Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times

Light

According to May, part of what makes winter difficult is the shortness of the days. This is exacerbated by an indoors lifestyle, which ensures that we can conduct all manner of activities without being exposed to the elements. A clinical paper published in January 2010 found that lack of exposure to sunlight was causing very low Vitamin D levels and even bringing back Victorian diseases such as rickets, which causes weak bones and skeletal abnormalities.

Many people, including May’s friend Grania O’Brien, suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). The disruption to circadian rhythms that winter brings, in addition to lowered serotonin levels, can lead to depression, lethargy, and substance misuse and abuse. Grania’s medicine is “bright pools of light, all through her home” (107). These include an alarm clock which mimics the rising sun and high-wattage light bulbs throughout the day. She also ensures that she gets out at lunch, to absorb as much sunlight as possible.

May then meditates on the Swedish rituals that accompany Sankta Lucia or St. Lucy’s day. St. Lucy was a third century Christian martyr who brought food to Christians who were hiding out in the Roman catacombs. She wore a crown of candles to light her way.