The Wheel of the Year
The wheel of the Year is a seasonal calendar consisting of eight festivals that honour and celebrate the seasonal shifts in the natural world. Following the Wheel of the Year has lead me onto a path of deep reverence and connection to the earth, to the natural world & to my myself.
The Wheel of the Year
The Wheel of The Year is a cyclical calendar which consists of eight festivals marking seasonal changes throughout the year. The eight festivals consist of:
Samhain – (Halloween); Yule – (Winter Solstice); Imbolc – (early February);Ostara – (Spring Equinox); Beltane – (May Day); Litha – (Summer Solstice); Lughnasadh – (early August harvest festival); Mabon – (Autumn equinox).
Celebrating each festival can include activities such as lighting a fire, sharing food with family & friends, crafting & creating with seasonal flowers, foliage and herbs, spending time in nature, observing what’s happening in the natural world, lighting a candle, reflecting, practicing gratitude and setting intentions.
Moments of Awe
Following The Wheel of the Year highlights the importance of awe-inspiring moments in our lives that should not be underestimated. Those special moments that make us feel alive, when we marvel over what we have just witnessed are essential to our wellbeing. They usually feel magical, amazing or thrilling. Sometimes we can’t even put into words how they make us feel but often they bring about a feeling of connection to humanity and the earth, they make us feel part of something greater and fill us with gratitude. There are the extraordinary once-in-a-lifetime moments like seeing the Northern lights. If we are lucky, there are the once-every-so-often moments – standing on the summit of a mountain or a tropical beach. Then there are the everyday moments – watching the sunset over a beautiful landscape, gazing up at the stars in the night sky or listening to the dawn chorus.
Spirituality
Following The Wheel of the Year is often a spiritual path. It’s a very personal and individual path and everyone will express their spirituality differently but all followers of The Wheel will usually have an affinity with the natural world. Spirituality, for me, is about perspective, purpose, peace, meaning and growth. It’s feeling inexorably connected to and part of something greater – nature and the natural world. The ways I express my spirituality include; meditation, mindfulness and manifestation. Meditation can be as simple as sitting quietly in my garden with my eyes closed, listening to birdsong. Mindfulness is watching a bumblebee buzz from flower to flower and only focusing on the bee in that present moment. Manifestation, for me, is about intention and positive action. It’s not about making a wish, sitting back, doing nothing and hoping it comes true. It’s about discovering yourself and your own capabilities to make things happen and carve out the life you want. All of these things are very simple but done consistently have very powerful and positive effects.
Conservation
The connection and affinity that followers of The Wheel have with nature inevitably drives a strong desire to conserve and protect it as much as possible. Supporting and caring for flora and fauna through eco-friendly practices such as wildlife-friendly gardening, citizen science, supporting wildlife charities and respecting the natural world all help to conserve and protect nature. It is also really important, for me personally, to raise awareness about conservation. I have a particular connection and passion for raising awareness about protecting pollinators.
Nature Bathing
You’ve probably already heard of forest bathing but I like to use the term nature bathing or nature healing and this is something that followers of The Wheel often partake in. Being in any natural world environment whether it’s a forest, a lake, a mountain or a beach can improve mental and physical health but forests in particular are amazing for our health. Studies have shown that plants and trees release chemicals called phytoncides which strengthen our immune, circulatory, hormonal and nervous system. It doesn’t really matter where or what type of environment it is as long as it’s outdoors and natural. It provides time for solace, to slow down, relax, breath deeply and use your senses to really just be and feel.
Wildcrafting
Wildcrafting is a wonderful way to be creative and express yourself through nature, and following The Wheel of the Year often provides opportunity to do this. There are so many different ways that nature can help us to express our creative side, whether it’s photography, gardening, drawing, painting, crafts, floristry, woodwork, cooking, poetry, singing or sewing the list is endless but nature is a powerful source of inspiration for creative expression. I have a particular connection to nature photography & crafting with flowers, foliage & herbs of the season.
Herbs & Plants
Herbs & plants are so beneficial in so many ways for all of nature including us. Many have both nutritional and medicinal properties as well as providing nectar and food for wildlife. For me personally; learning, growing, propagating and using herbs and plants is intrinsic to following The Wheel of the Year.
Sustainability
The environment and being sustainable is usually a very important part of following The Wheel of the Year. Many followers are environmentalists; concerned with being as environmentally friendly as possible. That doesn’t mean being perfectly eco-friendly in every aspect of life; it means trying your best to do what you can, where you can. Even small changes like growing some of your own food, composting and reducing plastic use can all help to keep balance and harmony on earth.
Observe & Study
Studying nature is a huge part of following The Wheel of the Year, for me. Learning through observation, reading, discussing, listening and documenting all help to build up an understanding and knowledge of the natural world.