The Seasonal Way is the way of the Earth. Like the heavens and Sun and Moon, the Earth too dances in the firmament. The Seasonal Way is the way of the pagan. The pagan rejoices in the coming of the solar holidays and the cross-quarter days. The Seasonal Way is the passage of life. The Seasonal Way is full of circles and cycles. Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter are growth, fruition, decline, and decay.

               Although the pagan is a participant in the larger dance of the Universe, it is here, on Earth, where the pagan is most in tune with the Earth Mother. Here, there is participation in the Seasonal Way. All life on Earth mimics the never-ending changes of the seasons. The cycles which define life are many and varied. Some may live for many days, years, decades: progress through life in such an instance is best measured by the passage of solar years. Yet some of the same kind may linger only for seconds, growth – fruition – decline – decay, all in the blink of an eye. Yet all remains significant: each life plays out all four acts. It is difficult to appreciate every cycle and movement in the macrocosm. However, one may be cognizant of the pattern of changes which are ever-present.

               It is recognition of the changes that gave rise to religious and philosophical thought. Early philosophers and wonderers noticed the changes around them and questioned how things had arisen. It was this beginning of wonder that gave way to the observance of patterns: the seasons of living things mirrored the seasons of the Earth Mother. To the terrestrial dweller, the changes in the world at large were indications that changes were also to take place in their lives. To the astute watcher of the skies, certain things happened overhead which heralded the onset of the various seasons. Yet one need not eyes to discern the subtle changes of the Earth.

               The Earth wears many guises in her spiral ‘round the Sun. To the uncaring, seasons are delineated by marks of ink on a calendar. To the awakened pagan, the seasons evolve daily, and move from one side of the circle all the way around and back again. The subtle changes of the Earth are not the background of a story, but the letters which make up every line.

               The onset of winter is a time of death. Life slows to a crawl, with cold and wind the only movement to be found. People withdraw inside to reflect and take refuge. The warmth of the Sun and the promise of Summer seems far, far away. Yet, as the shortest day of the year seals the power of winter, the days begin to lengthen, even then. From out of the depths of the darkest season comes the trickle of light, of life.

               The coming of summer is a time for rejoicing. The cold and death of winter is all but forgotten now as all is bright with the glow of life. As the longest day of the years dawns, all life may relish in the greatness of the Sun and the beauty of the Earth in bloom. Yet, as the longest day draws to a close, the onset of the dying-time begins, as the days begin to shorten, and the decline begins.

               Out of death, life is ever-waiting. Out of life, death is ever-near. The way of the seasons is the way of the Earth is the way of man. The pagan rejoices in the knowledge of death – from the darkness, light is to come. The pagan reflects in the knowledge of life – from the light, the darkness emerges. The way of the seasons is the way of opposites. The way of opposites is the way of life.