08/06/2025
~Connect to the Cycle of the Seasons ~
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If you are feeling pulled around by the chaos of the world, and want to feel grounded and a sense of calm, the cycle of the seasons is something that you can tune into.
A big part of connecting to nature is connecting to these cycles. We’re part of a cycle that never ends. And nature, no matter where you are, can be a powerful mental health “resource.”
You might think that this is a normal week, but it marks an important point in the cycle of the year! It’s one that’s not commonly talked about in modern society, though.
In the celtic wheel of the year, August 1 is called Lughnasad; or Lammas in Christianity, which means “loaf mass” for the first loaves of bread to be made with that years’ wheat harvest.
But we don’t have to be part of any particular spiritual tradition to recognize the angle of Earth’s rotation in our revolution around the sun. I’m not, and I still think the 8 points on the wheel can be a great reminder to check in and pay deeper attention to what’s going on in nature around you at that time of year – especially if you might have fallen out of the habit of nature journaling regularly lately. You don’t have to nature journal all the time, so if you only do it sometimes, these are great days/weeks to do it. (I wanted to write something on the day of, but I was too tired, so you can enjoy this now 🙂 You can still get the benefit of tuning into what’s happening seasonally this week, if not that specific day).
Everyone knows about the summer and winter solstices, the spring and autumn equinoxes, and Easter and Halloween. We don’t have any major holidays around August 1 (at least in America, that I know of), but this is another day we can mark. We are now six weeks past the Summer Solstice, and six weeks away from the Autumn Equinox. We are on the exact opposite side of the year from Groundhog Day.
I always love recommending the Season Sketchers Activity by Nature Journaler Angela Hennessy. Here’s her post for Lammas: https://www.angelahennessy.co.uk/wheel-of-the-year-lammas
If it’s summer where you live like it is for me, you might notice that it’s still hot out – but it’s starting to take longer to get light in the morning, and the sunset is coming just a bit earlier.
Where I live, the milkweed pods are developing; the flowers are gone, but the seeds aren’t ready to fly away yet. The crabapples are ripening. Cicadas are singing. Flowers in bloom are abundant. And our summer birds are enjoying the warmth before the earliest fall migrations begin soon.
When you start doing this for multiple years, you develop a stronger sense of what’s going on at this point in the year. It’s a way to connect to both time AND place.
You might take inspiration from this activity in How to Teach Nature Journaling by John Muir Laws (p.60):
“A Sense of Place: Phenology Collection”
“Making a field guide to signs that represent a specific place at a specific time inspires rich observation and interesting discussions. This observation process gives students a sense of place. What objects would represent this habitat, historic location, stretch of coast, or natural area: characteristic trees, landscape views, rocks, animal behaviors, historical features? What would indicate this moment, this day, this season: morning dew, cloud shapes, seasonal plants (in bud, flower, or fruit), leaves turning color, or migratory birds?”
You can also notice what it feels like to be at this season of the year in nature. Do you feel relaxed with the slow, lazy days of summer? Like you could take a nap in the shade on a hot afternoon? Or maybe you feel excited about the abundance of life and the coming harvest season. Or nostalgic, thinking about the summer days of your childhood. Maybe you’re feeling busy with days full of activity, spending time with your own children and wanting to make the most of your family time before they go back to school. If you live in a very hot place, the heat may mean it’s a time of dormancy and rest.
Here you can see my page from this August 1. You don’t have to spend all day to get the benefits of this activity. I set a timer for just 15 minutes to focus on sketching and doodling what I noticed around me.
What will you notice today?
~ Rebecca :) 🌻
