Kindling the Native Spirit: Sacred Practices for Everyday Life - Denise Linn 2015

The Call of the Cycle of the Seasons
The Call: Remembering Who You Are

My mother used to say that it was important to be cold in the winter and hot in the summer. Hence, we had very little heat in the winter, even when the snow was deep. And we never had air-conditioning and rarely had fans in the summer. She said it was Cherokee wisdom to feel the seasons; it would keep us healthy. I don’t know that this is true, but my brothers and sister and I were healthier than most kids.

Our native ancestors respected the cycle of the seasons; it was the great medicine wheel of life, and it was essential for their survival. However, in Western culture we spend so much time indoors that we’ve lost our connection to nature’s ebb and flow and to the vital energy it can bring into our lives. The cycle of the year contains times that are better suited for busy activity and other times that are better for withdrawing. As with the four directions, each of the seasons has its own energy: birth, expansion, cultivation, and renewal.

Consider making seasonal altars. An altar doesn’t need to be religious. It can simply be a place to honor what is sacred in life. For example, to create a spring altar, you can place spring flowers and seeds (to represent the springtime and new beginnings) on a shelf, a nightstand, a coffee table, or a window ledge. Various fruits and grains can be placed on a seasonal altar to represent summertime. You might also consider creating ceremonies to welcome the spirit of each season. When you place autumn leaves and small gourds on your seasonal altar, for instance, you can do it with prayers for bountiful harvests in life. As you take the time to honor the cycle of the seasons, you’ll find that your life becomes more harmonious. Here are some things you can do to live in balance with the seasons:

· Spring: Earth-based cultures planted seeds in the spring, and just as seeds germinate and sprout in the spring, this is the best time to start a new project or break free of an old limiting pattern. The energy of spring can give you the boost you need for your projects. This is also a great time to clear out the old: spring-cleaning and clutter clearing are beneficial in this season.

· Summer: Traditionally summer was the time of activity and working hard. The seeds that had been planted in the spring grew to be plants that needed to be cultivated, pruned, and weeded. It was also the time of celebrations and festive gatherings. In your life, summer is the time to be active. Expand. Take risks. Play. Celebrate. Weed out what you don’t need in life. The energy that you put out now will bring bounty in the future.

· Autumn: In earlier times, this was the period of the harvest and for gathering food supplies in preparation for the winter. It’s an excellent time to finish projects because the psyche recognizes autumn as the season for completion. It’s also the occasion for harvesting, so this is a good time to organize your storeroom, throw away foodstuffs that are out of date, and replace them with new ones.

· Winter: In native traditions, this season was the time to repair tools, clothing, and household belongings. It was also the time to share stories and myths around the communal fire and to rest and renew oneself. In the winter, whenever possible, relax and put your feet up. Get more sleep. Repair things that need fixing. Evaluate your life. Begin to make plans for the future.

When you answer the call of the seasons and begin to live more in alignment with the cycle of the seasons, relaxation and inner peace start to grow.