17.13  In the same way we can also read from the symbol the seasons of the living beings' terrestrial life cycle. In this cycle, what we call "childhood" constitutes the area of the principle of winter. In infancy the unfolding of the living being's life is at its minimum. But, like the leafless tree in the winter forest, it has within itself the germ of life or the talent kernels that will gradually unfold. It is this unfolding that we, in the terrestrial life cycle, call "youth"; it is the same as the unfolding of the "principle of spring" in this cycle. In "spring" the unfolding of life quickens, just as in the spring of the year cycle. After youth comes "maturity", which is the same as the "summer" of the terrestrial life cycle. After maturity comes "old age", which is the same as "autumn" in the beings' terrestrial life cycle. These seasons of the terrestrial life cycle are indicated in the symbol by the same markings as the seasons of the day cycle and of the year cycle, that is summer and winter, spring and autumn.