Inspiring Books for a Seasonal Year
For all its faults, we’re incredibly lucky to have so much of interest to read online, but to me, there’s still something magical about picking up a book. Somehow, as you gently turn the pages, expectant of what might come next, you can get lost in a book in a way you can’t when you’re scrolling online. I’ve derived much inspiration from books over the years, particularly when it’s come to slow, simple and seasonal living. You can read about one book here which was very much there at the start of my slow living journey.
So, whether it’s at the start of a new year, or indeed, anytime, if you’re looking to find inspiration for a slower, simpler and more seasonal life, then here are some books which I have found especially inspiring over the years.
The Almanac by Lia Leendertz
I discovered Lia on Instagram, and have been buying The Almanac for several years now. It’s my go-to-guide for all things seasonal such as the times of sunrise and sunset, and the phases of the moon. It’s packed full of lots of interesting, and often surprising information, all of which is slightly different each year. The books always have such pretty covers, particularly the 2024 edition pictured above. If I could have a recurring pre-order of The Almanac, I would!
You can out more on Lia’s website, and also follow her on Instagram and Substack. She also has a podcast, As the Season Turns.
Slow Seasons by Rosie Steer
One of the newest books in my collection, Rosie Steer’s Slow Seasons is a really beautiful book, almost like a journal. Again, I discovered Rosie on Instagram, and also enjoy her content on Substack. Slow Seasons guides you through the year, from Imbolc to Yule. There are recipes and craft activities for each season, and lots of guidance for things to look out for as one month gives way to the next. This book is a great introduction to the old Celtic calendar and it associated traditions.
You can find out more and follow Rosie on Instagram and Substack.
Nature’s Calendar by Keira Chapman et al.
For a slightly different take on the seasonal year, the authors of Nature’s Calendar take the British year and divide it, just like the Japanese do, into 72 segments of five or six days. This is such an interesting way to think about how the year progresses, and encourages the reader to really take time to notice each small change in these ‘micro-seasons’. This is a book to return to on a weekly, if not daily, basis.
Telling the Seasons by Martin Maudsley
This book, once gain, tells story of the changing seasons through folklore. It highlights the customs and celebrations which our ancestors would have enjoyed and marked, and were pivots on their annual journey around the sun. This book has a real storytelling feel to it, and the beautiful prose is pepped with drawings, sayings, songs, recipes and rhymes.
You can find out more on Martin’s website.
The Seasons by Nick Groom
When I first become interested in the seasons and seasonal living, Nick Groom’s book, simply titled The Seasons was the first I acquired. It’s really an explorations of the customs and festivals of the past, and the way in which every step on our journey through the year, was marked and celebrated by our ancestors. It’s a book which holds much relevance today. After all, our ancestors faced many of the same challenges we do, yet through their deeply-rooted connection to the natural world in which they lived, they sought not only solutions, but to embrace all the world offered them.
The English Year by Steve Roud
If you can pick this up in hardback (I got a second-hand copy), it’s well worth it. I had the paperback copy first, but it’s not half as good visually. This substantial volume is a great introduction to the English year, taking each month, and often each day, in turn, highlighting how our ancestors would have journeyed through the year. There is a useful calendar at the beginning of each month, and those major celebrations such as Easter and Whitsun are given dedicated sections.
Evergreen by Lydia Millen
This book’s primary aim is to guide you through the seasons in a way so you can reconnect with nature - much like my own A Life More Creative philosophy. It seeks to help you find balance amidst the ebb and flow of life. Divided into five sections, the four seasons plus midwinter, it reads like a beautiful journal, and you really feel that you’re journeying alongside the author in her quest to find peace and fulfilment amidst challenge and uncertainty.
You can find out more on Lydia’s website, and also follow her on Instagram.
There are, of course, many other similar books to enjoy, so if you have any favourites, why not let me know in the comments below? I hope that this small selection might bring you as much pleasure as they’ve brought me over the years.
