We have just had the summer solstice and I had a few friends round to celebrate it, with food and wine and a small ritual to mark the longest day. I love doing this because it reminds us of the natural order of things, rather than our man-made versions of time passing, things changing.

The cycle of the natural year is there as a constant reminder of how the world really works: it is cyclical, not linear. What grows also dies away, and yet new growth appears when nature says it is the right time, and repeats the cycle in a slightly different way – it is never quite the same.

Even in our own lives, there are those cycles: baby to child, adolescent to grown-up, responsible adult to more self-developing older person. Each stage has good bits and bad bits, but they all contribute to us becoming the best we can be.

We are all part of that natural world, but sadly we have learnt to disconnect ourselves: trying to stay young (but not too young) rather than growing older gracefully; striving for success rather than allowing ourselves to blossom; pushing ourselves beyond our limits rather than following our natural rhythms.

But just as we can help nurture the natural world by aiding its own rhythms, we can nurture our own natural blossoming by listening to our own inner voice, and following its wisdom.

It’s the nature of things, and it’s beautiful and joyous.