Mother Nature isn't always gentle and kind, as we see in storms of all kinds. But winter storms have the added effect of lingering, and can last days...or more! Even today, winter storms can cause a lot of devastation, interrupt our lives and even prove deadly. And that is even with all our advances in modern science, for our ancestors this time of year would have been even more dangerous.
But while storms can create unexpected tragedy, they are also undeniably powerful, and we can tap into that power for many purposes. As with most storm work, storms can be unpredictable, so stay mindful of that as you prepare for your work.
When we think about work our ancestors might have done with storms, we often think of protection and destruction as the two main focuses. Protection was mainly focused around protecting you and your loved ones (and property) from the storm itself, where with destruction work you were using the storm as a representation of the destruction you were wanting to cause.
Today, while protection work is still quite valid, it may just look a little different from what our ancestors would consider. In most cases, it would take a historic storm to do more than inconvenience most of us. Even when we loose power, we have resources at our disposal now to help make sure we are taken care of. With cell phones, we often don't even loose communication, which can be quite problematic when talking about being snowed in.
But even though we may not have the same deep seated fears about the effects of storms, we still want to avoid the worst they have to offer, and would welcome help in not being too effected by them. So along side tapping into the storms energies to protect you and your household, consider also the myriad of ways your life will be effected by the storm. While I can absolutely manage in my house without internet, I'd rather not have that limitation, so protecting my connection to the outside world is something I work towards. On a similar thought, while we could probably survive for months on the food in our house, I like having the option of outside food, so I also work to keep the roads clear and safe (because we live in a place that doesn't get a lot of winter storms, so people aren't great at driving in winter weather).
I also really enjoy opening myself up to the energy of storms, as I find that it often lets me express feelings that I bottle up inside. Especially in the winter, with all the holidays and events and obligations (and gifts!) weighing us down, we can become quite frustrated with having to stay in good cheer all the time (because you aren't allowed to be grumpy during the holidays, right?) Try opening yourself up to the energy of the storm, and have some good tools of self-expression handy for whatever comes up. You might feel inspired to do art to express what your are feeling, or you may want to write/type about the experience instead. If you have a witchy (or just open-minded) friend you trust you might do this together and you can talk about how it felt afterwards (as well as doing any other activities, together or later when you are alone).
If you do end up being snowed in, I think that is a very special kind of energy as well. I know the Pandemic has altered many people's thoughts about being 'stuck home', and I know that as adults we often have trained ourselves to look at what we 'should be doing', but I have always seen being snowed in as I did when I was a child...it's a free day! Yes, you can't do the things you had planned to do, and often you are quite severely limited in what you can do....but that just means that you now have no plans for the day! It's the perfect day to just play (whatever that means to you...it might mean playing a game, reading, watching something, doing a hobby, crafting.....and bonus points if it is something you 'always meant to try' or 'never have time to do').
Divination is always a fun activity to do, whether you want to tap into the energy just before the storm starts, at it's height, or in it's aftermath, each provides you an opportunity to explore a part of your life that isn't ordinary. Just prior to a storm, there is often that stillness and a sense of something about to happen. We can get a similar experience sometimes in life around a powerful event. So this would be a good time to look for clarity on big changes in your life, especially in what you can do to prepare for them. In the middle of the storm, you are caught up in all the drama of everything that is going on, and sometimes it can feel hard to slow down enough to think. Here you might ask about what the best course of action is, and how to move yourself into a safe space where you can have the time you need. And after the storm, we are often just so overwhelmed with the sense of loss that we can't figure out what we need to do to recover or how to start moving past it.
So, when winter hits, and you feel that stillness in the air, get ready for any storms that might be approaching. Think about how you want to work with each storm that comes your way, for each one is an opportunity to connect with the storm and use it's energy to enhance your life. Whether you simply want to stay safe and protected or whether you want to ride the storm and see where it takes you, remember to not only take appropriate magical precautions, but also all the physical ones as well.
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