Welcoming a new cycle
A seasonal check-in, plus what's coming up at the Academy
Honouring the in-between
Last Friday, Samhain’s arrival marked the end of one cycle through the seasons and the beginning of another. November guides us through the gentle transition from autumn to winter, calling us into the depths of the darkest months and the ‘crucible’ of the year - the melting pot, the fertile dreaming space.
When we meet these thresholds of regeneration, it can be tempting to rush straight from the old to the new. In the context of the conventional calendar year, for example, as soon as the clock strikes midnight on 31st December, there can already be a sense of pressure to overhaul ourselves and our lives; to ‘start again’ in a way that will ‘fix’ us.
Samhain encourages us to approach things differently. Traditionally celebrated over a period of three days or more, it’s a festival that invites us to honour the in-between. Some interpretations extend the Samhain portal into early November (around 5-7th) to incorporate ‘solar Samhain’ - the exact mid-point between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice, which this year falls on 6th November. This stretching out of time offers a beautiful reminder to be with what is, before turning to what is to come.
The fact that we are currently moving through the phases of the Liminal moon - the extra thirteenth lunar cycle that arrives every few years to keep the rhythms of the sun and moon aligned - offers another reminder to pause and reflect. In this space, we are called to witness, process and integrate; to ‘compost' the ‘fallen leaves’ (changes, learnings, experiences) of the last 12 months so that they may become nourishment for the onward journey.
The full Liminal moon will rise on 5th November, the day before solar Samhain. If 31st October passed you by and you’ve been worried that you’ve missed your chance for meaningful renewal, this period of introspection is just the start. The Samhain portal marks a long phase of sinking into the in-between that extends from now until the Winter Solstice, and even beyond. There is no rush. Take all the time you need.
Winter resonances
Wheel of the Year festivals: Samhain - Winter Solstice - Imbolc
Guiding words: root, renew, seek
Element: earth
Archetype: sage
Direction: north
Soulscape: forest
Time of day: 9pm - 3am
Lunar cycles: Frost, Oak, Wolf
Trees: Elder, Birch, Rowan
Winter reflections
What is waiting patiently in the shadows, longing to be acknowledged?
Where are you feeling pulled to move forward before you’re ready?
What are you releasing that can now be composted to support future growth?
Winter at the Wild Academy
The Grove - welcoming the wisdom of the witch
Tomorrow (4th November) we’ll be gathering for our monthly tree circle, this time guided by the Elder. For this next cycle through the year we’re introducing a new format for these sessions, and each month we’ll now be exploring a specific theme inspired by the symbolism of our chosen tree. Our theme for November’s tree circle is The Witch - join us to discover her wisdom for yourself…
There’s still time to join The Wild Within
We recently held our opening circle for The Wild Within - our year-long pilgrimage through the chapters of The Rewilding Yearbook, focused on exploring the 12 archetypes of the wild self. It was such a beautiful start to the journey and we’re so looking forward to where it may lead us all! We’ve been asked a few times if it’s too late to join so we’re leaving registration open for one more week - we meet the first archetype (the swirling, transformative Shapeshifter) on Tuesday 11th!
Wildheart podcast: winter season
Season 13 of the podcast begins this week, and we’ll be starting with something a bit different: a re-introduction to ourselves and The Wild Academy. From 13th November we’ll then be back with 10 more weekly conversations to take you through the winter - subscribe below to get the episodes straight to your inbox, or search ‘Wildheart’ wherever you get your podcasts. Some of the words we’ll be rewilding this season: soul, invoke, embody, unearth, intention. Join us every Wednesday!
Save the date: Winter Solstice ceremony
Our next Soulful Seasons ceremony to honour the heart of midwinter will be taking place on Tuesday 16th December, from 6:30-8pm (UK time) on Zoom. These sessions are open to both members of The Grove and paid subscribers to The Seed - we look forward to sharing this yuletide celebration with you all!