❄️Reset in the Bog: Owls, Silence & Soul Renewal”

A Winter Reflection from Sax-Zim Bog

Winter has its own rhythm—a sacred quiet that invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and reconnect with what matters. For me, that rhythm lives in a place called Sax-Zim Bog.

Each December, I make the 4.5-hour drive north, arriving before sunrise and staying until the last light fades. It’s not just a photography trip—it’s a pilgrimage. A ritual. A way to declutter my mind and refuel my spirit. I go in search of owls: the Great Grey, the Northern Hawk, the Barred, the Snowy, and the ever-elusive Boreal. But truthfully, I go for something deeper.

🌲 A Landscape That Breathes

Sax-Zim Bog is hauntingly beautiful. No two winters are alike. The weather can be brutal—ranging from mid-40s to 40 below—but the palette of greens, reds, and browns against the snow is breathtaking. Morning fog adds a mystical veil until the sun burns it off, and afternoon shadows deepen the hues. Nature here is raw, random, and unpredictable. That’s part of the charm.

Sometimes I travel with friends. Sometimes I go alone. I’ve slept overnight in my car more times than I can count, bundled in gear that keeps me warm without needing to run the engine. It’s not glamorous—but it’s sacred.

🦉 The Gift of Presence

Even though I’m “on the hunt,” the experience is deeply restful. I revisit favorite spots and explore remote corners that call to me. I walk through the bog simply to be surrounded by nature’s breathing life—the whispering pines, the chirping chickadees, the pecking of three-toed woodpeckers, the squawk of blue jays. The bog is alive, and I am part of it.

When I find an owl and sit quietly in its presence, something shifts. We watch each other. We listen. And in that silence, I feel a connection to something bigger—a spiritual thread that speaks to the soul and understands the need for rest, ritual, and renewal.

"The owl," wrote Henry David Thoreau, "is the most contemplative of birds. He sits motionless, absorbing the silence."

🌬️ A Winter Ritual

This annual journey has become one of my most cherished rituals. I go with no expectations—just a desire to feel, to receive clarity, to be restored. The owls are a bonus. So are the foxes, the boreal chickadees, and the quiet moments that remind me I’m not alone.

Photography captures the beauty, but it never compares to being there in person. To be present, to feel grateful, and to leave knowing you have been blessed.

This Great Grey had just finished dinner.  I watched it all, from the perch and hunt to the dive, capture, and return to the perch.  The sun was pushing out the last rays of light, the shadows were deepening, and the chill in the air was raw.  The quiet and peaceful forest was alive and breathing.  There was a whole night of life waiting to happen as I tucked my camera back into the bag and headed home refueled and blessed, knowing I had been a part of the silence. 

 "In order to see birds, it is necessary to become a part of the silence." — Robert Lynd

🌺 Closing Reflection

In this season of stillness, may you find your own Sax-Zim Bog—a place or practice that invites you to rest, reflect, and renew. Whether it’s a walk in the woods, a quiet morning with tea, or a journaling ritual by candlelight, let it be your gift to yourself.

Because rest isn’t a luxury, it’s a legacy.