“Year’s end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” — Hal Borland

Tis the season to reflect on all the gifts of the past year. And here at Earth Archetypes, we've had many. Let's take a look through the lens of the Celtic Seasons before peeking at what's to come in 2025 -- especially with your support.

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Winter Solstice to Spring Equinox

A year ago, the meditation I chose for 2024 was the Celtic Calendar.

Shaped by the 8 High Holidays of the Solstices, Equinoxes, and in-betweens, each wedge of the circle has a vibe over the course of a year for Northern Hemisphere orientated folks.

I wanted to see what would happen if I remembered, conversed, felt, sought out, etc experiences that held this natural cycle at the forefront.

Now with one cycle complete, seeing how it played out with Earth Archetypes is an interesting story.

During the seasons of Receptivity & Gathering, I did a lot of listening and brewing.

Mostly I was laying the foundation for what was about to spring into a bunch of launches.

Writing, brainstorming, imagining, interviewing, recording, editing, and more is what I received and gathered.

The biggest outward facing thing I did was attend Realscreen Summit -- a key conference and market for reality tv shows in the US that brings people from around the world.

It gave me some big realities about reality tv while also fulfilling a lifetime dream. As a child growing up in Northern Minnesota, we learn to take great pride in being close to the source of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca. And my little farm girl self wondered if I would ever see the expansiveness of the river's mouth. With the event centered in New Orleans, 46 year old Amber got to honor that 6 year old's dream.

Spring Equinox to Summer Solstice

The Budding & Flowering energy of this time was full on for Earth Archetypes.

Learning and connection happened in intimate ways while launching was in full bloom!

While talking with a friend just a week before the Equinox, she told me about a Druid Sanctuary a 1.5 hour drive away and I was able to join the ceremony in rainy, freezing weather with the small group that gathered in the cob sanctuary space. This set of synchronicity lead me to join each high holiday for the rest of the year when I was in town because a prayer had been answered. I found a place to practice a reciprocal relationship with nature the way my ancestors would have done. In fact, the central tenant of the experience is "I give so that they may give."

Also the week of the Equinox, I honored my agreement with Tim Corcoran and Julie Boettler to launch their book "The Earth Caretaker Way." And we successfully reached Amazon Best Seller status in 5 of the 6 categories we tried.

In addition, I joined a small group of 5 filmmakers for a 6 month journey to prepare for alternative film distribution methods. Attended a 500 person Wings Conference in PDX that brought together people across Oregon in the green industrial tech realms. And learned with Mara and Damion how to identify, test, and connect with audiences for a films.

And finally...

Earth Archetypes officially launched during Earth Week!

That included:

• New Name to replace "Earth Relationship"

• Completely redesigned "What is Your Earth Archetypes?" quiz and website

• Founding membership program

• 2x/week emails

• Earthmates Podcast -- which dripped weekly for a 20 episode first season (3 solos, 16 interviews, 1 sizzle reel)

• Weekly blog post (this one is #37)

Energy was certainly speeding up as we got more and more daylight at an accelerated 3 minutes per day as I figured out how to keep sharing these gifts on a regular basis.

In May, I even joined the Portland Farmer's Market crew for the season which got me outside, moving, and interacting in a very grounded way each week -- not to mention all the yummy grocery shopping!

Summer Solstice to Autumn Equinox

Then the Ripening & Harvesting energy arrived.

In fact, I was in LA for the Hollywood Climate Summit during the Solstice. In many ways the return to this event a year later felt a lot like a step up from level 101 to 201. The programming moved from bringing activists and execs together to showcasing examples of what we did together. And I had some beautiful reunions with old friends while creating wonderful new ones.

This shift continued as I started presenting Earth Archetypes in different settings.

