Cyclic, Seasonal Living: Mapping the Cycles
An overview of nature’s sacred cycles: the menstrual cycle; the lunar cycle; the solar cycle of the seasons and the Wheel of the Year; and the life cycle stages of the Goddess archetypes.
The exquisite rhythm of the cycles of nature are an ever-present container which hold us through life.
Whether it’s the monthly waxing and waning of the Moon, or the gradual annual unfolding of the seasons of the year; or whether it’s the cycle of inhale and exhale through each breath we take, or the ebbing and flowing of emotions and energies that people who menstruate experience; the cycles of life are always unfolding around and through us.
All of these cycles can be seen as an ever-spiralling flow of spring, summer, autumn and winter; birth, growth, fullness, release and death eternally followed by rebirth as the cycles begin again.
This is the energy of the Sacred Feminine, of the Great Mother, holding us in Her dance of life.
You are likely familiar with the energies of the physical manifestation of the seasons, as you see them outside in nature. The first shoots of new life in earliest spring; the leaves unfurling; the fullness of flower blooms in summer; that subtle shift in the air quality as summer ends; the russet hues of autumn; and the still, soothing quietness of winter.
But these energies express themselves through you too within your body, mind and soul and there are numerous ways you can invoke them and harness their potential and power. They’re present within the breath, the circadian cycle, and the menstrual, lunar, and annual solar cycles.
And living in rhythm with life’s sacred cycles brings healing and wholeness.
It reconnects you to the presence and grace held in the moment, and to the ever-unfolding flow of life.
It brings peace and authenticity to nourish your heart and soul.
When you consciously connect to the dance of these cycles around you and within you, this invokes a feelings of inner safety, confidence and self-trust so you can follow your soul’s callings and live to your full potential.
You feel held by something greater than yourself – the energy of Life living itself through you – opening you to new insight and creative potential and the wisdom of your soul.
So, let’s look at these cycles in a little more detail.
The Menstrual Cycle
Pre-ovulation
Days 6-11 (approx)
Your inner spring when energy rises.
Ovulation
Days 12-20 (approx.)
Your inner summer – where you are fertile, abundant, full of life.
Pre-menstruum
Days 21-28 (approx)
Your inner autumn, where you are getting ready to let go and clear out (and don’t suffer fools gladly!).
Menstruation
Days 1-5 (approx)
Your inner winter, the death of the old as you bleed and release.
And if you don’t menstruate you can still follow these changing energies by tapping into the phases of the moon. They’re all interconnected.
The Lunar Cycle
And these cycles can also be seen each lunar month – in the phases of the moon.
New Crescent Moon – rebirth
The Waxing Moon is spring-like in energy, growing, expansive.
The Full moon is summer – bright and abundant.
The Waning Moon has autumn-like energies, falling away and letting go.
And the Waning Crescent (Balsamic) and Dark Moons are winter-like; a time of inner reflection, the void before the cycle begins again.
The Solar Cycle of the Seasons
Winter
It’s the death of the old. The trees are bare. The air is cold. The ground is hard. All seems barren.
But look deeper and realize that it’s just that the energies have gone inwards – hibernating, conserving, ready to flourish when the time is right, in spring.
And we can do the same. Snuggle up with a blanket and book. Allow quiet-time. Conserve our energy. Meditate. Look within. Identify what new seeds we wish to nurture ready to grow next spring.
Spring
And now new life springs forth!
As daffodils bloom and the first shoots on trees bud, we can tap into this rising energy ourselves and let the seeds of ideas we nurtured over winter now begin to grow.
Summer
The height of the growing season. All is on-show. Energy is high. Tap into abundance. Choose to do things which bring you joy.
And as Summer turns into Autumn, take stock of your own personal harvest. What flourished this year? Be grateful. Give yourself credit for what you’ve achieved. Reflect on what could have gone better – what might you do differently next year.
Autumn
As the trees let go of their leaves you may feel called to reflect on what you are ready to let go of. What’s falling away? It could be material possessions you no longer need. It could be habits; ways of being; people even.
…and so the cycle continues as we descend into the depths and death of winter, before the cycle begins again.
The Wheel of the Year
These are ancient festivals and remembrances which connect us back to our pre-Christian ancestors, whose lives were, of necessity, deeply embedded in awareness of the solar, agrarian calendar of planting and harvest.
The solar festivals are the two solstices and equinoxes, whose dates change slightly each year as they’re determined by the relative position of the Sun and the Earth. And then the four cross quarter days (also known as the Celtic Fire Festivals) marked the turning of the seasons and relate to the agrarian calendar of the keeping of crops and animals.
Imbolc
1st/2nd February the northern hemisphere (NH), August in the southern (SH).
Marks the beginning of early spring and the reawakening of the land.
Spring Equinox
20th-22nd March NH / September SH.
Spring is in full swing.
Beltane
1st May NH / November SH.
Beginning of early summer.
Summer Solstice
20th-22nd June NH / December SH.
The height of summer.
Lammas
Around 1st August NH / February SH.
Beginning of autumn.
Autumn Equinox
20th-22nd September NH / March SH.
Mid-autumn.
Samhain
31st October NH / 30th April SH.
Beginning of winter.
Winter Solstice
20th-22nd December NH / June SH.
Midwinter.
While each of these festivals have been associated with specific dates I invite you to open to working with their energies through an entire six-week period, and to be alive to when you feel the seasonal energies changing both in the place that you live, and within your body and soul.
Bring it all together with the Life Cycle Goddess Archetypes
Archetypes are powerful, enduring symbols which exist out of time and transcend cultures, in what psychiatrist Carl Jung termed ‘the collective unconscious’.
There are five main archetypes I reference when working with all of these seasonal cycles – which I’ve outlined below.
They’re faces of the Great Goddess and inner energies within your soul that you can call upon whenever you need their powers and healing gifts.
The Maiden
Hope, innocence, curiosity, new beginnings, joy
Early spring
New crescent moon
Pre-ovulation
Age: 0-15 (approx) (birth, early years and puberty)
AND: any time in your life when you wish to evoke these energies
The Lover
Sensuality, sexuality, passion, courage, freedom
Late spring into summer
Waxing moon
Pre-ovulation into ovulation
Age: 15-30 (approx) (experimenting with who you are and with relationships)
AND: any time in your life when you wish to evoke these energies
The Mother
Nurturing, birthing, creativity, unconditional love
Late summer into early autumn
Ovulation
Full moon
Age: 30-45 (approx) (birthing years – children and/or career, creative projects etc)
AND: any time in your life when you wish to evoke these energies
The Queen
Discernment, harvest, setting boundaries, confidence, empowerment, protection
Autumn
Pre-menstruum
Waning Moon
Age: 45-60 (approx) (peri/menopausal years)
AND: any time in your life when you wish to evoke these energies
Crone
Wisdom, intuition, vision, darkness, death, peace
Winter
Menstruation
Balsamic – Dark Moon
Age: 60+ (approx) (post-menopausal years)
AND: any time in your life when you wish to evoke these energies
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At its heart, cyclic living is a practice of embodied mindfulness; of paying attention to what is true for you as the rhythm of the seasons unfold.
It grounds you into the ever-present, ever-shifting rhythms of nature and to feel part of something greater than the materialistic concerns of everyday modern life.
For by honouring these sacred cycles of outer nature you may come into a deeper relationship with your own inner nature – your truest self – your soul. That wise and timeless part of you which is naturally aligned to the great rhythm of life of rebirth, growth, release and decay.
And it is this deeper, enriched soul connection that is the treasure that working with the sacred cycles of nature reveals to you.
I hope you enjoy the journey!
