NATURE’S CALENDAR | How to Be In Sync With the Seasons for Better Health and Success
In this video and article, I invite you to be in sync with the seasons, and I explain why January is a great time to retreat, rest, contemplate, learn, meditate, do therapy to release ‘stuff’ that no longer serves us, and set intentions for the coming year. However! Because January isn't the beginning of 'nature's new year', then you also want to engage this month with the right mindset and intent - for better health and success.
During January, we can often put a lot of pressure on ourself to get super active - creating new things in our life. The common slogan ‘New Year New You’ is thrown around a lot and we can feel obligated (guilt-tripped?) into immediately working to get our goals. However, this time of year - if you’re in the Northern Hemisphere - may not be the best time for you to be so active and busy doing so much. Here's why…
Today we follow the Gregorian calendar, including 12 months of either 30 or 31 days (apart from February). However, before the calendar was changed, there were originally 13 months of 28 days - plus one day representing renewal / resurrection.
This explains why the month names don’t reflect the time of year.. if you remember Latin from your school days. September = Seven (not nine), October = Eight (not ten), November = Nine (not eleven), and December = Ten (not twelve). And if you’re curious, the ‘13th month’ that was ‘lost’ was called Sextilis - and it was the sixth month of the year.
Each ‘month’ (derived from the word ‘moonth’) would reflect the 28 day cycle of the moon. The 28 days month also reflected the ocean tides and female menstrual cycle. In my opinion, when there were 13 months of 28 days, we were more ‘aligned with natural time’. And since the change, we have been out of sync with nature and the natural order and flow of life.
So when was the 'New Year'? Before the calendar was changed, our yearly calendar would start in April. The word ‘April’ comes from the Latin word 'Aprio' - which means 'to open'. To me, again, this makes more sense, especially because it aligns us with Nature's Calendar…
Natures Calendar
Spring - A time for starting new projects, sewing seeds, having new ideas. It is the time to act, take risks and pursue opportunities.
Summer - Due to the sun being at its highest above us and casting the shortest shadow of the year, the summer is a time for 'no hiding'. Summer is a time of light, joy, expression and wholehearted action. To me, it's again a sign that we’ve been out of sync with the seasons; that society encourages us to stop and go on holiday - when it's time for action.
Autumn - A time for reaping the rewards of your efforts, for counting your blessings (and possible failures) and accepting and being grateful for the fruits of our labour.
Winter - A time when activity gives way to dormancy, and when life becomes more still and we retreat inward - physically and spiritually. Winter is therefore a great time to rest, reflect, to contemplate, meditate, gain clarity and to plan, prepare and learn.
A Healthier Rhythm
We were never meant to always be active and continuously ‘doing and going’ - all year round. Similar to nature and the seasons, we are designed to have periods of ‘hibernation’, stagnation and rest. Times to slow down and times to speed up. Times to be still and times to move, be active, grow and create.
It is no wonder why so many people [on the hamster wheel of society’s non-stop schedule] are dealing with chronic fatigue, burnout, aches and pains, colds and flus, and are aging so fast.
The common mind-body connection causes of colds, for example, is ‘over-working’ and ‘relentless non-stop living’. Whereas, the common causes of viruses include: ‘running on empty’. ‘finding it hard to carry responsibilities’, and ‘wanting to get away from it all’. If you’ve had a cold or flu recently, can you relate to these mind-body connection causes?
It’s clear that the common thread with these causes is NOT STOPPING! The body needs time to rest, recharge, repair and recuperate. If we don’t stop, then the body will force us to step away from the rat-race - for a while - as the body still runs to nature’s rhythm.
Or if you are constantly tired or experiencing burnout, again, I invite you to consider if you’ve been on-the-go (physically and/or mentally) for far too long, without genuine rest? By remembering, and aligning with, the natural seasons and cycles of life, we can help our health - in many beneficial ways.
If you want to explore the mind-body connection causes of any chronic health condition(s), I’m currently offering 40% Off my Mind-Body Connection course.
This time of year is a great time to release anything that isn’t serving you - in your mind, body or life - and so I’m also offer 40% Off my One-to-One Sessions too!
But Sandy, I can’t just stop. I have responsibilities, bills to pay, and I have to go to work.
Yes, this may be the case. It may not be possible for you to ‘take the winter off’. However, I’m not saying you do nothing! Along with using this time to learn, meditate, plan and get ready, you can aim to inwardly ‘slow down’ - as you engage external activity. You can also be mindful of not letting yourself by swayed, bullied or shamed into being super busy during the winter months. Instead, I am suggesting the optimal mindset and intent…
Reflect & Set Intentions
So, how does this all impact your ‘New Year’ and how you may choose to engage this time of year? Firstly, I invite you to let yourself off the hook and give yourself more rest - especially if you aren’t currently feeling massively motivated to get busy doing and creating new things - at this time.
Be gentle on yourself and follow what feels right, for you.
January is an ideal ‘moonth’ to reflect, plan and set intentions for the coming new year, and so here’s some of my favourite questions to ask:
What would you like to gain and let go of most in the coming year?
What would you like to be your biggest triumph in the coming year?
What advice would you like to give yourself for the coming year?
What would you be most happy about completing in the coming year?
What major indulgence are you willing to experience in the coming year?
What are you looking forward to learning - to prepare for the coming year?
What do you think your biggest risk will be in the coming year?
What beliefs, habits or situations are you holding onto - that is holding you back?
What about your work are you most committed to changing and improving?
What is one as yet undeveloped talent you are willing to explore?
What brings you the most joy and how are you going to do or have more of that?
Who or what, other than yourself, are you most committed to loving and serving?
What one word would you like to have as your theme for the coming year?
A Great Time To Retreat
And finally, as winter is also a great time to retreat and meditate, I’m hosting a meditation retreat this January! I warmly invite you to attend my ‘Heal Thyself’ Soul Calm Meditation Retreat. It’s online and by donation. During the retreat you will learn how to deepen your spiritual strength and resilience (which is going to be very useful in the coming year!), access healing and empowering states of being, and learn my ‘Heal Thyself’ meditation - for more peace, hope, and freedom. Register now for this perfectly-timed retreat!
About the Author
Sandy C. Newbigging is a trauma-aware therapeutic coach, meditation teacher, author and award-winning coach trainer. For twenty years, his research, clinical work and academy courses have been dedicated to uncovering and curing the unconscious causes of mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and life issues.
Sandy specialises in releasing past traumas, understanding and harnessing the mind-body connection, improving mindset, and gaining an optimal relationship with life. To work with him, check out his One:One Sessions, Calm Clan Membership and Academy. Sandy recently won the FHT ‘Tutor of the Year’ award!