• World Culture Film Festival in July: When the directors said they wanted to include climate in this inaugural event but didn't feel it fit the "Entertainment that Uplifts" theme, I went into action. First, I brought them to HCS and then helped organized the panel "Environment in Film." The audience Q&A at the end really helped clarify that Earth Archetypes will help people change the question from "What can I do?" to "Who am I?" Because just like any relationship, that matters! Then we got to go deep with the amazing humans that attended the workshop afterwards.

• After meeting the Director and Staff Attorney at Green Energy Institute at Lewis & Clark Law School at Wings in April, we began hatching a plan that came together in August. 30 teens gathered for the Youth Climate Summit. Focused on how to be an advocate (especially around electrification), we also wanted to make sure the youth saw themselves in the work. So we started the day with a 45 minute Earth Archetype process. --> Here's some feedback from one of the attendees: "The confirmation of my belief that I have a specific skill set and that my skills can help in their own way was really powerful, and learning about other people’s skills and thought processes was really helpful."

• Later that month in Seattle, I got to talk to a roomful of climate industry folk from VCs to start ups and mental health professionals to waste management managers during a Carbonauts happy hour. With mocktails in hand, I got to share the importance of using storytelling to give people a sense of agency in regards to the climate. (See a practice round during my drive north and a video of the actual presentation by joining the membership!)

Autumn Equinox to Winter Solstice

Though of all the seasons, this time of Breathing Out & Letting Go has been the most surprising.

Climate Week NYC happened over the equinox and I'm glad I stayed home. Once the time and expense did not seem worth the resources, I decided to give myself a mini creative retreat to dream up the Earth Archetypes illustrations. And after trying many times all year, it finally came to me while on the yoga mat.

This set the tone for this time on the Celtic cycle. Less of a spring launch and more of a gentle release with the world -- especially after Samhain.

In November, I presented at the Ethos Film Festival in LA where I organized and filmed a panel on incorporating impact into unscripted tv and facilitated the filmmaker Q&A after the environmental shorts block.

I stayed in town the following week after the election to meet with many about next steps -- including attending the Green Tech Festival where I met in real life the amazing people at Earth Angel by TheGreenShot who are now producers on the tv show "How on Earth?"

While there, I discovered the Impact + Profit event that several friends were speaking at and just new I had to return to LA for it 2 short weeks later. And I'm so glad I did! It's where I was meant to be.

In the brief window between, I launched the Earth Archetypes Illustrations -- both kid and adult versions. You can still order greeting cards until December 31st!

Then immediately upon returning home, 2 more surprises landed in the letting go...

• My work to help people have reciprocal relationships with planet, self, and others attuned deeply with 2 individuals who have decided to trust the process. Now, I'm serving as their 1:1 relationship coach. Interested? Let's chat!

• Work I'd been developing with Oregon Humanities for close to a year finally got the greenlight! I will be leading Conversation Projects on "The Science and Story of Awe" with people throughout the state of Oregon. I'd love to help you get signed up to host an event based on a pay what you can model!

A Winter Solstice View of 2025

This year, my meditation for the year is 3 words I will limit in my own vocabulary and listen to from others -- along with 3 words I will increase. I'll keep them quiet for now as I internalize the shift. Usually, I share around my birthday in 2 months during the Gathering time.

Meanwhile, I can share the 3 verticals I will apply them to here at Earth Archetypes in the new cycle of Celtic Seasons…

1. Illustrations: The plan is prints and partnerships — tell stories with me!

2. Youtube channel with Impact Hub: With these tools, I can fine tune audience viewership + action — subscribe now!

3. "How on Earth?" tv show and live recorded podcast: The projection is that tv execs will be ready for fresh content in 6 months — The time is right for a climatic makeover!

Your support will make all the difference! During these final days of the Gregorian calendar, a huge amount of money is gifted as donations. By funneling it towards Earth Archetypes, you will help leverage all this work to create a better relationship with planet, self, and others for audiences around the country and then the world. As a fiscal sponsor, From the Heart Productions can accept it on my behalf and give you the tax deduction. Then I can immediately start putting it to work! Simply click on the PayPal link below.

DONATE TODAY!