What is the Wheel of the Year?
Long before calendars, people learned to live by the rhythm of the earth. They watched the sky, the plants, the light, the animals. They noticed subtle shifts and quiet thresholds — the exact moment winter softened, or when the first berries ripened, or when the sun finally began its long return.
Over many generations, these observations formed a simple, beautiful cycle known today as The Wheel of the Year: eight gentle markers that divide the year into meaningful moments of reflection. Each one is rooted in the land, in agriculture, and in the ancient human instinct to pause, notice, and celebrate the changing seasons.
As we approach the new year, our intention at Grow Creative is to use these festivals as anchor points for new hands-on workshops — moments to gather, craft, learn, tell stories, and reconnect with nature’s rhythms.
Below is a warm and simple guide to each celebration and it's invitation.
Imbolc — The First Stirring (February)
Winter is still with us, but something begins to move beneath the surface. The light grows longer. It’s the season of quiet hope and new beginnings. Themes: awakening, hope, beginnings
Spring Equinox — The Balance of Light (March)
Light and dark stand in perfect balance. Buds swell on branches. Birds return. Everything whispers birth. Themes: balance, new life, renewal
Beltane — The Quickening (May)
Spring tips into early summer. Flowers open wildly. Bees begin their busy season. The world hums with color and creativity. Themes: growth, creativity, joy, vitality
Summer Solstice — The Great Light (June)
The longest day of the year. Gardens stretch tall. Warmth wraps the world. There’s a sense of fullness and joy. Themes: fullness, celebration, radiance
Lammas — The First Harvest (August)
The first fruits and grains ripen. Berries are plentiful. The air shifts ever so slightly toward autumn. Themes: gratitude, skill, ripening
Autumn Equinox — The Second Balance (September)
Day and night align once again, this time tipping toward the dark. Leaves turn. Gardens slow. It’s a moment of reflection and gathering in. Themes: balance, reflection, gathering
Samhain — The Last Harvest (October)
The growing season comes to a close. Gardens go quiet. Nature begins its yearly rest. It’s a time for stories, reflection, and letting go. Themes: remembering, mystery, endings
Winter Solstice — The Long Night and Returning Light (December)
The darkest night of the year — and the moment the light begins its slow, steady return. A season of warmth, rest, and renewal. Theme: stillness, rebirth
Why We Teach Through the Seasons
Children thrive when learning follows natural rhythms — the kind we can feel in our bones and see outside our windows. Each of these festivals invites us to:
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slow down
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notice what’s happening in nature
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celebrate small shifts
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connect creativity with the earth beneath our feet
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weave meaning into the everyday
- realign to our natural rhythms
Our year-long workshop series honors these turning points with handwork, art, and storytelling — creating a gentle rhythm families can return to again and again.
Stay tuned for an intentional line up of seasonal workshops for adults, children and families.