As the Wheel of the Year turns, we might find ourselves also spiraling from Autumnal Equinox through Winter Solstice – transitioning through personal “inner seasons” that reflect the natural rhythms and themes of Completion, Appreciation, and Integration.
October Completion
Release & Reveal
Autumn delivers crops to completion just as our own growth becomes fully realized within certain contexts. Waning vitality signals timely endings when we are ready to let go of what has fulfilled its purpose and prepare for what is ahead.
In many cases of letting-go we must release more than relationships, jobs, and conditions. Coming full-circle in significant areas of our lives usually includes detaching from an entire package of related hopes and plans. Reaching completion often causes us to move away from what we once moved toward–even shedding familiar ways of identifying and relating to ourselves in order to reveal who we are becoming. Completion is a productive and purposeful phase of growth that brings natural cycles to their close, and then opens to the discovery of emerging newness. Endings are always the first stages of beginnings.
November Appreciation
Ripening & Reaping
The most meaningful yield from what we plant and cultivate in the garden of our lives is often imparted beyond the obvious fruits. Through conscious cultivation, our bodies, minds, and hearts also ripen in tending the seeds we sow and personal transformation boldly blossoms with vision, desire, and commitment. Inspiration is as potent as sunlight and water to crops of purposeful intention, and the greatest growth occurs through the deepening forces of our own roots when we nurture what we love.
Once the harvest is collected, there comes a sacred pause. In the stillness that follows planting, tending, and gathering there is opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate our bounty. Being aware of blessings anchors them along with the productive energies of conscious gratitude and stores them well within us. Like putting up seeds from the season’s Firstfruits for future planting, gratitude fertilizes the soil of our soul as preparation for ongoing, unfolding Grace.
December Integration
Reconnection & Restoration
Gratitude organically evolves a sense of over-flow and abundance so we gladly share the many blessings we celebrate. Circles of connections expand with the holiday calendar and gatherings that draw us together from the outside, in. The “dead of winter” is invigorated by the joy of plentitude and “coldness” thawed by the warmth of generosity and giving. Though outer light be diminished during this darkest month a radiant Inner Light sheds increased kindness and goodwill among us and rekindles our faith in Original Benevolence. With nostalgia and hopefulness hearts open wide to love like furrowed fields to receive new seeds. Hence erelong … Another spring.
Rev. Tinker is a Science of Mind minister and Founder/Spiritual Director of HeartWorks. She conducts community events, workshops, ceremonies, and counseling throughout the Central Coast. Visit heartworks.org.
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