Cyclical living: living in flow with nature to find calm and connection during uncertain times

How honouring cycles and seasons can help us to live cyclically, stay grounded, and weather life’s storms.

If you’re new here I’m Laura, a counsellor, nature therapist, somatic therapist, meditation teacher and space holder. My work is centered around gently guiding people back into relationship with themselves, with their bodies, and with the wider natural world. My offerings weave together counselling psychology, embodiment, nature connection and ritual to support deeper alignment with our inner and outer cycles.

Today, I want to talk about cyclical living; the practice of aligning ourselves with the natural rhythms of the Earth and how it can offer a sense of calm, grounding, and connection, especially in times of uncertainty. When the world feels unpredictable or overwhelming, returning to the steady, seasonal cycles of nature can remind us that change is natural, rest is essential, and nothing stays the same forever. Whether it’s the phases of the moon, the shifting seasons, or the rise and fall of our own energy, living in tune with these cycles can help us feel more rooted, more spacious, and more at peace with where we are.

Cyclical living and hustle culture 

We live in a society that expects us to operate like machines, resetting every single day, pushing through exhaustion, and striving for unwavering consistency and productivity. This pressure doesn’t pause for changing seasons, shifting energy, or personal challenges. It demands we show up the same way, every day, regardless of the weather outside or the weather within us. And for those who experience a female hormone cycle, this expectation becomes even more unrealistic. Our hormones fluctuate across a four-week rhythm, which naturally affects our energy, mood, and capacity. Yet we're rarely given space to honour that ebb and flow.

And that’s just one piece of the picture. When we add in the impact of trauma, illness, disability, neurodivergence, systemic oppression, or poverty, the demand for constant output becomes not just unsustainable, but harmful. These lived realities profoundly shape our energy and our ability to meet the world’s expectations and yet, dominant culture often refuses to acknowledge them. Instead, we’re required to fit into a model of success and productivity rooted in capitalism, one that values sameness, speed, and output over humanity, nuance, and care.

I know this might sound heavy but it’s important to name the reality we’re navigating. It’s not that we’re broken or failing; it’s that we’re trying to live within a system that denies the very cycles and differences that make us human. No wonder so many of us feel depleted, disoriented, or disconnected. We've been pushed to ignore our natural rhythms, those of our bodies, our emotions, and the Earth itself, in favour of an unnatural, linear pace.

But there is another way. A gentler, more truthful way of living. One that invites us to remember our cyclical nature and return to ourselves with compassion. As poet Nayyirah Waheed so beautifully writes:

“Be easy. take your time. you are coming home. to yourself.”

And perhaps that’s the invitation: not to keep up, but to come home—to our bodies, to the seasons, and to a rhythm that honours who we truly are.

How can living cyclically keep us steady? 

Imbalance often arises when we spend too much time in our active, outward-facing energy, the part of us that’s constantly doing, achieving, striving, and producing. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and philosophy, this is referred to as yang energy. Yang is dynamic, fiery, expansive, and externally focussed. It’s the energy of movement, growth, and action and it’s aligned with the seasons of spring and summer, when the natural world is buzzing with life, blooming, building, and reaching outward toward the sun.

But just as day turns into night, yang needs its counterpart, yin, to stay in balance. Yin is the energy of stillness, introspection, slowness, and rest. It’s associated with the seasons of autumn and winter, when the natural world begins to turn inward: trees release their leaves, animals slow down or hibernate, and the earth enters a quieter, more reflective phase. Yin invites us to pause, soften, and come home to ourselves, something that modern life often pushes us to resist or skip altogether.

Our ancestors lived in tune with these cycles out of necessity. Their daily lives were structured around the rhythms of the land and sky. They knew when to plant and when to harvest, when to hunt and when to rest, guided not by clocks or calendars but by the natural world itself. The seasons were their teachers, and this cyclical knowledge shaped everything, from food and sleep to ritual and community.

Today, many of us have become disconnected from these patterns. We live in an always-on culture that prizes productivity over rest and rewards constant yang energy, often at the expense of our wellbeing. But when we intentionally reconnect with nature’s rhythms, we can begin to restore a sense of balance. We remember that just as the earth needs winter to regenerate, we need rest and reflection to grow. Recognising and honouring the dance between yin and yang within ourselves allows us to live in a way that is more sustainable, intuitive, and aligned.

Seasonal energy and the wheel of the year

Awareness of the seasons and the cycles within our own lives gives us a powerful opportunity to work with nature rather than against it. When we tune into our cyclical rhythms, we begin to understand that our energy, emotions, and creativity are not meant to remain constant. Just like the earth, we move through phases of growth and stillness, expansion and retreat. Living in alignment with these natural rhythms helps us to soften, to surrender control, and to trust that each season brings its own wisdom. This way of living is at the heart of the Wheel of the Year, an ancient framework rooted in Celtic and Pagan traditions that honours the changing seasons through eight seasonal celebration days. You can find out more about The Wheel of The Year in this post.

