‘Seasons come and seasons go’

So goes the phrase, but how we benefit from each season is a little less obvious.

In nature, each season has a function, and each season has its benefits.  Just in the last couple of weeks, I’ve noticed the leaves changing colour, and I don’t see the trees fighting it. The trees know, or seems to know,  on some kind of level, that it’s ok for their leaves to fall. It’s all part of a normal rhythm. 

Today we’d like to invite you to consider where you see parallels between the seasons we see in nature, and things happening in your own life currently.

It may be that you identify most with a particular season overall. It may be that you can see evidence of all four seasons in your life at the moment. Either is fine.  Be encouraged, as you read, that each season has a function, and each has it’ benefits. Also be encouraged that all seasons pass. 

To help you, you might want to take a piece of paper and fold it into four sections, labelling the sections as Spring, Summer, Autumn and Winter. Unfold one section at a time, and write down any aspects of life you identify as being like that season. At the end, you could unfold the paper and consider what new awareness this exercise has brought to you.  

Try this …

You could then spend some time considering what might be helpful to do with that new awareness: 

·       You might want to simply accept it as new awareness

·       You might want to consider it further by writing or drawing something in a journal. 

·       You might want to talk to someone about something you’re pleased about or struggling with

·       You might want to make a change in you life; big or small. 

Deep down, you will know what the ‘right response’ is for you. 

SPRING

Spring is all about new life. It’s the start of something, things just starting to grow, early signs of life after the barrenness of winter. It’s often associated with anticipation and hope.

Consider; what new things are beginning for you in this season? Where do you see signs of possibility? What are you excited about? Hopeful for? Spring isn’t the ‘finished article’. Not everything that appears in spring goes onto mature; some things die off in the process. Similarly, there may be things that are possibilities, but not certainties. Choose to hold these lightly, yet gratefully.

SUMMER

Summer is all about flourishing. It’s when things are most alive. There are things that didn’t make it through to this stage; they died off in the process. The things that are here, are things that have fought through adversity and are thriving. 

Consider; where are you thriving at the moment? What are you most enjoying? Where and when are you feeling most alive? The summer season can be intense; there’s a lot happening and we can find it hard to know when and how to stop. Similarly, there may be things we’re loving, that we need to enjoy in moderation so we don’t ‘crash and burn’. Choose to step back and observe as well as participate in these good things.

AUTUMN

Autumn is about harvest – reaping the rewards of hard work, effort, investment. Fruit has appeared, animals are fully grown. Nature has reached its pinnacle. 

Consider; what are you reaping the benefits of at the moment? What things no longer require effort because of the investments and sacrifices made previously? Who and what have helped you to get to where you’ve got to? What does it look like to thank those people? What does it look like to congratulate YOURSELF for the things you’ve achieved? Autumn might also be the season where we discover things that have grown, that we wish hadn’t; things we didn’t weed out when it might have been helpful to do so. Similarly, there may be things we’ve invested in that we wish we hadn’t. We may notice things in our lives that are consequences of poor choices. We need to let go of these things; forgiving ourselves and others.

WINTER

Winter is the time when things seem dormant, or even dead. Trees are empty of their leaves and the colours of nature are somewhat muted. Nature is resting. 

Consider; what seems to be dead or dormant? What hopes and desires do you need to let go of? What do you need a break from?  Winter is also a time of preparation for the next season. Life often carries on under the ground; the animal is hibernation is preserving energy ready to re-emerge in Spring with new life. What is being gained through the loss? What new opportunities could emerge as a result of something ending? What new things might we be making room for? We need to gradually accept loss and embrace what is to be gained.    

TRY THIS ….

Why not download the Season ideas in the PDF below and do this activity at the change of every season.