We need nothing more than a simple shift in season to confirm that change is a constant in our world. As we cycle through the four seasons, it isn’t just the weather that changes, our diets evolve with seasonal availability of some foods, and we may choose to hibernate more indoors during fall and winter, or frolic out into the open air more often in spring and summer. In the context of healing, the seasons can remind us to accept change as a constant and see our healing process as a process of unfolding, happening in stages. In fact everything in our lives can be linked to this sort of seasonal change. You can be in one phase in one area & different phase in another. For instance, we may be in a winter season in our relationships, but in our career or professional life be going through spring and reaping the benefits of hard work we’ve put in over time.
Did you know the seasons also correspond to personality traits? Yep, just like horoscopes tell us a great deal about possible personality quirks, humans have character traits, emotions, and virtues linked with seasons and the elements. Below is a little more insight into what qualities correspond with each season. The five seasons include: winter, spring, summer, late summer, & autumn. Why is it useful to understand this and ruminate on how we align personally with the seasons? Just by understanding this concept it can help us to better relate with people and environments wherever they are on the spectrum. Fall is upon us soon, so it’s a wonderful time to take stock of what you can prune or release from your life to prepare for what’s next. Take a moment to reflect on what season you are in personally, professionally, and spiritually. Journal about any insights you receive from looking at your life from this lens. –Xo Raw Girl
(FYI: Interpretation I used breaks into 5 seasons adding “late summer”).
- Winter: Water
- Spring: Wood
- Summer: Fire
- Late summer: Earth
- Fall: Metal
WINTER – human traits include: charming, sensitive, compassionate, flexible, intuitive, persuasive, fluid, intelligent. Emotions: fear, virtue, will.
SPRING – quickened pace of life; rapid growth; new life from past seeds. Personality traits – generous, confident, explorative, persuasive, busy, loyal. Emotions: anger, virtue, benevolence.
SUMMER – growth of spring matures, spontaneous bursts of energy. Personality traits: love, adventure, excitement, competitive, hypersensitive, extroverted. Emotions: joy, virtue, propriety, decency.
LATE SUMMER – transition between summer & fall; a moment to take pause or reflect. Personality traits: steady, patient, reliability, logical, methodical, good planners, disciplined. Emotions: sympathy, virtue, faithfulness.
AUTUMN – nature moves inward; pruning necessary for new life to come; it’s a season of letting go. Personality traits: tenacious, self reliant, reserved, orderly, clean, balanced, solitude. Emotions: grief, virtue, righteousness.