Winter is the Season of Listening

Written by Christine Mock

As the world tilts toward its darkest weeks, nature does something we often resist – it rests. Winter is nature’s way of gathering itself; like the great exhale of the year. What looks like nothingness is actually preparation. Nature does not rush in winter, and neither should we. 

In many wisdom traditions, winter is the season of deep listening. The sense organ for this time of the year is the ears, not just in the physical sense, but in the meta way we turn inward. When everything outside becomes quiet, we can finally hear the softer messages we tend to miss in busier seasons: Slow down. Restore. Refill. 

This is also the season connected to the kidneys, which in traditional medicine are considered the body’s reservoir of energy and courage. When the kidneys are supported and functioning properly, we feel steadier, clearer, and more rooted in ourselves. When they’re drained, everything feels harder.

This is the season for tending the inner wells: your reserves, your boundaries, your energy. The kidneys represent the root of vitality, the deepest blueprint of your life force. How we care for ourselves in winter sets the foundation for everything that follows. 

The reason winter asks much less of us is because something in us, as in nature, is preparing to rebuild. 

The Gift of Listening

Winter’s sense is hearing, and the kidneys are indeed connected to the ears. When the vibrant colors of autumn have dissolved into muted greys, and the chirping of birds and buzzing of bees has given way to a dense quiet, that’s our cue to become more sensitive to the nuances of our inner voice. Winter is a powerful time to: 

• Listen inwardly

• Listen to your intuition

• Listen to what your body is asking for

• Listen to the world around you without rushing to respond

Through deep listening, we begin to hear what’s real beneath the noise. Listening becomes a way of seeing beneath the surface, sensing what’s real and what’s ready to shift. This season is the beginning of rebuilding your foundation through gentleness instead of effort. In winter, listening is the practice that makes renewal possible later. 

Embody the Season with Us

Winter has been showing its face for awhile here in our little community, but the official start date is the Winter Solstice. We’ve designed our December offerings to match this season’s invitation of deep listening: Join us for a Full Moon Sound Bath with Crystal on Tuesday 12/97-8PM - not included in membership. Come and embody the energy of the full moon and experience the vibrational healing power of sound,

Greet winter for Solstice Sound Sanctuary with Zach and Chelse on Sunday 12/21 

5:30-7pm

On the darkest night of the year, we gather to rest, reflect and remember our light. Join Zach and Chelse for a sacred journey of Qi Gong activation, healing song, and live instruments.

Both practices are meant to offer the medicine of the season: quiet, warmth, and a moment to truly hear yourself. 

Seasonal Suggestions for At-Home Practice

Can’t make it into the studio for our deep listening events? Here are a few simple ways to move with winter in your daily life:

• Rest more than you think you need to; your nervous system will thank you.

• Support your kidneys by keeping your low back and feet warm.

• Nourish from within by sipping warm, mineral-rich broths and teas.

• Say ‘no’ more often. Winter asks for boundaries.

• Journal on fear and courage: what fear wants protection, what courage wants expression?

• Practice folds to encourage an inward turning: seated and standing. 

  • Child’s pose

  • Wide Legged Forward Fold

  • Seated forward fold

  • Waterfall/Legs Up the Wall

Plant Allies

For an added layer of winter care, you might consider a tool that supports your own deep listening: Banyan Botanicals Ear Oil. This gentle, warming blend of organic herbs and oils creates a soft, nourishing balm for the ears — a small ritual of protection from the outer world’s noise.

Crafted from sesame seed and olive oils infused with bael, ashwagandha, and a touch of garlic, this blend carries a subtle, warming potency perfect for winter care.

Warming a few drops and placing them in the ear helps lubricate and comfort the tissues, especially during cold, dry months when they tend to feel tighter. A little warmth here can soften overstimulation, steady the senses, and create the kind of inner stillness that makes true listening possible.

This simple practice encourages the nervous system to settle and creates a sense of quiet from the inside out. Ear oiling is a beautiful plant ally for this dark, restorative season. You can pick up a bottle at the studio the next time you’re in. 

Small choices now, ripple into the new year and eventually – allow us to rise taller and stronger in spring.Why this Work is Worth Doing

Seasonal practice reminds us that we are not separate from nature. Not only do we move with it, we are inseparable from it: we are each a small microcosm of the greater macrocosm. Winter isn’t a pause from life; it is life, in its most essential form. For our community, this season is about grounding, gathering strength, and preparing – gently – for something meaningful we’ll step into together when the days grow longer. As we move through these colder months together, we’re setting the groundwork for a meaningful spring at The Yoga Source. More on that in the months to come. 

For now, we hope this season gives you permission to rest more deeply, listen more closely, and move through December with steadiness and warmth.