The Wheel

2026 : Issue 1

The inaugural issue! First of all, I want to show my love and appreciation for coming along on this journey! We are excited for this new chapter unfolding before us!

As we come into the year of the fire horse we are reminded to slow down. Johnna and I have been steeped in research, attempting to discern how to approach this “new year.” You may be wondering why I used quotation marks there, its’ quite fascinating. If we think of natural flow of, well, everything, it’s all cyclical. The successions of the seasons of nature are Earth’s repeating rhythms of light, temperature, vitality, and restoration. They arise from the planet’s axial tilt and orbit around the Sun, but humans have long understood them as living cycles rather than just astronomical facts.

Spring is emergence and renewal. We see increasing daylight and budding plants. The soil wakes up, seeds germinate and pollinators return. These are times for new beginnings, creativity, cleansing and movement.

Then we see the peak biodiversity, the growth and abundance of summer. We have our longest days, highest energy exchange and rapid plant growth. This is the time for vitality. A time for action and expression. A time for community.

As the days shorten, cooling temperatures make way for autumn. We see leaves falling, enriching the soil. Seeds dispersing while animals store food. This time is for gratitude, reflection, letting go and preparation.

Winter…oh winter. The cold, snow and dormancy. The shortened days. Especially for us midwesterners means the scarcity of the sun. We see ecosystems reset as energy is conserved. This is a time for rest and inward focus. A period for wisdom; renewal before rebirth. A return of the light. Across many cultures we see this same pattern. Birth, growth, death, rebirth. Inhale, exhale. Expansion, contraction. Nothing is wasted. Even decay feeds life.

Now if we look at the way our months are setup in our “modern” calendar something comes into focus. The calendar no longer aligns with this cycle. We begin our year in quiescence. In the grey, bitter, withered existence of winter. These thoughts have garnered my attention for weeks. Rather than attempting to explain the why, as my ego tends to pine for, I’m simply focusing on what I can do. That is to honor these natural cycles of existence. To contract and rejuvenate while we enter this stage of revival.

May the light of the infinite creator be with you,

Benjamin & Johnna

Ps: I started writing this before dawn, when the Wolf Moon was ushered in. Initially, I thought about calling this issue cycles. I wasn’t thrilled with it, so I started thinking of other words. And then it came to me…wheel. It’s perfect on so many levels. Most importantly for me, the song. It’s one of those that always comes back to you. And when it does, you hear it in a unique way. You’ve departed to a distant place. You get to stop and realize, how much you’ve grown. What a beautiful outcome. The song is by SOHN. Take your hands off the wheel and let spirit drive.