Our Inner Seasons
The seasonal cycles and the elements which build them are the foundations of nearly everything I understand and practice as an herbalist, astrologer, mother, and human on this earth. In childhood, I began to observe the solstices, equinoxes, and the qualities of energy patterns across time. My article series in Pathways to Family Wellness Magazine in 2025 goes deeper into describing the various ways we can live seasonally within our personal and family lives, which is foundational in how I have raised my own children. Today I want to touch on the seasons as we experience them inwardly, which is always complex and layered.
ELEMENTS OF HEALTH
When it comes to our bodies and wellness, the elements and seasons have traditionally played a significant role. Ayurveda, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and Western Vitalism are just some examples of the world’s oldest healing systems which each have their own nuanced frameworks for understanding the inner seasons we are working with from an energetics perspective.
For example, your Ayurvedic dosha can tell you about which combination of elements your body is predominantly comprised of (and this can usually be seen in a natal chart as well). If your constitution is high in Pitta dosha, you are going to notice summer and fire element characteristics, such as being prone to skin rashes, a strong appetite, or impatience.
In Western herbalism, we look at tissue states, such as dry/atrophy or heat/excitation in order to hone in on which energetic patterns we are working with in the body. Plants are recognized as warming or cooling, dampening or drying, astringent or relaxant, which are more ways of describing the elemental patterns of energy.
Most people do not realize that astrology is rooted in seasonal cycles and the elements, and was once a commonplace tool in medicine. So much more than personality tests or fortune telling, astrology is a whole language of life and energy.
Without the elements and seasons as building blocks, there would be no understanding any of the traditional healing arts. We even use elemental language to describe human traits when we describe someone as “hot-headed,” or having a “dry sense of humor.”
THE FEMALE MOON CYCLE
One of the most undeniable ways we can observe the inner seasons is through a holistic understanding of the female fertility cycle. Females from adolescence to menopause generally experience all four seasons in their bodies every single month. Sadly, most women are not taught about this and many go into adulthood completely disconnected from their own bodies’ rhythms. By understanding how these inner seasons work, women can have more harmonious relationships with their own bodies, and even husbands and fathers can feel more empowered in relationship to the women in their lives. Please note that I have deep understanding and sensitivity to the fact that, for various reasons and times of life, there are personal nuances and exceptions to this generalized example.
Note: The summary of this cycle below is describing what the female body is doing internally every month. That means she might be in her winter/new moon phase even when it is July and there is a full moon outside (but that’s another big topic).
Spring - Follicular Phase - Waxing Moon
I always greatly look forward to the follicular phase, as the sudden upswing in energy and mood can be quite enjoyable after the hibernation of winter. Suddenly, there is energy to be productive, to be more social, to move faster and accomplish things. This is a great time to plan high energy activities, socialize, and make moves toward goals. Personally, I can better handle a busy schedule during this phase.
Summer - Ovulation Phase - Full Moon
Ah, yes. Fertility. Like the summer solstice, the high energy peaks at this time, and many physical changes can be noted as well. This is when skin tends to glow and confidence is highest. Creative projects and extroverted activities are strongly supported during this time. Shine like the sun! Fertile energy does not mean you have to create a baby, but why not use that abundant energy to create something or express yourself?
Autumn - Luteal Phase - Waning moon
I swear I can feel the moment that my body switches gears into luteal phase. It is a markedly different energy than ovulation. Many women notice a drop in energy, a need for more solitude and comfort. I think of it like when the autumn time rolls around and we suddenly want to cozy up in a blanket with a cup of soup. Modern life and cultural disconnection from our natural rhythms tend to make this phase particularly challenging (for women and those who live with them) when it goes unrecognized and unsupported.
Maybe you have heard of luteal phase rage or PMS. Legitimate imbalances in nutrition, hormones, or relationships aside, of course a woman is going to feel irritable if this is the season they are experiencing internally and the world demands they keep acting like it’s spring! Have high energy when you need rest? Be extroverted when all you crave is peace and quiet? Is irritability in response to that really pathology or is it just instinct? Needing to withdraw from social interactions and rest more is normal and aligned with this part of the cycle in which the energy is waning and turning inward.
One of the most radical things we can do is honor this phase (for ourselves, our partners, our daughters, friends….) and the changing needs as we move into the next phase. I personally try to avoid planning too many social interactions during the luteal phase. I stay more balanced and happy when I have increased time to myself, less small talk, more time for reflection. And I usually have one large burst of energy left to move before settling into it, so a really good hike or workout early in this phase usually satisfies.
Winter - Menstrual Phase - New Moon
And that leads us into winter, a time of rest, nourishment, and inward reflection. Many of my best insights and ideas come to me during this phase as I “hibernate.” I know I won’t have the energy to put those ideas into action yet, so I spend this time mulling things over and preparing the metaphorical soil. In 1-2 weeks, I will be tending those seedlings. In the mean time, grounding practices and nourishment are beneficial here. I love a good stew in winter and try to keep my schedule as undemanding as possible during this time so I can enjoy being home. This is a great time for someone else to do some of the cooking, if possible.
Can you believe that some of us experience all of that every month, no matter what season it is outside? Of course, I can’t emphasize enough how uniquely each person experiences these inner seasons, so it really pays to get to know our own bodies. Energy cycles are complex and interwoven in layers. The female reproductive cycle is governed by the moon (monthly), while the male reproductive cycle is governed by the sun (daily). The sun and moon are the masculine and feminine polarities that we all experience in different degrees. It helps to avoid forcing lunar matters on solar time, or vice versa, which is why I think the world would be a better place if more people knew these things. In a balanced way, without becoming rigid about it, we can tune into those inner seasons and adapt some areas of our lives to better meet them in a way that serves us.
When it comes to our own engagement with life, with our bodies, and how we approach wellness, I think it is worth asking ourselves:
Does this support my body’s vital nature or disconnect from it?
Does this help me feel more connected to life or at the mercy of it?
Do I recognize nature in me?
Do I recognize myself in the seasons?
What is my relationship with fire? With earth? With air? With water?
Embracing our place within the earthly and cosmic cycles is extremely simple. Our ancestors did it without giving it fancy names or being told to do it. It was just life. But just because seasonal attunement is simple, does not mean its value should be underestimated. This practice profoundly shifted my understanding of everything, the lens I see life from, the way I move on the earth, and my relationship with myself. When we live seasonally, we live with the flow of life itself, and life supports us. That knowing alone can be profoundly healing.
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✧ Erin
