/seasons

Display the current Japanese micro-season (kō 候) to foster seasonal awareness and connection to nature.

Instructions

1. Check if today's log exists: Look for ./logs/YYYY-MM-DD.md

- If exists: Read and display the log file contents, then stop (no regeneration) - If not: Continue with steps below

1. Determine today's date and find the matching kō from the reference below
2. Display the current micro-season in a clean, compact format
3. Include a brief ELI5 insight (2-3 sentences max) explaining the natural phenomenon
4. Add a positive contemplation that:

- Connects nature's wisdom to human growth and work - Frames challenges as opportunities - Suggests an actionable mindset or practice

1. Include the pre-selected quote from the kō reference table below
2. Include relevant resources (1-2 links) for deeper exploration
3. Save output to log file: ./logs/YYYY-MM-DD.md

See sekki-explanations.md for detailed ELI5 explanations of each solar term.

Output Format

## 第{number}候 · {romaji}
### "{english translation}"

> {date range} · {sekki name} ({sekki english})

<img src="../images/{number}-{slug}.jpg" alt="{description}" width="480">

**Why now?** {1-2 sentence ELI5 of the natural phenomenon}

**Insight:** {Positive philosophical musing connecting nature to
work/life—focus on growth, opportunity, patience, timing, etc.}

**Today's practice:** {One small actionable suggestion to embody
this seasonal wisdom in your work}

> **💬** "{Quote from the kō reference table}"
> — {Author from the kō reference table}

**Learn more:**
- {Relevant article, video, or resource URL}
- {Optional second resource}

Images & Resources

This skill is self-contained with local images and curated URLs.

Image Strategy

All 72 images are available locally. Always include the image in log files.

Log file path: Use ../images/ (logs are in ./logs/ subdirectory)

<img src="../images/{number}-{slug}.jpg" alt="{description}" width="480" />

Local Images

• All 72 images stored in: ./images/{number}-{romaji-slug}.jpg
• Example: ./images/70-fuki-no-hana-saku.jpg
• Git-tracked for portability

Curated URLs

• See ./resources.md for specific "Learn more" URLs for each kō
• Each micro-season has a validated Wikipedia/Japan Guide link

Logging

Each /seasons output is saved as a markdown log file for tracking over time.

Log Location

./logs/YYYY-MM-DD.md

Example: ./logs/2026-01-22.md

Log Format

Save the complete output to the log file. One file per day.

Important: Use ../images/ for image paths in logs (not ./images/).

Purpose

• Build a personal seasonal journal
• Track contemplations and practices over time
• Review patterns across seasons
• Git-tracked for history

The 72 Kō Reference

Each micro-season has a pre-selected quote that resonates with its natural phenomenon and philosophical theme.

立春 Risshun (Beginning of Spring)

雨水 Usui (Rainwater)

啓蟄 Keichitsu (Awakening of Insects)

春分 Shunbun (Spring Equinox)

清明 Seimei (Clear and Bright)

穀雨 Kokuu (Grain Rain)

立夏 Rikka (Beginning of Summer)

小満 Shōman (Grain Buds)

芒種 Bōshu (Grain in Ear)

夏至 Geshi (Summer Solstice)

小暑 Shōsho (Minor Heat)

大暑 Taisho (Major Heat)

立秋 Risshū (Beginning of Autumn)

処暑 Shosho (Limit of Heat)

白露 Hakuro (White Dew)

秋分 Shūbun (Autumn Equinox)

寒露 Kanro (Cold Dew)

霜降 Sōkō (Frost Falls)

立冬 Rittō (Beginning of Winter)

小雪 Shōsetsu (Minor Snow)

大雪 Taisetsu (Major Snow)

冬至 Tōji (Winter Solstice)

小寒 Shōkan (Minor Cold)

大寒 Daikan (Major Cold)

Resource Library

Use these for the "Learn more" section. Select 1-2 relevant to the current season:

General 72 Seasons:

• 72 Seasons Japan (Nippon.com)
• Japanese Microseasons (Wikipedia)
• Kurashi no Goyomi App

Seasonal Philosophy:

• In Praise of Shadows - Tanizaki
• Wabi-Sabi for Artists (Leonard Koren)
• The Book of Tea - Okakura

Nature & Attention:

• How to Do Nothing - Jenny Odell
• Braiding Sweetgrass - Robin Wall Kimmerer
• The Overstory - Richard Powers

Productivity & Natural Rhythms:

• Deep Work - Cal Newport
• Rest - Alex Soojung-Kim Pang
• Four Thousand Weeks - Oliver Burkeman

Contemplative Practice:

• On the Shortness of Life - Seneca
• Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
• Zen Mind, Beginner's Mind - Shunryu Suzuki

Contemplation Themes

Match insights to these positive themes based on the season:

Design Notes

Quote Selection Rationale:

• Each of the 72 quotes is carefully matched to its micro-season's natural phenomenon
• Quotes balance Eastern wisdom, Western philosophy, and modern productivity insights
• Mix of timeless wisdom with practical action orientation
• Themes flow naturally through the year: emergence → growth → abundance → harvest → rest → preparation

Why pre-mapped quotes?

• Perfect alignment: one quote per micro-season
• Pre-mapping eliminates AI selection overhead
• Intentional curation: each kō has its perfect companion thought
• Meaningful rotation: see each quote ~5 times per year

Example Output

For January 22 (kō #70):

第70候 · Fuki no hana saku

"Butterburs bud"

January 20-24 · 大寒 Daikan (Major Cold)

<img src="../images/70-fuki-no-hana-saku.jpg" alt="Butterbur buds emerging through cold earth" width="480">

Why now? While air is coldest, soil stays warmer underground. The butterbur taps this hidden warmth, blooming before competitors wake—first-mover advantage in nature's economy.

Insight: The coldest days come after the solstice turn, not before. Light has been returning for a month—the reversal is already underway, even when conditions feel hardest. This is the "hidden spring": change begins before evidence appears.

Today's practice: Identify one project that's quietly building momentum beneath the surface. Give it 15 minutes of attention—water roots that others can't see yet.

💬 "In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer."
— Albert Camus

Learn more:

• Butterbur (Petasites japonicus)
• Daikan - Coldest Period