By Marisa Vrooman
Many of us have mixed feelings about the winter season. Weather patterns cause interruption to our daily routines, it’s harder to get out of bed when the floors are cold and the blankets invite you to stay encapsulated in warmth, and many of our beloved outdoor activities are paused indefinitely. The days are shorter and the nights seem to last forever. It draws us inward – to more reflection, more stillness, more introspection.
I learned that if I could embrace the natural rhythm of this season – and follow nature’s example, I am able to recover, recuperate, and get myself ready for the busy months that will follow. Winter is the perfect time to set intentions, clear the energy that may be holding us back, and embrace the possibility of the new year. I focus on planting the seeds that I want to sow in the upcoming months.
We are excited about our programmatic offerings in 2026. Many of our Discovery Sessions will line up as perfect reflections of the seasons. We will provide deeper opportunities to connect with nature, to enjoy the beauty that overflows here, to learn about sustainability. We will be partnering with some wonderful community organizations to enrich your experiences here, broaden your networks, and expand your understanding of sustainability, stewardship, and reconnection with nature.
In order for us to reset and refresh, this past Friday, we held a staff retreat in our Center. It was a day focused on relaxation, restoration, and reconnection – with ourselves, with each other, and with our intentions for the new year. We began the day with an immersive sound bath, had a nourishing lunch, and then had offerings of chair massage and a creative activity where we designed vision boards for 2026.
For me the sound bath was the most transformative part of our day. Music has long been proven as a beneficial modality in reducing pain, but what about the vibrations generated during sound baths? Are sound baths effective, as well? Anecdotally, I believe they are. They help me clarify my thoughts, create a sense of calm in my body, and relax in a way that is so complete – it’s hard to replicate in any other setting.
We’ve hosted several sound baths in the past years, and what I find so interesting about them is how the actual vibrations seem to get underneath the surface and shake things up in unexpected ways. The different frequencies interact with your energy and cells in different ways. And unlike meditation, it doesn’t matter what your mind is doing because the sound works its magic either way. After a sound bath, I usually feel a little tired, but much less stressed, more relaxed, and my thoughts are more clear. It’s like an exfoliation of clogged energy. It’s as if I am preparing my mind and my body for renewal.
Which brings me back to my original thought… Does winter become a little more bearable if we approach it as a time to reset, plant the seeds of the future, and nourish our bodies and minds so that they are replenished before the generative growth of spring begins?
We invite you to experience a time of intention setting and reset on Sunday, February 1, as we step into that rhythm with an Intention Setting + Sound Bath at The Center at Oakencroft.
Explore our upcoming Seasonal Farm Walks and Discovery Sessions, for thoughtful experiences shaped by the land. We look forward to welcoming you to the farm this winter.