How do I replenish my energy?
December #3. Convenience, luxury and justice.
Happiness of the week:
A random shop/kiosk/travel agency that is very close to my house and handles mail for DHL, Hermes AND UPS. At the same time. In one place. I might have even picked up DPD there? Glorious.
Food after not being allowed to eat for more than a whole day. That boring apple was fucking heaven. I am I-do-preventative-colonoscopies-because-of-family-history years old. Pls. If one of your parents or grandparents has/had colon cancer or any kind of growth there - you’re eligible (in Germany) from 40 years onwards, not 55 like usual. Many things aren’t working in this healthcare system but some preventative measures are, and I’m grateful.
The maximum sentence for Monsieur Pelicot and all accused being charged guilty. I’m not convinced that our current justice systems bring actual justice, nor am I sure what justice even is. But today’s verdict feels like a whiff of justice for all of us who live with the trauma of rape, a faint smell of something I will never get for myself but enjoy for others just the same. It means more to me than I thought it would, and I’m feeling peace in a depth that is new and undiscovered. Merci, Gisèle.
I enjoy making phone screen backgrounds. Use this one with me if you’d like.
In my understanding of the world, this coming Saturday’s winter solstice marks the beginning of… well, winter. That means to me we are still in autumn, yes. There are other opinions out there, yes. To me there is a big, distinct, noticeable shift around the days of the December solstice and the time between the years is so special. Berlin is so special at this time. From bubbly busy stressed to empty, stormy and peaceful in a matter of hours. For years now I’ve observed the 12 nights after the solstice as Rauhnächte, a time between things, sacred time to spend resting, speaking with ancestors, listening to the Wild Hunt, feeling lost, finding answers in smoke and divination, in journaling, binge watching series and starting a new bullet journal. There will also be another day of wage work, Christmas and New Year’s. But winter is the season of earth, of the North, of stones, of stillness and rest and grounding. Everything is in the soil, in the deep. frozen. dormant. Tending to the basics. Tending to the inside. Tending to the fire. I too will rest during winter. No extra projects except for extra sleep. Warm steamy breakfasts. Tending to the roots. I will rest until the first ideas are going to sprout, just in time for the crocuses. I love and crave novelty and winter can be difficult for me, just waiting for more light, mainstream culture going wild because of the start of the calendar year and resolutions and starting new things. January isn’t the time to expand a lot of energy. Let alone February. Winter is the time to rest and go deep and be friends with darkness. This time around more than ever, I want to rest. I crave some boredom and slow living. I don’t need grande plans. Cooking is a grande plan. Resting through winter is a grande plan.
I have so much to say, yet so little that finds words. Thank you for reading me. Next week I’ll be sharing some resources regarding burnout.
Happy solstice, merry christmas and see you next week!
Leonie