We tend to live in a ‘youth culture’ that favours perpetual spring and summer and strives to negate/postpone any decline into the autumn of our lives let alone winter (old age). By witnessing and celebrating Natures’ festivals we learn to accept the turning of the seasons and flow with the annual cycle of birth, growth, maturity and death. This cycle as seen in nature is not just an external one - it lives in us too - except that with the advent of ‘modern’ living we have largely over-ridden or forgotten it.

For instance, Winter Solstice marks the mid-point of Winter, the shortest day. Thereafter we can begin to witness the growing of the light (on an internal) as well as external level. When approached in this way, Winter can be a rich time to be still, rest, and reflect on the passing year, to let go of what hasn’t worked, to identify and plan for what we want to grow more of (for ourselves and in our world) during the year ahead. Winter provides us with the opportunity for annual ‘rebirth’.

At Summer Solstice when the sun is at its height we mark the fullness of the summer season (and paradoxically) begin the decline into Autumn. By marking the beginning of Spring at Imbolc we can begin to work with the growing daylight and increasing energy levels to make more happen in our lives. And by marking our personal harvests at Lammas and Autumn Equinox we can then relax into the quieter months of Autumn and Winter with the satisfaction of our achievements.

Celebrating the festivals gives us a structure to our lives, and a connection with the natural world that can support and nurture us deeply.