In the modern world where we are driven by business and technology it is difficult to stay connected to nature in the same way that we did in the past. When there was a lot of agriculture the yearly seasons were relied upon to bring good harvests. Whereas now we share a world where the seasons can easily be forgotten.
As we begin to recognise the loss of our relationship with nature reconnecting is becoming increasingly popular. So, in this post here at Learn Your Flow we will be exploring the wheel of the year before moving on next month to discuss how working with the seasons can support our personal development and manifesting.
Throughout the year there are 8 annual celebrations that make up the wheel of the year. These celebrations signify the start and finish of the seasons and relate to the position of the sun. These celebrations give us the opportunity to pause, reflect and show our appreciation for what has been coming through in the previous season and look forward to what the next season will bring. Without these pauses we would be on a constant treadmill of change without time to reflect and give thanks.
The 8 annual celebrations that occur during the year are the following:
Spring Equinox (Ostara)
20-23rd March (northern hemisphere)
20-23rd September (southern hemisphere)
The Spring Equinox represents a time of balance as day and night are of equal length. It also offers time to reflect on new beginnings and nurturing personal growth for the year ahead.
Beltane
1st May (northern hemisphere)
31st October (southern
Beltane is a time for fertility, abundance, creativity, fire and a celebration of the world coming into bloom. It is a time to reflect on what you want to bring into the summer season.
Summer Solstice (Litha)
20-23rd June (northern hemisphere)
20-23rd December (southern hemisphere)
The summer solstice is a celebration of the longest day of the year. It brings us themes such as, abundance, light, vitality, gratitude, and summer’s positive energy through nature at its fullness.
Lammas (Lughnasadh)
1st August (northern hemisphere)
1st-2nd February (southern hemisphere)
Lamas is the time to celebrate the first harvest of the year. It brings us themes such as gratitude, creativity, and craftmanship. This celebration gives a sense of community and is a celebration of feeling nourished.
Autumn equinox (Mabon)
20-23rd September (northern hemisphere)
20-23rd March (southern hemisphere)
The Autumn equinox marks the time when day and night come back into balance. This is the time when we begin to start winding down and giving thanks for the harvest that should carry us through the winter. It brings us themes of balance, resourcefulness, and gratitude.
Samhain (Halloween)
31st October (northern hemisphere)
1st May (southern hemisphere)
Samhain marks the beginning of the dark half of the year. It is a time to reflect on the natural cycles of life, death and rebirth. It is also a time to honour those who came before us such as ancestors, guides and wisdoms of the past.
Winter Solstice (Yule)
20-23rd December (northern hemisphere)
20-23rd June (southern hemisphere)
The winter solstice is a celebration of the returning of the sun after the longest night of the year. It reminds us that even in the darkest of times the light will return offering us hope for the future.
The wheel of the year is a beautiful way of recognising how the cycles of nature can bring us structure and focus. Each season has its own themes and guidance that can support us through personal growth. This is an interesting topic as it helps you to understand how to enhance natures energy and its cycles in order to manifest you goals and aspirations. Now that we have covered the 8 anchor points throughout the year, we can dive deeper into the seasons to explore these themes and guidelines. If you wish to learn more about the seasons, then stay tuned for next months blog post where we will be doing just that.
