Notes from the season

In honor of the calendar progressing into 2026, I vowed to myself to take the first 5 days of the year away from screen time. I’m in the midst of it, and the break has been lovely. I’m learning a surprising amount about boredom, time management, and the reflections have been profound.

It reminds me of when I did The Artist’s Way back in 2020. There’s a point in the book’s workings where you take time off from consuming content of any kind: books, music, TV, etc. This wasn’t as intense, but it has brought about a significant shift within myself. One that I really wasn’t expecting.

In not consuming anyone else’s content, I’ve gained an immense amount of clarity about the type of life I’m calling in. I’m able to see my future in a way that feels cosmically aligned. I feel more connected to my offerings, the seasons around me, and my own emotions. Instead of popping on social when I’m agitated, bored, or even a little restless, I have a moment to breathe. I’ve been looking around more, tidying my spaces, and decluttering in a way that feels an awful lot like making room for something better, something bigger.
Starting my day with something a dear friend of mine calls “quiet-tude”, having time for reflection throughout the day, and more time to meditate has brought huge shifts to light. I see exactly where some energy has been seeping, and where new brick needs to be laid for better boundaries & foundations. I’m finally finding more time to read, and it’s been very fulfilling. In reading more, it’s also easier to write — big shocker, I know! I’ve been distracting myself, and it’s been depleting me creatively. My cup feels full, my mind has space to process, and the outside noise isn’t quite as loud.
Choosing to start this year in stillness has cleared out the fog that’s been sitting in front of my mind’s eye. I’ve been back and forth over what to do about the studio on my property. Before this time of rest, I wasn’t quite sure if I wanted to renovate my studio to fully be a processing facility as well as act as a hub for hydroponic growing. For those who didn’t know, I used to host community events at this studio, and I’ve been digging my heels into that idea. I didn’t want to let it go, but after this time of reflection, I feel clear about this shift going forward. This has been where I’ve been processing everyone’s orders and making products, but it looks more aesthetic for filming. Now it’s changing into something entirely different. We’re getting it ready for the harvest of spring, and for this season’s hydroponic adventures. One more step toward self-sufficiency.

Have you participated in a social media detox of sorts? Is this something you’ve been looking to incorporate on a monthly or quarterly basis? Maybe you’ve been wanting to do it, but are nervous to start? Let’s chat about it!

The sky unfolds

There aren’t any big transits coming up this week, but let’s reflect for a moment on the astrology that rolled in last week:

January 1st, Mercury in Capricorn - Don’t start the new year being hypercritical of yourself. Lean into supportive systems and let the actions flow. If you beat yourself up before you give yourself a solid chance, you’re not leaving any room for the energy to shift.

January 3rd, full moon in Cancer - If you’re craving a monetary shift in your life, right now is the time to plan it or be about it. Carve out time to be more intentional about your financial energetics, and see where you lean into a more expansive way of thinking.

Looking back on transits is always helpful, and it’s something I do regularly within my practice. Once you move through the transit, you are often able to assimilate what actually happened afterwards, rather than decoding it while you’re experiencing the action.

👉 Remember, if you’re looking to go deeper with astrology, I have a free group chat on Instagram, where I give astrology transit updates multiple times a week!

Plant wisdom

Herbal allies & establishing boundaries

Capricorn season asks us to get honest about structure, responsibility, and the long-term consequences of where we place our energy. It is a time ruled by Saturn, the planet of boundaries, limits, and discernment. Not punishment, but clarity.

Cleavers and nettles both carry powerful teachings around boundaries, though they approach the work very differently.

With cleavers, I often see support show up around the throat chakra. They seem to help clients name what they have been holding back, especially when it comes to relational boundaries. Cleavers can be a gentle ally for those learning to speak up, to clarify their needs, or to gather the courage to loosen themselves from unhealthy dynamics that have lingered too long. In Capricorn season, when we are asked to take responsibility for where our energy is going, cleavers help us articulate boundaries without force or apology. They have the affinity of reminding us that clear communication is an act of self-respect and long-term care.

Nettles speak more directly to self-preservation. They often arrive when the body is depleted from over-giving or from holding responsibilities that exceed our capacity. For some folks, nettles can rebuild strength, replenish reserves, and help reestablish a sense of internal authority. At the same time, they may also soften overly rigid defenses, gently easing thick emotional walls when protection has turned into isolation. In this way, nettles balance resilience with permeability. I have seen firsthand how nourishing nettle can be for some folks. It has such an affinity for building us back up after a season of working too hard, or being physically + emotionally depleated.

Together, these plants reflect Capricorn’s deeper teaching. Boundaries are not about restriction or punishment. They are living structures that support sustainability, integrity, and endurance. Cleavers help us voice what needs to change, while nettles ensure we have the strength to uphold it. During Capricorn season, they can invite us to build boundaries that allow us to stand upright in our lives and feel confident doing so.

