Katie Jo,

I haven't really thought about emotional winters being a natural balance to our "up" times. That's a fresh idea for meditation.  Thank you.

Due to my clinical depression, emotional winter comes often and can stay a long time, and sometimes spring means "less dark".  But I don't drop my branches, because the green leaves always come, though not at times of my own choosing.  God who never leaves is my salvation, and I've learned to accept things as they are, knowing that I can trust Him/Her for all I need with hope leftover to share with someone else.