In spring, the festivals of Ostara and Beltane celebrate renewal, fertility, and growth. This is a time to plant seeds, literally and metaphorically. We might feel a rising sense of energy, clarity, and excitement. It’s a season for setting intentions, beginning new projects, and tending to the parts of ourselves that are ready to blossom.

As we move into summer, we enter the time of Litha, the Summer Solstice, and Lammas (Lughnasadh), festivals that honour abundance, vitality, and fruition. This is when we can embrace the fullness of our lives and celebrate the results of what we’ve been nurturing. The long days and warm light invite us to be present, to connect with joy, and to soak in the richness of what we’ve created.

In autumn, the energies shift again. Mabon and Samhain guide us into a period of harvest, gratitude, and release. We begin to gather the fruits of our labour—whether that’s in the form of literal crops, creative projects, or personal growth—and reflect on what we’ve learned. It’s a time to honour change, acknowledge loss, and prepare for the inward journey that winter brings.

Winter, marked by Yule, the Winter Solstice, is a sacred pause. It’s a time of deep rest, stillness, and reflection. Just as the earth lies dormant beneath the surface, we too are invited to slow down, to dream, and to gently replenish our energy. This season reminds us that rest is not a failure, it is a vital and powerful part of the cycle.

By living in tune with the Wheel of the Year, we can begin to embrace the natural ebb and flow of our energy. We stop expecting ourselves to be constantly productive or upbeat, and instead allow space for rest, growth, joy, and letting go. Nature becomes our teacher, guiding us to live more intentionally, more intuitively, and more in harmony with who we truly are.

Connecting with the cycles of the moon

Another beautiful way to live in harmony with nature is by attuning to the cycles of the moon. Just as the moon influences the tides and the natural world, it can also serve as a gentle guide for our own inner rhythms. By observing and aligning with the lunar phases, we’re reminded that we, too, are cyclical beings who are constantly shifting, growing, and renewing.

The new moon invites us into stillness and introspection. It’s a time to set intentions, plant seeds, both literal and symbolic, and connect with what we want to create or call into our lives. As the moon waxes and light returns to the sky, we can use this energy to take action, nurture our goals, and build momentum.

The full moon marks a peak; an opportunity to celebrate progress, express gratitude, and honour what has come to fruition. It’s also a powerful time for release, to let go of what’s no longer serving us and clear space for what’s next. As the moon wanes, we’re invited to slow down, rest, and reflect. This is a natural time for integration and restoration, preparing us to begin the next cycle with intention and clarity.

By living in sync with the moon and the wider cycles of the Earth, we can cultivate a deeper connection to ourselves and the world around us. This way of being isn’t just soothing—it’s empowering. It helps us honour our energy, listen to our intuition, and find steadiness in the ever-changing nature of life. In a world that often pulls us away from our centre, lunar living brings us home to it.

To connect more deeply with the moon, check out this post about Working with the Moon as an archetype including full moon journal prompts and reflections

More Tips for keeping connected with yourself during uncertain times

Track Your Energy and Moods

Start noticing your natural rhythms; daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. Keep a journal or tracker to observe how your energy, emotions, and focus shift over time. This awareness can help you better understand your own internal cycle.

Create Seasonal Rituals

Mark the turning points of the year; solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter festivals with small rituals or reflections. Light a candle, make a seasonal meal, or take a mindful walk in nature to honour the shift. You can find more tips for brining ritual into your life here.

Practice Self-Compassion

Remember: you’re not meant to be the same every day. Let go of the pressure to be constantly productive. Offer yourself grace when your energy dips or when you need to rest.

Prioritise Rest as a Sacred Practice

Rest isn’t a reward, it’s essential. Build in regular pauses for quiet, daydreaming, napping, or doing absolutely nothing. Honour your body’s signals without guilt. The Nap Ministry is a great resource for this and especially for exploring rest as resistance from capitalism and grind culture.

Stay Grounded in Your Body

Engage in grounding somatic practices like gentle movement, breath work, stretching, or placing your bare feet on the earth. This helps you reconnect when life feels overwhelming. This post shares some reflections on somatics and includes a practice for you to explore.

Connect with nature

In our increasingly busy, digital, and indoor lives, it's easy to forget the healing power of simply being outside. Nature therapy, nature connection and nature based healing is underpinned by intentionally engaging with the natural world to support emotional, mental, spiritual and physical well-being. This post shares a load of free resources that can support you to explore your connection with the natural world.

Let Go of Linear Thinking

Life is not a straight line, it’s a spiral. Growth, healing, and creativity all happen in cycles. Trust that even when you’re pausing or retreating, it’s part of the process. You’re still moving forward—just in a different way.

Living cyclically isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing differently. It’s an invitation to return to a more natural, intuitive rhythm that honours both your body and the earth.