According to the Tao,winter is the time for retreat. Going into the Yin,the darkness, introspection. I tend to agree. When a hermit goes in to retreat there's a hard job to get them out. We wait for the return of the light.
The journey is never ending when you take the bodhisattva vow, beings are numberless. We have a great way to go but at least we are on the path.
There are gifts to help us,poetry, imagination, prayer, meditation. Raising our hands to the new day, resting in the lord of light who comes in the night to sweep our dreams and cleanse our sight.
Spirit guides in many forms,clear mind of the Buddha within.
Beginning the retreat ,we are not alone, even in the darkest darkness there is a speck of light. Even though unseen, she may be felt in the rythm of every breath, heard in the drum of every heart.
And as Basho says , sitting quietly, doing nothing,the spring comes,the grass grows.