This month, we have explored the season of winter as a way into our meditation practice. We have looked at winter in our external landscapes, as well as our internal landscapes. We've listened to the sounds of winter, we've talked about wolves and our animal nature, and today, we're going to dive a little bit more into the creativity of winter.

I was deeply inspired by a recent essay written and illustrated by Candace Rardon titled, ‘Like A Garden in Winter’. Candace is an author, illustrator, visual storyteller, and creator of Dandelion Seeds (one of my favorite publications on Substack). She is also the creator of many of the sleep stories you might have listened to on Calm.

Together, Candace and I chat about what it means to bloom in winter, the season of hibernation. We talk about finding inspiration and meditative moments in the world around us; the art of visual storytelling, what makes a good sleep story and so much more. 

This conversation was such a joy to record; I hope you find as much inspiration in it as I have.

At the end of today’s interview, Candace offers us a mindful reflection and journaling prompt born of the beauty of Snowdrops. So grab your notebook, a cozy seat, and join us!

In this episode:

01:10 Exploring the Creativity of Winter

03:12 The Art of Visual Storytelling

03:49 The Journey of Moving Continents

05:28 The Power of Collaboration in Creativity

14:44 The Evolution of 'Like a Garden in Winter'

23:42 Finding Strength in Winter: A Metaphor for Life

24:35 Journey into Mindfulness through Travel and Art

27:09 The Role of Creativity in Mindfulness

30:35 The Magic of Sleep Stories

41:05 Lessons from Winter Blooms

44:26 The Joy of Spring: A New Chapter

Learn more about Candace Rardon and her work here: 

https://www.candaceroserardon.com/

https://dandelionseeds.substack.com/

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