationally recognized coach training community MentorCoach LLC.
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Diane Dreher, PhD, PCC, CMC
Diane Dreher Coaching & Consulting, LLC
© Diane Dreher 2022