Blog Archives - Journey with the Seasons

The returning light...

3/21/2016

The days are now officially longer than the nights as we passed the Spring Equinox yesterday, and as our planet tilts more towards the sun this new energetic cycle begins and Spring miracles begin to happen. On the Five element cycle, Wood the element that shows itself most in the Springtime, sits between the Water element of Winter, and the Fire element of the Summer which is also represented by the energy of the sun.
As we see Spring emmerging we can see the impact of these two elements on the growth and creativity of Spring. Water nourishes the Wood through it's fortitude and continual energy creating dynamism and purposeful growth, whereas Fire nourishes the Wood through it's softer heat and light drawing the creative energy of Wood towards itself where it will reach maturity during the Summer months.
This combination of water and light are the ingredients of life, so for us as humans this means we can let our Winter dreams inspire us and help us set a clear vision for growth and expansion this Spring while letting the passion and energy of Fire help keep us going right through to the Harvest of Late Summer.
Enjoy the longer days and the Spring feeling, time to make a plan! ...lots of love Carol xx

Spring Equinox...

3/21/2016

Happy Spring Equinox everyone with love Carol and Sarah-Jayne xx

Water feeds wood...

3/21/2016

In the five element cycle the water element (vitality, resilience, dreams, spark and ruler of winter) feeds the wood element (planning, pace, ideas, growth and ruler of spring). We are mainly in spring now and I can feel the push of both the vegetable seedlings and my new projects calling me to action. BUT today the wind is cold and the sun is not out. Having done a morning of wood .. Planning, visioning, setting course dates, I am now back in the water element...the need to have a snooze, to go gentley, to sit by the fire and tend my energy reserves. Then later....well perhaps if i get to really really recharge I'll get out and continue with the veg bed. I hope you get to enjoy the dance between the seasons this weekend! Love Sarah-Jayne xx

Spring thoughts...

3/21/2016

Having a wonderful time here at Journey with the Seasons HQ getting into the spring vibe. Our website now has its spring green colours and we have just written up our wood element explorations as the basis for our work over the next 4 months. All very exciting!

Green is the colour of hope...

3/17/2016

Spring always feels such a hopeful time, it is a time of rebirth, new beginnings and making a new plan for the year ahead, there is even an acupuncture point on the Liver meridian called 'Gate of hope' which is used to mark new beginnings.
This feels the time to make resolutions (as opposed to New Year and the Gregorian calandar), this is the start of the energetic year, the sap is rising and it feels like there is a real impetus for change. In the Five Elements this is the time of the Wood element, represented by the plant world and so the lovely colour green.
So a playful thought for today; how do you feel about the colour green, do you love it or hate it? An extreme in either direction may tell you how balanced your Wood element is :) have a lovely day and enjoy exploring the 'greeness' in your life, lots of love Carol x

march newsletter

3/16/2016

March's 'Winter to Spring and back again' themed newsletter is now out.
In this newsletter we share what we are 'up to' plus some seasonal nutrition and energy tips to get through this transition time between seasons. click below to get it.
http://eepurl.com/bT8lP1
Not getting the newsletter yet? Make sure you have signed up on our website (www.journeywiththeseasons.com) and you'll also get your free 'Journal with the Seasons' sent to you too!

March 16th, 2016

3/16/2016

As we move from the deep 'underground' Winter to 'on the surface' Spring it is easy to forget that there is an inbetween stage. This is the time when the sap is rising and there is plenty of growth happening but it is all underground; this is the time when the Water element meets the Wood element in the Five Element cycle to create the foundations, the roots, for growth for the year ahead.
In ourselves it can be easy to get over excited by a bit of sun (that's me 0/* folks) and go racing forwards too fast without spending time getting the proper roots in place which will ensure success come the harvest time. So it's all in the preparation, take your time and let the roots of what you want to achieve settle and establish themselves before you shout your plans from the roof tops.
Wishing you a glorious day for setting down roots, with love Carol xx

buds!

3/16/2016

First thing I made a video for our Seasonal Goddess Circle Facebook group and it was lovely to look at the garden in more detail for a few minutes. So many buds waiting for the right moment to pop and express themselves and it made me realise that this is the same as our dreams from the Winter becoming ideas in the early Spring. So what ideas are you working on? Hope the weather is as glorious with you as it is here in Devon, lots of love Carol xx

Preparation is everything

3/16/2016

It is feeling like Spring now and it was absolutely glorious here in Devon this weekend; it was wonderful to be outside enjoying my garden, working and relaxing. One of our teachers tells us that preparation is everything, that this is the main work, once this is done everything can flow easily and with minimum effort. This weekend in the garden was all about preparing for planting; compost and manure was dug into the soil, planting tables put into the polytunnel and the next years compost turned and straw was added before being put back in the bin, I love the rhythm that comes with gardening and the seasons.
So as we start to think about planting, literally and metaphorically, how is your preparation going? Do you know what you want to grow in your life this year, and are there some some things you can start to put into place to make things a bit easier?
It's going to be another glorious day here, hope it is where you are, with lots of love Carol x

Seasonal GOddess Facebook group

3/16/2016

***EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT***
It was the new moon early yesterday morning, a fabulous time for setting new intentions and starting new ventures so what better time to launch our new Facebook group 'Seasonal Goddess Circle' ...like our face-to-face circles we will journey with the seasons exploring different aspects of each of the Five Elements in Chinese medicine and reflecting how how we feel and see these aspects in ourselves. We will also follow the moon cycle, which as women, mark out the year so tenderly for us.
Our dream is for a nurturing, soft and gentle online space for women to gather and support each other. Hop on over if you fancy joining in and bear with us as we get up and running :) ...it is still Winter after all ;) with love Sarah-Jayne and Carol xx