Ryan’s Reviews > Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times > Status Update

“Is this [Druidism] an invented religion, cobbling together borrowed rituals and harking back to an imagined past where mysticism reigned? Probably. Maybe…” Pg.112 she posits the question of: is this religion is invented, as if all the world religions aren’t invented with borrowed beliefs and rituals.

“…Today’s Halloween simply reflects what we secretly think—that death is a surrender to decay that makes us monsters.” Pg.57 presumptuous of her to say “we”, as if everyone thinks of Halloween as she does. I think they call that “projecting”. Also, follow up, she does let her kid go trick or treating. Yay!

[continued] lurches towards riot and rebellion…” Pg.55 sheesh lady, climb down off your horse named Academia and let your kid bask in the fun of getting to dress up and experience the joy of pretending, while also getting free treats of course. Also, she comments on rich vs poor after a chapter where she tells us she traveled to a different country and indulged herself in a natural hot spring.

She doesn’t let her kid celebrate Halloween. She over analyzes: “Halloween is an overturning of the natural order, with a lineage in old traditions of reversing the roles, letting the poor become rulers, and bringing the rich low. There has long been a feverish link between monsters and mockery, and those without power have been given license to play at the edges of civility in order to quell more dangerous

“Perhaps it takes a lifetime to acclimatise.” Pg.51 she does indicate that the whole “forcing yourself to like something” might need to be gradual. But even still, I disagree with the idea of forcing yourself to like things even at a gradual pace. It seems like the opposite of being honest with, and knowing, yourself.

“[H] says, ‘You hate saunas. They make you too hot.’ ‘Yes,’ I reply, ‘but I’ve realised that I just have to lower my resistance to being hot, and I’ll start enjoying it. I have to stop seeing hot as a bad thing.’” Pg.46. She seems like she’s gaslighting herself into liking things. Thinking you can just force yourself into liking things doesn’t seem healthy.

“…When H’s appendicitis disrupted my celebrations…” Pg.39. Seems self centered