Winter is coming

As the temperature begins to drop here in the Northern Rivers, and the rain starts to wash away the warmth of this last summer.

I hear that well renowned phrase echo throughout my mind “winter is coming”

I’ve had an interesting relationship with winter throughout my life.
Growing up it was my favourite season, the thoughts of hot chocolates in front of the wood fire, or wrapped up in a blanket on the couch watching a movie.

There was something deeply comforting and nourishing about the idea of being able to soften into the warmth and safety of the home.

Ironically this was where most of my childhood challenges took place, which on an astrological level, was a perfect reflection of my Chiron in Cancer.

In the coming years upheaval and turmoil inevitably perused, leaving a path of healing and reconciliation that I had to eventually journey whether I liked it or not.

It’s been said that Chiron has 3 stages;
The first being that of the wounded healer; the place where one gets knocked down and initiated into their pain and suffering, which ultimately then catalyses their hero’s journey.
The second stage being the one of the shaman; this is where one learns to traverse the underworld and all it’s darkness, so that it can then bring about a coherent interface with that which wants to be heard, felt and expressed, thus bringing back greater insights and wisdom from the depths below.
And the third stage being the one of the alchemist; this is where one learns to not only enter the dragons lair below, but to then alchemise the fears, wounds and scars they find there, into the very gold and gifts that they then share with their friends, family and community at large.

I feel like the Northern Rivers, in all its Piscian depths and watery nature, has offered me a fairly thorough passage throughout the first two stages of Chiron and all its archetypal expressions.

But as I sit here in my beautiful temple space on top of the ridge I live on, over looking the vast and magical valley and Byron Bay below me. Candles flickering, sheep skins around me, a hot tea to my right and the sweet sounds of the piano coming down from my speakers above.

I begin to think back over my last 2 years of running boys groups throughout the different High Schools in the area, as well as the many Rites of Passage and mentoring sessions I’ve done with young men throughout the region.

My home feels warm, my purpose and direction clear and ever expanding.

And in this recognition, I notice that this coming winter feels both different to those in the past, and also familiar to the ones I used to enjoy in front of the fire those many years ago.

So here I am enjoying the warmth of a well built internal fire, the richness of gold thats been excavated and alchemised around me, and an excitement to continue to share the many medicines and gifts that I’ve gathered along my travels.

Cheers ☕️💜🔥