The conventional Western calendar divides the year into four neat seasons, each arriving on a predetermined date. But Mother Nature has never been one to follow the rules humans attempt to place upon her. Nor is she quite so simple.
The first warm afternoon doesn't necessarily mean winter has ended, nor does the arrival of autumn immediately turn the leaves golden. Seasonal changes reveal themselves in endless ways, sometimes so subtly we don't even notice. Blossoms transform into fruit, spiders emerge from their winter hiding places, winds change direction and humidity begins to rise. And while many of us might be accustomed to thinking in terms of spring, summer, autumn and winter, other cultures have developed far more detailed ways of recognising these changes.
Japan's traditional calendar divides the year into 72 micro-seasons, each lasting approximately five days. Originally developed in China and later adapted to Japan's climate, these micro-seasons are named for small changes observed in the natural world: first cherry blossoms, frogs start singing, chrysanthemums bloom…
Here in Australia, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have long recognised seasonal patterns specific to their Country. Different communities recognise different seasons, drawing on changes in flowering plants, animal behaviour, rainfall and winds. The Noongar people of south-west Western Australia, for example, recognise six seasons, while Tiwi seasonal knowledge describes three major seasons and 13 minor seasons. These calendars reflect generations of ecological knowledge and a deep relationship with Country.
Of course, you don't need to learn 72 micro-seasons or adopt another culture's calendar to begin noticing the changes taking place around you. Simply stop, listen, smell and observe. Is it the first magpies calling in the morning, the appearance of wattle along your usual walking route, or maybe that particular smell in the air just before a summer storm?
Amidst busy days, endless notifications and everything else competing for our attention, there's something wonderfully simple and grounding about looking up and noticing what's happening around us.
PICTURED: A Phenology wheel, a circular nature calendar used to track seasonal, plant & animal patterns over time - From The Folk Herbalist's Journal
Our Grounded blend is created to support your connection to the earth and your physical self - like walking barefoot in the dirt, it recognises our innate connection to the earth's energy. A blend for the dreamers who sometimes need to plant their feet back down. Deep, earthy notes of sandalwood, patchouli, vetiver, blue cypress, and cedar encourage a feeling of presence and centredness, especially when your energy, thoughts, or mood feel scattered.