Cleavers (Galium aparine)
Primary lymphatic alterative with mild diuretic activity. Energetically cooling and moistening. Cleavers support the lymphatic system, reduce congestion, and assist in the movement of fluids through the tissues. They are often indicated in states of stagnation, edema, or glandular swelling, and are well-suited for individuals with heat or inflammatory presentations.

Nettles (Urtica dioica)
Nutritive tonic and alterative with mild astringent featuring a salty taste which indicates nutritive mineral content. Energetically neutral to slightly warming. Nettles provide mineral repletion, support tissue integrity, and promote overall vitality, particularly in depleted or chronically stressed states. They are commonly used to strengthen systems weakened by long-term overexertion, while their balancing action can support both excessive laxity and excessive tension within the tissues.

Supporting your inner landscape

Your digestive system is listening to your thoughts

During the last week of December, I created a social post on the importance of changing your vocabulary around food. Highlighting how, when we eat in a mindset of shame, restriction, or self-judgement, the body receives it as a threat. The result is poorer digestion, less satisfaction, and a growing disconnection from our hunger cues and body trust. When food becomes something to justify, compensate for, or feel guilty about, the nervous system stays on guard, when it should be leaning into a state of rest & digest.

You might be wondering why an herbalist is bringing up your relationship with food, and the answer is simple.

Because an herbalist doesn’t work in isolation from the body.
I work in relation to it, looking at patterns, emotions, and grasping the big picture. Food is the most consistent form of medicine most people take. Herbs can support, buffer, and gently guide the body, but diet is the landscape those herbs are working within.

If the terrain is depleted, inflamed, or stressed, even the best herbs have less room to do their job. From a whole-body wellness perspective, digestion is not just about nutrients. It is about the nervous system, blood sugar, hormones, elimination, and emotional safety. How someone eats, what they believe about food, and the state they are in while eating directly affect how the body receives both food and herbs.

I always look at the patterns. This means taking the whole picture: energy levels, stress response, sleep, digestion, mood, cycles, resilience. Diet influences all of these. Not in a rigid or prescriptive way, but as daily information the body is constantly responding to.

This is also why, as an herbalist, I talk about our relationship with food, not just ingredients. A body in fear or restriction cannot fully receive nourishment. Supporting whole-body wellness means supporting the conditions that allow healing to happen.

Reflection pond

Soft questions designed to help you listen inward, honor your timing, and engage with the season in a meaningful way.

Where can you integrate some stillness into your day, and if time wasn’t an option, what would it look like? How can you get as close as possible to this ideal?
Are you using your phone to self-soothe, sort of like a cigarette for your eyes? How does the idea of not having your phone with you make you feel?
If sleep is a struggle, are you limiting your time exposed to blue light after sundown? Why or why not?

Open invitations

My next Roots & Remedies Virtual Plant Circle will take place on January 17th at 1 PM EST. In this gathering, we’ll sit with Ginger (Zingiber officinale), exploring its physical, emotional, and energetic gifts. This is a space to connect with the plant, with yourself, and with a community of plant lovers through reflection, meditation, and experiential practice.

This circle is for anyone who feels called to step into a deeper connection with plants. You do not need prior herbal knowledge—simply your curiosity, presence, and willingness to explore.

Each session offers a gentle blend of learning, contemplation, and sharing. You’ll leave with not only practical herbal insights but also an invitation to notice how these remedies show up in your own life.

Reserve your spot here: The Cosmic Craft – Roots & Remedies Circle

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About the Author

Hi, I’m Courtney, the voice behind Seasons of Self and the owner of The Cosmic Craft. I’ve been featured in printed publications & popular online platforms like Yahoo!, Bustle, and Pride. I’m an astroherbalist, educator, writer, and guide devoted to helping people navigate life’s changes with more steadiness and self-trust. Rooted in seasonal living, astrology, and plant wisdom, my work is shaped by a deep belief that growth happens in cycles, not straight lines. Through this newsletter, I share reflections, tools, and practices that support renewal and transformation, all while honoring accessibility, curiosity, and care. This is a space for slowing down, listening inward, and learning to live in rhythm with your own timing.

Refrences:
Harvard Health Publishing, The Gut–Brain Connection
Harvard Health Publishing, Unlock the Brain–Gut Connection for Better Digestion and Health
Nutrition & Metabolism (BioMed Central), Stress, Diet, and Gut Microbiota
Mayer, E. A., Gut, Neurobiology of Stress and Gastrointestinal Disease
PubMed Review, The Gut-Brain Axis: Influence of Microbiota on Mood and Mental Health.

Finding wisdom in pausing & Capricorn inspired herbs for better boundaries