Living Seasonally: A Midlife Invitation

Living with the seasons is the most natural way of living there is. Our ancestors knew it instinctively—it was in their bones, their rhythms, their communities. Animals and plants still remember. And deep down, so do we.

But in our modern, busy world, we’ve slipped out of step. We race against the clock, ignore our natural need for rest, and wonder why we feel anxious, scattered, or disconnected.

My own journey toward becoming well-seasoned began in the swirl of my midlife passage. I was tired of pushing against the grain of life, so I started paying attention to the seasonal cues around me. Slowly, I began to re-sync with Mama Nature. That’s when I noticed: this wasn’t just a quaint practice—it was a lifeline.

Seasonal living isn’t about doing more. It’s about aligning with what already is—the energy of the earth, the tilt of the sun, the shifts in our own bodies and souls.

The benefits are profound:

✨ A steadier mind and spirit
✨ Feeling grounded and present in your own skin
✨ A deeper connection to the world (and your people)
✨ A gentler rhythm of efforting and resting
✨ More daily doses of beauty, wonder, and curiosity
✨ A trust in the unfolding of life as timely and good
✨ Living more in sync with what matters most to you

And here’s the deeper truth:
Living seasonally supports women, especially in midlife and beyond, with their spiritual work. It reminds us to fully savor the many moments and seasons of joy that we once withheld from ourselves—because we thought we hadn’t “earned” them yet, or feared that delight was dangerous, or treated enjoyment as dessert instead of as part of the meal of life.

Seasonal practice reclaims joy as essential. It teaches us that life is not waiting to be enjoyed until everything is perfect—it’s meant to be savored along the way.

It also helps us navigate change with more grace. By watching the earth’s constant turning, we remember that change is always happening. We can be both strategic and intentional in how we respond—and at the same time surrender to the bigger mystery that not everything is ours to control.

In short: seasonal living brings us home to ourselves, body and soul.

What is Seasonal Living?

Simply put, it means adjusting how you live—just a little—with each season of the year.

It means letting spring invite you to grow, letting summer energize you, letting autumn help you release, and letting winter restore you.

It means noticing the small things—the birds building nests, the blaze of fall leaves, the hush of snow.

It means shifting your daily tasks and priorities in response to the changing world outside your window.

It means remembering that, like every plant and animal, you are designed to change with the seasons too.

4 Practices for Living Seasonally

1. Sync and Spend Time with Mama Nature

The simplest (and most powerful) way to live seasonally is to step outside and notice.

What are the trees doing right now?
How much daylight is there?
What are the birds, animals, and plants up to?
What does the air feel like on your skin?

These small questions re-orient you to the world. And the more you notice, the more your body begins to remember its own natural rhythm.

But it’s not just about looking—it’s about being. The longer you spend outside, the more your body absorbs what your mind may not even register: shifts in temperature, the slant of sunlight, the subtle sounds of each season.

Even 15–30 minutes a day can change everything. Sunrise and sunset are especially potent times to connect with the earth’s rhythm. Think of it as a daily conversation with Mama Nature—one where she reminds you that you belong to something bigger, and your life becomes more grounded, spacious, and well-seasoned.

2. Bring Mama Nature Inside

Bring the outside world into your home and your body.

🌿 In your home: fresh flowers in spring, pine wreaths in winter, seashells on a summer table, gourds on a fall mantel. Little touches remind you that you belong to a bigger rhythm.

🥕 In your body: eat as close to the seasons as you can. Choose foods that are fresh, local, and thriving in the current season. This isn’t just about nutrition—it’s about reconnecting your body to the same cycles that nourish every living thing.

3. Create Seasonal Rituals & Routines

Mark the seasonal thresholds—solstices, equinoxes, and mid-season festivals. Add them to your calendar. Let them serve as gentle reminders to pause, reset, and ask:

• How do I want to show up in this season?

• What is Mama Nature teaching me right now?

• What small intention could align me more deeply with nature’s wisdom?

Seasonal rituals don’t have to be elaborate. A candle lit at dusk, a few words whispered on the equinox, or a walk where you name what you’re releasing—all of these tether your inner world to the earth’s turning.

4. Lean into the Feminine Seasonal Archetypes

Archetypes are one of my favorite tools for seasonal living. They help us listen to both the world around us and the wisdom within us.

Each season carries a feminine archetype with her own invitation:

🌱 The Maiden (Spring): “Try something new, feel life’s buzz, bloom with curiosity and delight.”
☀️ The Mother (Summer): “Invest your energy where it matters most. Nurture, connect, create.”
🍂 The Matriarch-Queen (Autumn): “Release what drains you. Celebrate what you’ve built. Step back/step up with wisdom.”
❄️ The Crone (Winter): “Tend to what is essential. Rest, restore, and transform at the roots.”

These archetypes are like friendly guides, reminding us of the sacredness of each phase—whether in the year, or in our own lives.

Becoming a Well-Seasoned Woman

Seasonal living isn’t a checklist—it’s a daily practice. It’s about syncing your inner rhythm with the outer world, so that you’re not constantly pushing against the current of life.

Midlife is a beautiful time to begin. Not to get it “right,” but to allow seasonal practice to anchor you as you navigate the changes of your body, your relationships, and your dreams.

Because when you live seasonally, you remember: you’re not behind, you’re not broken—you’re simply in your season.

And every season has its purpose.

✨ Pull up your chair, dear one. Let’s walk through these seasons together—and discover what it means to become well-seasoned.