Seasons of the Sacred: Reconnecting to the Wisdom within Nature and the Soul

Sufi teacher Vaughan-Lee (Alchemy of Light) encourages reconnecting with the earth in this heartfelt compilation of essays, poems, and illustrations. Asking readers to remember a time when “the soul and the seasons of nature moved together,” Vaughan-Lee advocates for a return to a relationship of sacredness with the earth. To do so, one should pay attention to the changing of seasons and be aware of opportunities to participate in the “rhythms of life.” Spring represents rebirth, love, joy, and childhood; summer is full of abundance, art, power, and energy; autumn represents fruition, maturity, and wisdom gained over time; and winter culminates with barrenness, the ending of a natural cycle, completion, and letting go. To connect to these rhythms, she recommends readers practice a “spiritual ecology” that champions viewing elements of the natural world not as resources but as sacred objects. Vaughan-Lee’s thoughts are studded by poems from a wide range of writers, among them E.E. Cummings, Rumi, and Lao Tsu. Tranquil woodcut illustrations and engravings of each season round things out. Suitable for readers of all spiritual persuasions, Vaughan’s soothing observations will inspire a more mindful contemplation of Earth’s rhythms. (May)