As the chill settles in and the days get shorter, there’s a kind of quiet magic in the air—a call to go inward, rest, and create. Winter might be a season for slowing down, but it’s also a sacred time to nurture our inner divine creativity. Whether you’re cozied up in a home base or on the move like myself, here are some grounding activities, crafts, and homemaking rituals that invite warmth and wonder into your world during these colder months.
Embrace a Slow Morning Ritual Just for You
In the quiet of this season, starting our mornings slow can set the tone for a grounded day. If you’re lucky enough to have a little nook by a window, take a few moments to soak in the morning light while sipping a warm tea. It doesn’t have to be a big production—you can read a few chapters in an interesting book, grab a cozy blanket, maybe light a candle, and just let yourself *be*. Adding a few drops of an essential oil like cedarwood or an herbal medicine tincture can create a grounding atmosphere. As you sip your tea, take in deep nose breaths and express gratitude for whatever comes to mind. The emphasis should be on the breath and the feeling of gratitude, no matter what its tied to. These small rituals are like planting seeds for a positive, creative day ahead.
Create a Seasonal Altar or Sacred Space
Whether you’re parked in a van or tucked away in a home, setting up a small altar or sacred space can be a beautiful way to connect with the energy of fall/winter. Gather natural elements like pinecones, acorns, dried herbs, or crystals. You can use this space for grounding meditation or even as a place to journal or pull oracle cards. Make it reflect the energy you want to invite in—peace, creativity, balance. Even if it’s just a small corner, creating a little sanctuary can be a powerful anchor in the colder months. I do this even as I’m traveling, whether in a bnb, family’s home, tent etc. and it helps tremendously in keeping me grounded in myself.
Nature Walks & Winter Foraging
Just because it’s chilly doesn’t mean nature s off limits. Bundle up and get outside for a mindful walk. Collect interesting twigs, rocks, or fallen leaves for crafts or decorating. Winter has its own textures and colors if we slow down to notice them. Bringing natural finds back with you can lead to inspiration for creative projects or become grounding items on your altar.
Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge
DIY Natural Candle Making
Candles are a must for winter coziness. Try your hand at making your own natural beeswax candles infused with natural scents like pine, cinnamon, or clove. You don’t need a fancy setup. Get a simple candle-making kit, and add essential oils and natural decorations like dried herbs or tiny pinecones. Not only is this a great grounding craft, but it also feels amazing to light something you’ve created with intention.
Crochet, Knitting, or Weaving
If there’s ever a time to get cozy with yarn, it’s this time of year. Crochet, knitting, sewing, and weaving are all wonderful ways to unwind, stay present, and tap into that meditative flow of creativity. Don’t worry if you’re new to it; there are tons of beginner tutorials online. Start with something simple. Fiber crafts are perfect for creating something useful and warm, and they’re travel-friendly if you’re on the road.
Creative Journaling or Art
Set up a little creative corner with some of your favorite art supplies, a journal, or a sketchbook. Let this space be free of expectation—just a place to play and let your imagination wander. You can doodle, paint, or write poetry, whatever feels right. Keeping a journal by your side allows you to process, dream, and keep track of creative ideas and divine insights.
Practice Intentional Movement
When it’s cold, we might feel like staying wrapped in blankets, but even gentle movement can help us connect with our body and ground us. Try some gentle yoga flows, intuitive stretching, or even just putting on some music and swaying to it. Slow movements help us stay connected to ourselves, and if you’re somewhere with limited space, these can be easily done in a small area.
Bake Something Simple & Nourishing
Even if you’re in an RV with a tiny oven, baking can be a meditative act. Try a simple loaf of bread, muffins, or a small batch of cookies. It’s not about making something fancy—just the act of creating and enjoying something warm can be grounding and heartwarming. If you’re in a kitchen with limited supplies, you’d be surprised at the grounding energy that even a small skillet cornbread or a few spiced apples can bring.
Seasonal Decor & Simple Homemaking Touches
Adding touches of nature to your space brings warmth and a bit of magic to even the simplest setup. Use foraged branches, dried herbs, or winter flowers. They can be placed in a vase or even tied with twine and hung over a rear view mirror. If you’re nomadic, this can bring a sense of “home” wherever you are. These seasonal touches remind us that even as we wander, we can create spaces that feel sacred and aligned with our spirit.
Soulful Sounds
Whether you consider yourself musically inclined or not, you can bring soulful sounds into your space - aligning our emotional body with the external. I travel with a guitar I can barely play (as of now anyway), but you may prefer a singing bowl or steel tongue drum, or perhaps a harmonica. Even a small wind chime hanging on the porch or a soothing drum beat can help us stay in tune with our internal rhythm. Don’t be afraid of it not being good, just play. Make the sounds intuitively and see how you feel.
Embrace Reflection & Dreaming
Winter is also a powerful time for dreaming and reflection. Use this quiet period to journal on your intentions, dreams, inspired thoughts, and creative ideas. Let your imagination run wild with what you want to create, do, or explore. It’s a season for planting the seeds of what’s to come, so honor it by dreaming big.
There’s something deeply fulfilling about intentionally creating warmth and beauty, especially during the quiet of colder months. These grounding activities are a way to honor the season, our creative spark, and the beauty in slowing down. Take what resonates, let yourself be inspired, and trust that every small act of creativity is a step toward deeper connection with yourself.
Stay cozy, stay grounded, and let’s welcome the magic of this season together.
Wishing you love, light, wisdom and safe passage through the shadow season.
