The Wisdom of Seasons
As this year winds down, I find myself ready to sink into winter's slowness. But here's what I've learned: seasons aren't just happening outside. They're in our relationships, our life phases, our menstrual cycles, everywhere.
In Katonah Yoga, we study how everything moves in cycles. And here's the key: it's nearly impossible to weather a winter when you don't trust that spring is coming.
Think about it. Summer is fullness, the Fire element at its peak. It's Yang energy in full bloom, reaping what we've planted, soaking in sunshine, being out in the world at our brightest. Our hearts are open, we're connecting, celebrating, fully expressed.
Then we descend into fall, the Metal element. Leaves change, then drop. The earth prepares to rest and regenerate. This is the season of letting go, governed by the Lungs and Large Intestine. We release what no longer serves us, we grieve what needs to be composted, we begin to contract and draw our energy inward. Seeds settle into soil. We assess what we've harvested and prepare for what's ahead.
Winter, the Water element, brings us deep into quietude and darkness. This is maximum Yin, the time of the Kidneys and our deepest reserves. We rest, regenerate, recover. We reflect on what came to fruition and what needs to shift. The wisdom here is in the stillness, in allowing ourselves to be held by the dark.
Then, when we least expect it, spring rises, the Wood element. Green buds break through, governed by the Liver and Gallbladder. Flowers bloom. Our souls rise with them, energy moving upward and outward again. We plan, we vision, we feel our life force pushing through like a seed breaking soil, cycling back toward summer's fullness.
Fullness to emptiness to fullness again, this is the process. When we can embrace it, we find peace.
But we've been taught to resist this. We think something's wrong when we feel down. Why can't I feel good, happy, full, and up all the time?
Because we live in seasons. And each one transforms us, our souls, our hearts, our most meaningful selves, in exactly the way we need.
Summer is for being full. Fall prepares us for reflection and release. Winter asks us to go deep and restore our reserves. Spring invites us to rise. Then we do it all again.
I've learned to treat the winter of my menstrual cycle not as laziness or lack of ambition, but as a moment to honor rest. When I allow myself that pause, I replenish my energy. I rise more connected to myself.
As women, we haven't been taught that our menstrual cycles fit into these seasons. So we find ways to stifle our menses, cutting ourselves off from the deep wisdom that comes from listening. Our bodies know what to do, but how can we access that intelligence when we're constantly overriding it? When we're pushing through exhaustion with coffee and matcha and sheer willpower instead of pausing and listening?
Your body is intelligent. Deeply so.
It's never too late to acknowledge the season you're in and embrace the current moment that will birth the next. That's what we do as women. We cycle. We create. We know how to move through seasons.
Trust the process. Trust your body. Trust the season.
