Creating Rituals to Celebrate a New Season
Every season has a unique energy. Some parts of the world experience it more than others. Here in Australia, the change is mild. But it still offers the opportunity to welcome the new chapter with rituals, encouraging us to slow down and enjoy the seasonal shift.
To celebrate the seasons is to join the natural flow of life. The daylight hours change. The air changes. Many of us might even feel a change in our mood and energy. In summer, we feel energised, spending more time outside in nature. In winter, we often turn inwards, spending more time inside our homes and tuning in to ourselves.
Rituals to celebrate autumn
In autumn, the air begins to cool and feels crisp in the mornings. The sun rises a little later. The days grow darker earlier. Plants lose their leaves and flower blooming slows. We welcome new fruits like apples and pears and vegetables like sweet potato and pumpkin.
Autumn is a time to do a wardrobe rotation - putting away the summery clothes and bringing out sweaters and jackets in preparation for the cool days ahead. It welcomes you into the kitchen to explore new recipes, adding roasted vegetables to salads and baking tarts with fresh apples. It’s the perfect opportunity to seek out a few books to enjoy and begin a nightly ritual of heading to bed a little earlier to read. It can also be a nice time to journal your thoughts and feelings, noticing what is coming up that may inspire you to make positive changes in your life.
Rituals to celebrate winter
In winter, the mornings are dark. Many of us are already making breakfast before the sun begins to rise. The air is cold outside, encouraging us to retreat to our homes. It can be a beautiful time for nurturing ourselves, paying attention to how we feel and honouring what our body needs.
Lighting a fire or candle in the evening can bring a feeling of cosiness into the home. It encourages connection, cuddling with children under a blanket on the couch to read a book or enjoying a novel bundled up on your own. It welcomes comforting food, like warm spiced oats with apples and nuts, risottos, and hearty casseroles or baked dishes. It can also be a great time to complete unfinished projects in the home.
Rituals to celebrate spring
Spring is a time of growth and renewal. The sun gradually rises a little earlier. Trees are beginning to sprout with new leaves. Flowers are starting to bloom. While still a little cool, the air is fresh. We can leave the house in lighter layers.
Spring is a great time to start a morning routine. To rise a little earlier to greet the sun and move your body. It welcomes trips to the markets to explore new fruits and vegetables that thrive in warmer weather. It encourages time in the garden, observing and enjoying new growth. Mid to late spring is a great time to do a wardrobe shift - bringing out your lighter layers, ready for balmy days ahead.
Rituals to celebrate summer
In summer, the days are long and full of sunshine. The air is balmy, encouraging us to enjoy the outdoors and spend time with family and friends. Many of us love to head to the beach or a lake to cool down and enjoy the fresh sea air.
The markets fill with stone fruits. It’s time to enjoy lighter meals since it’s often too hot for cooking in a hot kitchen. Summer welcomes fresh leafy salads and fruits with yoghurt and honey. And simple grazing boards or BBQs enjoyed in the park with good company. It encourages us to greet the sun with exercise outdoors, or heading out for an early morning hike.
Creating rituals brings joy and celebration to each phase of the year. Seasonal shifts remind us that life is constantly changing, encouraging us to flow along with the natural rhythm of life. Seasons encourage us to connect more deeply with life, and enjoy rituals that connect us with those we love.