Seasons + Cycles
of change
YOU ARE SHIFTING
You may have already noticed…we are all in seasons and cycles of change. Whether it’s a new job, a new relationship, a new lease on life, each of us are shifting, both internally and outwards. Discovering the way you are designed to connect with the outside world is a wonderful experiment. No matter where you are in your de-conditioning journey, developing a deeper connection to these shifts and changes in your monthly cycle can radically elevate the level of acceptance you feel for your own timing, empowering you to honor your natural process in a way that feels both gentle and wholesome.
We can look at the archetypal rhythm of the moon as a kind of shift of the seasons. This is a poetic parallel to the moon phases we all know and see shifting through the night sky. The lunar cycle spans approximately one month while Earth’s seasons shift over a year. The correlation between these two cycles really comes from our ancestors. They were the first cultures to watch the Moon, to learn to rely upon her for very important calculations such as calendars, farming cycles, and so much more. As a Reflector, the first thing I had to learn to do was to drop everything I knew about making decisions and watch her. She has never misses a step in her dance. It’s consistent. Reliable. Ever-present. The Moon mirrors the rhythm of our own internal weather patterns, revealing deep insights about our deepest why, our true reason for being here. She reflects our dynamic nature - an aspect within us that was never designed to be fixed.
It’s something for our minds to play with, to really break open the potential of understanding what it means to be a human being with a deep capacity for feeling. When we are in touch with the seasons and shifts of our internal cycle, it also brings a profound level of ease and release for the body.
When we think of the four seasons, what qualities do we think of?
Imagine the new moon as winter - a peaceful, restful phase, a time for rejuvenation, much like the winter’s hibernation and plant dormancy. Then comes the first quarter moon, likened to the revival of spring, the increasing brightness just as days grow longer and life awakens. As we move to the full moon phase, it resembles the brightness of summer, shining radiantly and high with activity - like long summer days filled with bursts of celebrated energy. Lastly, the last quarter moon echoes the season of autumn, where the moon’s waning light reminds us all to slow down, appreciate life and the shortening of the day into night, preparing to put yet another cycle to rest.
Now let’s relate these four seasons to the four major phases of the lunar cycle:
New Moon - Like winter, the new moon could be seen as a time of rest and renewal. In winter, many animals hibernate and plants go dormant. Similarly during the new moon phase, the moon isn’t visible in the night sky, providing a break from its usual illumination.
First Quarter - Spring could be compared to the first quarter. In spring, life begins to stir again, plants start to bud, and the daylight hours increase. During the first quarter of the lunar cycle, the moon’s illumination is increasing (waxing), giving the sense of growing in brightness and activity.
Full Moon - The full moon can be correlated with the summer season. During summer, the days are long and the energy is high. It’s a time of activity and high energy, just like the full moon phase, when the moon is at its brightest.
Last Quarter - Autumn could be compared to the last quarter. During autumn, life begins to slow down and prepare for the quiet of winter. The days become shorter and the leaves fall. Similarly, during the last quarter phase, the moon’s illumination is decreasing (waning), symbolizing a period of release and preparation for the new cycle.
