There are many ways to approach the seasons. The meteorological approach breaks up the year into four different seasons such as Summer, Winter, Spring, and Fall depending on climatic weather patterns and average temperatures.

The astrological approach uses the solstices and equinox days, and therefore the amount of daylight, as it's guide to determine exactly when each season begins. From this perspective, Spring and Fall begin on the Equinox days while Summer and Winter commence on the Solstices.

The pagan or Wiccan approach, which is rooted in sacred spiritual tradition, uses the Wheel of The Year as it's guide to observe eight sacred days throughout one annual cycle. These eight days (called sabbats) fall on the equinoxes, solstices, and the midway points between each of those auspicious astrological days. The Wheel of the Year celebrations are deeply interwoven with the happenings in nature during each season, and serve as meaningful alternatives to the hallmark holidays most of us celebrate today.

Yet another approach is to break down the year into six seasons that correlate with the life cycle stages that all life endures. As gardeners and foragers that so often observe the rise and decline of life outdoors, we view the year from this six-season perspective. Our time in nature renders our perception of the year as one rolling cycle of the life/death/re-birth cycle - a continuous pattern with no real beginning nor end. The six seasons approach aids us in our seasonal living journey as we observe nature and develop a relationship with the ever-changing flora, fauna, and astrological systems that surround us. As creatures of nature ourselves, the experience of birth, growth, decline and death is part of what unites us as one with other beings in the natural world.

Our approach to seasonal living is to align with the six seasons in an effort to rewild our bodies and souls and ultimately rekindle the kinship with nature we’ve lost over the years. We often do this by adjusting our diets, schedules, and energetic outputs to sync with the season at hand in a gentle and supportive way.

six seasons graphic — Graphic by Gather & Grow

Aligning With the Six Seasons

Here I’m sharing the annual year broken down by the 6 seasons plus ways to align with the season in order to experience a seasonal year. The seasons, in context to the life/death/rebirth cycle, correlate to specific months in the year depending on our location on the globe. Regardless of your location, your climate does experience these changes in nature even if the changes are subtle.

Conception

The season when life is created, but before it births in full form. Above ground, much is still dormant, but below ground life is very slowly beginning to stir. Nature is expectant - only just visible, if at all, like the gentle curve of a just showing pregnancy. After the long cold winter, the season of conception is a reminder that life always follows death.

This is a season to continue the hibernation and restful days of winter while exploring our own inner landscapes. Continue to consume foods that are earthy and hearty. While our bodies rest we stimulate our minds during this season. So it’s also a good time to utilize the slow growing energy in nature to nurture and make plans for freshly conceived ideas, projects, and goals that will spring forth in full form soon enough.

Birth

Early springtime is a special time of year in the natural world. The deep thaw begins and the drowsiness of dormancy gives way to fertility. Light and warmth increase as we orient towards the sun. Life that has been germinating below the surface begins to sprout and take physical shape. There is a quality of purity and innocence in the air mingled with the excitement for all possibilities to come to fruition.

The season of birth is a time we begin to transition from experiencing life predominantly in the mental landscape (while our bodies rest) to re-activating our bodies and gently increasing our physical activity. Just like nature makes a gradual progression, set your pace to match. Take new ideas, projects, and goals to the phase by scheduling out the first few steps of manifestation. Begin to adjust your diet from hearty comforting foods to the lighter fresh greens that become available.

Youth

Spring is full swing during this season and life is springing forward in all directions. The energy is lively - like a playful child exploring new horizons. Plants are exploding from the earth, animals are enjoying the warmth and rush of new resources available.

Use this season to take on new challenges and test your boundaries with a playful mindset. Growth happens through inquisitiveness, exploration, overcoming challenges, and adapting plans after lessons learned. This approach helps nurture the growth of your projects and goals. Continue schedule out and make plans to bring those projects to fruition. This season is a great time to increase physical activity once again, enjoy the increasing bounty of spring crops, and increase social community experiences.

Adulthood

Abundance is the theme of this season. In the natural world the fullness of life is abounding with vibrancy. The trees are fruiting into juicy gems, the crops in the field are full grown in fibrous form, and the animals are their most alert.

The season of adulthood is a time to simply celebrate life and the fullness of the physical body. Exercise and play as much as possible to honor the beauty of the physical form. Indulge in the fullness of ripe fresh foods. Notice how you’ve grown since giving energy to your ideas, projects and goals since conception. Celebrate this season of fruition and all you’ve accomplished thus far in the physical world.

Senescence

The onset of Autumn marks the fall of the year in the natural world. Light and warmth decrease as we orient away from the sun. Life has reached its peak of acceleration and now passes into decline. The flora begin to prepare for death and dormancy by dropping seeds and sending their energy into the protective layer of earth. Animals too, prepare for the onset of winter through stockpiling food, building up fat reserves, reproducing, and nesting. All are making whatever preparations necessary for the next phase of life - death.

The energy of this season is as much about preparing for winter as it is about preparing for death. With that energy comes themes of wisdom gained from a life well lived and gratitude for all that has grown. Use the energy of this season to make your own preparations in life and work to slow down, rest, nest, and nourish. Spend ample time sharing the wisdom you’ve earned as well as your gratitude. Reconnect to your roots through familial and ancestral traditions. As the physical world deteriorates, decrease your physical expenditures and embrace increased mental and spiritual practices. Use up the last of the freshly available crops from the growing season, and stockpile a reserve of food from the earth that will last through winter. Spend this season looking back to learn, then look forward to the new unknown ahead.

Death/Afterlife

The season of death/afterlife in the natural world manifests as wintertime. Life above ground is dormant and hibernating. Even the ground itself is frozen solid or layered under blankets of snow. All is on pause until the time is right to activate once again. Deep winter is the darkest and coldest period of the year in the natural world.

This season is the perfect time to install your own version of hibernation. Take an extended break from work and physical activity to truly experience rest and recovery. Spend this time deep in your inner world investigating your spiritual and mental health. Explore the shadow sides of your perceptions and habits - for you will use this information in the next season to re-animate new ideas and personal growth. This is a season to learn to let go and embrace the unknown. Nourish yourself with hearty crops from the earth and the preserves you stockpiled from summer.

How do you think aligning with the 6 seasons can support your year?

The 6 Seasons In Nature