Rest, Reflect, Refocus
Lessons from the winter forest
The forest at golden hour never fails to amaze me. Whether it’s the golden hues of fall or the frosty glow of winter, something about that soft, fleeting light feels like mindful awareness made visible.
If you’ve been following my Golden Hour Forests series, you know that each painting is an ode to nature’s beauty and a reminder to slow down and find stillness.
Golden Hour in the Winter Forest
My latest addition captures the serenity of golden hour in the winter forest: snow-covered conifers casting blue shadows, peachy orange sun reflections, rays of light streaming through the trees, and a frozen river winding quietly through it all. I feel it is the perfect piece to close the circle.
All four seasons now have their place in my Golden Hour Forests: spring, summer, fall, and winter. Together, they tell a story of mindfulness through the seasons in nature and within ourselves.
Seasonal Lessons: Rest, Reflect, Refocus
As I painted the winter forest, I reflected on its quiet lessons. Winter invites us to pause, look inward, and realign with what matters most.
Rest
The winter snow covers the world in calm and quiet, slowing everything down. It’s a mirror to our need for rest. Like the forest, we don’t need to bloom, grow, and be active all year long. Rest is what prepares us for growth.
Reflect
Winter is a season of endings - of cycles coming to a close. It invites us to reflect on what the past year has brought us. What have we learned? What will we carry forward, and what can we leave behind?
Refocus
As one year ends and another begins, the winter teaches us to refocus. Plants may die back in winter, but seeds are quietly preparing for spring. This process, called stratification, activates seeds for growth when the time is right. Similarly, winter is the perfect time for us to let go of ideas that no longer align with our path and nurture the ones that do.
Art for the Seasons
The winter forest painting completes my Golden Hour Forests series, and I would love to share all four seasons with you. So, I’ve created a set of four greeting cards featuring the complete series of paintings. Three of the originals are also still available for sale.
If you’re looking for a meaningful gift this holiday season, these cards might be perfect for sharing the beauty of the seasons and a touch of mindfulness with your loved ones. However, my shop is only open until December 17th this year, as I’ll be traveling for the holidays until January 3rd.
Mindfulness In Your Winter Season
As winter settles in, let the quiet of the forest inspire you to rest, reflect, and refocus. Take this time to prepare the seeds you’ll nurture next year and release what no longer serves you.
I’d love to hear from you: What seeds are you stratifying this winter? What dreams or goals are you preparing to nurture in the coming year? And which are you letting go of?
With love, as always,
Maria
Related Posts
Golden Hour
A Gentle Reminder to Slow DownGolden Hour in the Fall Forest
A painting to savor the moment and the fall colors - before we move on to winter already.
Land Acknowledgement
I acknowledge that the land on which I live is the ancestral home of the Potawatomi, Ho-Chunk, and Menominee peoples. These Indigenous communities cared for this land long before the arrival of European settlers and continue to contribute to its cultural and ecological richness today.
I invite us to honor the enduring presence and sovereignty of Native peoples and commit to learning from and supporting their voices and leadership.