The Importance of Seasons

Good morning, everyone!

Time seems just to be flying these last few months and I truly can’t believe that we will celebrate Christmas soon. If Orchard Road and all the Singapore malls and shops wouldn’t remind me of it with their lights, decoration, songs, food and presents, I probably would ignore it all together this year.

I feel more in action-mood than reflection mood recently and Christmas seems like a force-fitted break to me. This is funny though, since I always enjoyed the pre-christmas time with its warm & spirit-filled events and rituals. Maybe one of the reasons is that even after 6 years in Singapore, I do miss the distinct differences of the year’s seasons – autumn, winter, spring and summer. In Germany for instance, each season brings different habits, foods, activities and clothes into our life. In Singapore, the seasonal changes are subtle and are mostly to be observed in whether changes (e.g. like now with more rain, a bit colder) and shop displays. I often wonder if people in Singapore never miss nature’s seasons as a catalyst for personal change and shifts. And if they do miss it, what do they do about it?

I personally do have a strong desire to have my internal seasons in tune with the outside world. It doesn’t feel natural to me if Christmas is about drive & actions and summer about contemplation and silence.

Let’s have a look in more detail what each season stands for and how this is related to personal shifts:

Autumn – Sensing Changes
• Knowing and acknowledging that changes are in the air
• Preparing for a safe refuge where you get ready for the developments ahead
• Staying open & worry-free and securing networks and support

Early Winter – Retreating and Reflecting
• Allowing yourself to feel tired, confused and unhappy
• Creating quiet time, turning inwards
• Reflecting on where we are, what we want and our ideals
• Time for renewing yourself

Winter – Hoping in the darkness
• Being in the dark, waiting for insights to emerge
• Turning things upside down and looking at life from different perspectives
• Deciding on things that are enough – drawing lines in the sand
• Finding a new story about our past and testing new doors to the future

Late Winter - Defining the Vision
• Following the Insights wherever they take you
• Clearing spaces – physically, mentally and emotionally
• Creating a plan for the future

Spring – Growing
• Giving birth to the plans and the new you
• Planting the right seeds
• Bursting with energy and momentum
• Trusting one’s own timing

Summer – Celebrate your Harvest
• Being clear, confident and living abundantly
• Allowing the new fruits in your life to ripen at its own time
• Celebrating success, playing and enjoying

Reflecting on my own situation at the moment, I feel I am more in the season of spring rather than winter. Yet, there are elements from Winter and Late Winter which I would like to explore more fully – in particular:

• Finding a new story about our past and testing new doors to the future (W)
• Clearing spaces – physically, mentally and emotionally (Late W)

To do this I decided to take a break from my usual Christmas Holiday in Germany(and over-eating) and attend a 10-day Fasting & Detox Retreat in Thailand (alone!). It comes with a spiritual counseling centre, meditation and yoga activities and I can’t wait to make more space for my visions and plans to take root and blossom in a more refined ME.

Just like the seasons in nature, you too may experience your life and the changes in it just like the seasons. Perhaps you are experiencing different seasons in relation to various aspects of your life at this time. What season of the year are you in? And what can you do to leverage the natural qualities of this time for your personal growth?

Love & Blessings,
Vanessa