Paris Winter 2026, a Wonderland ?
Mid January
“There is a certain stillness in winter that belongs to no other season.” ~ Annie Dillard, (1945, 80 yrs.)
January, the heart of winter. This year, the mid-month new moon on the 18th calls on us to notice that a new natural cycle will soon reveal itself.
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Moonscape perspectives ignite the human imagination regarding any full moon, This is the night of the full ‘Wolf Moon’ 3 January 2026. The usual visibility of Venus, Mars is blinded by their presence being too near the sun, and Jupiter accompanies the moon.
We begin to detect the slightest differences of the longer moments in sun-lit warmth, we allow space to contemplate feelings of gratitude and fulfillment after the intensity of the year-end seasonal festivities.
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Whisper of snow, Place Costa Rica, entrance to Passy Village, Paris marks the final days of the festive holiday season.
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? The Crystal clear night of the full ‘Wolf Moon’ 3 January 2026.
“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire.” ~ Rainer Maria Rilke, (1875 – 1926)
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Daily work continues to complete the nearly two-year construction project of the Rue de l’Annonciation Abbey.
As the mundane aspects of life continue, we consciously awaken to our natural adaptive circannual rhythmic patterns and we slowly and lightly begin to align with our accessible cellular instincts yawning as they awaken from their winters rest. Clearly this is an intended and optimal season to gear up for the renewal.
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Snow-covered motos line nearly all the streets of Paris 16th Arrondissement.
“In the depth of winter, I finally learned that within me there lay an invincible summer.” ~ Albert Camus, (1913 – 1960)
3 January Full moon. Why Wolf Moon?
“Winter is an admirable engraver; it engraves nature with a chisel.” ~ Victor Hugo, (1802 -1885)
This January full moon is a super moon indicating that, due to its position in distance to the earth, it appears 30 % brighter and 14% larger. Surely a ‘wonder’ surrounding nature’s magnificence this winter. Jupiter is on average 628 million km from earth, and the moon.
The January full moon bearing the nickname “Wolf Moon” carries yet the folkloric origins of the Native American, Colonial American, and European traditions. It marks the deep winter and is assigned meaning regardiing the food scarcity for wildlife as it is recognized in howling of the wolves.
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Mysteries embedded in the human imagination surface the night of the full ‘Wolf Moon’ 3 January 2026.
However, howling, for wolves is pack-oriented communication used to mark territory and to coordinate hunts. It is the human consciousness that designates the particularly atmospheric and memorable experience as associated with the stark silent winter nights. This voiced attribute came to represent the dramatic presence of howling as ‘distress due to lack of sustenance.’ When, all along, it simply was a case the humans casting their delicious art of anthropomorphic drama.
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Elegant ballet costume window display exhibits artistic creativity ‘repetto,’ rue de Passy, Paris.
“An early-morning walk is a blessing for the whole day.”~ Henry David Thoreau, (1817 -1862) (especially in the silence of winter).
As I reflect on Winter this year, at this “Winter-stage” of my life, I realise my life-focus is “Self-mastery and the Art of Living.”
Historically, winter traditionally has evoked interesting reflections:
“Nature is a haunted house — but Art — a house that tries to be haunted.” ~ Emily Dickinson, (1830 – 1886)
From a young age I have been curious about the ‘grand angle ‘ perspective, rarely exploring inward. Thinking, I suppose, answers to life’s big questions must come from the beyond in the big picture.
Earth clearly is acting out or reacting via storms, fires, earth quakes, volcanic eruptions, floods, and ‘abnormal’ temperature extremes. Humans are more divided than ever. Now I wonder about the planets that are rearranging and changing places in our solar system and beyond. I wonder that within human responsibilities for earth changes, is there an impact on conditions beyond our atmosphere, solar system?
I wonder if within a consciousness, where polarities are collapsed beyond the blame factor, might there be, and indeed, are there not directions for changes as well as for hope that we may better organize ourselves more closely with Nature?
I wonder if increased collapsed polarities might fuel energetic possibilities for change and therein would offer better chances for changes in this current global disharmony. As I find myself now looking inward, it feels as though I have learnt to collapse my own polarities, and to expand my possibilities for self-alignment and higher consciousness. And, it occurs to me that perhaps Paris is my Wonderland!
Then I remember.
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
A lone Baptist minister and civil rights leader and who organized for change and inspired it via his forceful and captivating language. His speeches and essays and citations yet inspire people today. As Shonda Buchanan questions “why do we have to fight so hard to be American?” – (especially for racial and economic equality.) The third Monday of January was declared a federal holiday: Martin Luther King, Jr., Day, in 1983 to recognize and to honour his importance in the civil rights movement. Unfortunately, not until 2000 that all 50 states observed Martin Luther King Jr. Day, as its passage was, and even has recently been fiercely contested. “The wind rises… we must try to live.” ~ Paul Valéry, (1871 – 1945)
Where is your Art?
“Nature is a haunted house — but Art — a house that tries to be haunted.” ~ Emily Dickinson, (1830 –1886)
Winter 2026, … a Wonderland? Paris Tour Eiffel lit and surrounded by snow powdered winter trees.
