Life flows much better if we understand and follow the natural rhythms of nature. We are surrounded by these rhythms. They are simple, yet powerful, practical and meaningful. Yet most of us ignore them and go against their flow – like swimming upstream.
Animals and plants consistently and instinctually follow its natural rhythms of seasons, moon cycles, and daily energies. But because humans have choice and too often unconsciously react to old patterns, we tend to burn the candle at both ends and are out of synch with basic natural flows like the yin and yang, and ebb and flow of life.
Below you can learn from Mother Nature and follow her time-tested flow of energies through natural cycles of the day/night, weekday/weekend, and moon and seasonal energies.
Over the last few years we have written about re-aligning with the changing seasons
https://www.higherawareness.com/blog/re-aligned-to-winter-solstice/ and about the energies of spring equinox. https://www.higherawareness.com/blog/synchronize-with-nature-spring-into-action/
“Four seasons fill the measure of the year. There are four seasons in the mind of men.” — John Keats
Below are the similarities of the 4 season changes, the waxing and waning of the moon, and the 4 compass directions.
Let’s start with Spring Equinox – This is a time of renewal and “spring cleaning” that removes any negative and slower energy accumulated over the dark winter months. It prepares us for the positive growing energy of spring and summer. A time to spring forward, risk and start new projects. It is a time of awakening and recommitting to life as spring brings in more light, energy and warmth. It ushers in a time of awakening and recommitting to life. It is a celebration of being resurrected from the dead of winter and being born again.
Spring equinox correlates with the New moon for new beginnings, new projects, spontaneity, instinctual action, new intentions, creating new rituals and ceremony, and following your desires with heart-felt positiveness.
This time of the year also corresponds to the East direction, which is associated with beginnings, the light of the rising sun and of the innocence of childhood. As beings, we begin in the spiritual world and the East direction represents our arrival in the physical world. It then represents new growth, the conception of a new day, of a new being. It represents creation as we move forward, exploring the new world that we are in.
“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each.” — Henry David Thoreau
3 months after Spring Equinox is Summer Solstice. Summer blesses us with light, expansion, fulfillment, growth and creativity. To honour summer’s approach, you might greet the early morning with yoga sun salutations and celebrate the bright evenings by dancing around a bonfire.
The first moon quarter relates to germination and summer. It is a time to experience change, intensity, movement, being positive and motivation. It takes strength, determination, concentration, decision-making and ongoing re-evaluation and re-commitment. With its fast change and growth it also comes with the shadows, restrictions, the past and obstacles. So it is also a time of healing as you breakout and expand.
This period also corresponds with the direction, South which is associated with spontaneity, experimentation, adolescence and emotions. It is a direction of growth, learning, and building one’s identity. It is a time of differentiation, separation and growing outward.
“The summer solstice is a time for strength and vitality, for action and movement.” — Carole Carlton
The Autumn Equinox marks the beginning of shorter days and longer nights. This is a time of harvest, community, celebration and thanksgiving. It is a time of completion, balance and realizing the abundance around us. As the sunlight retreats, we also retreat inside to rest and reflect on the past and future, and strengthen our spirits.
“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.” — Albert Camus
The Full moon brings to mind the harvest moon. A time of conscious growth, subconscious enlightenment, value clarification and releasing. Be aware of heightened activity and intense thoughts, feelings and behaviours. It is a good time to focus, let go of anything that no longer serves your higher purpose. Work on creating space, de-cluttering and weight-loss. Open to guidance, healing, magic, new thoughts, and psychic abilities.
This time of the year also corresponds to the West direction which represents our adult years of building knowledge and wisdom. The sun sets on our immaturity and victimhood. We form our own opinions and develop our own values. We live our own life rather than someone else’s. It is a time of maturity, where our mental side is exercised.
Winter Solstice – Solstice derives from an ancient Latin word meaning “stop,” or “to stand still.” Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and is a time of both anticipation and rejoicing at the Sun’s rebirth. This is a time of rejuvenation, reflection, healing and going inside. A time of integration as our consciousness expands due to the lessons we have learned. A time of anticipation of the increasing light and new experiences of a new cycle.
The third quarter of the moon correlates with rest and going inside. It is a time of appreciation, reflection, contemplation, illumination, inner work, consciousness integration and preparing for the next cycle at a new level of awareness. It is a good time to rid bad habits, manage stress and reduce negative thinking. The seeding and harvesting have been completed and loose ends are tidied up.
The North direction is a time of enlightenment, where adults become Elders. It is a time of wisdom, refinement and purification and entering a more spiritual life. From the North we are renewed, and light and darkness mix and accent one another. We return in the spiritual world where we came from.
“In a way winter is the real spring, the time when the inner things happen, the resurge of nature.” — Edna O’Brien
How in touch are you with the rhythms of nature and our planet?
There is a wholeness to life where all parts make sense and there is a natural flow of universal energies. There are laws about rhythms and cycles, where whole complete circles (spirals) of energies are made to support us.
“In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy” – William Blake
So if you have a project, process, goal, or plan, use the words in the 4 step process below to be your guide.
- New beginnings, seeding, awaken, renewal, birth, vision, inspiration, expect, explore, clarity, energy, intentions
- Creativity, germination, change, expand, growth, heal, nurture, fulfillment, recommit, shadows clearing
- Harvest, manifest, express, completion, balance, maturity, teach, harmony, values, space
- Rest, appreciate, rejuvenate, reflect, contemplation, stabilize, routines, transform, insights, integration, union, expert, explain, experience, explore, renew, purify
“The more balanced our lives, the more serene we feel.” – Ann Smith
Or more simply – Nature’s 4 step process:
Seed, germinate, harvest, rest
Expect, expand, express, experience
Clarity, creativity/change, completion, contemplation
Rebirth, rise/resolve, realize/rejoice, rejuvenate/renew
Plan/purpose, Problems/processes, production/prosperity, purify
