Surrender Into The Peak of Darkness
“Slow down. Slow it down. Slow it down some more.”
That’s the message my body has been whispering for some time, especially over the last couple of weeks.
In the mornings, my eyes want to stay closed. My body craves stillness and warmth.
In the past, I would have pushed these signals aside and powered through.
I’d set an alarm, drink coffee before work, do whatever it took to will my way through the winter blues.
These days, I resist less. I’m learning to listen. I’m learning to embrace the slowing.
Whether it shows up as stiffness in my body, a lack of desire to train in the gym, or waves of melancholy, grief, fear, and uncertainty about the future, I practice surrender.
Surrender to the shorter days.
Surrender to the colder weather.
Surrender to the stiffer body, the body-ache, the distress, the suffering.
If these are part of the human experience right now, I choose to embrace them.
At times, discomfort can make us feel powerless.
It can tempt us to resist more, to push, or to give up entirely.
In my personal experience, help arrives when we truly surrender.
Resistance adds pressure within us and prolongs our suffering.
It affects everything around us.
When you notice this resistance, gently remind yourself to soften up.
If you pay attention enough, you will get this message through subtle signs around us.
Sometimes as a quiet voice within.
Sometimes from the lyrics of a song.
Sometimes through a post like this.
More importantly, we must recognize the light within us.
The one that illuminates our path, sparks our spirit, and warms our heart.
The one that saves us from getting lost at the peak of darkness.
This light may have started as a small kindling, yet it might now be the brightest light you’ve seen in a long time.
This is the light we must protect and follow closely in our lives.
Moment by moment. Step by step.
It will lead us exactly where we need to be.
The winter solstice is three days away—a quiet reminder that we are turning a corner.
For millennia, humans across the world have gathered to honor this moment: when darkness reaches its peak, and from there, the light begins its return.
May you have a nourishing and restful weekend before the holiday seasons.
Best Wishes,
Anthony
Beacon, New York
Here is a nourishing soup recipe I’d like to share with you.
Mushroom Soup Recipe
Ingredients
Olive oil
1 shallot, chopped
800 g / 1.75 lb chestnut mushrooms (baby bella works well—use what’s accessible)
1 tablespoon dried thyme
4 cups vegetable stock (or 1 L water + bouillon cube)
2 tablespoons grass-fed yogurt (I use plain coconut yogurt from Cocojune)
Salt and pepper
Instructions
Place a soup pot (I use a Dutch oven) over medium heat. Drizzle with olive oil, add the shallot and a pinch of salt, and cook until soft.
Add the chopped mushrooms, thyme, and a bit of pepper. Cover and cook until mushrooms are soft (about 10 minutes), stirring occasionally.
Add the vegetable stock. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer for 20–25 minutes.
Remove from heat, add the yogurt, and blend until smooth (I use a hand blender).
Serve with a drizzle of olive oil. Let me know how you like it.