THE FIFTH SEASON

CREATIVITY IN THE SECOND HALF OF LIFE

- MARK NEPO

Mark Nepo's authentic voice has been a soul companion to many, and he has been a longtime friend of OmTimes, gracing our cover seven times to date. He also received our Life Achievement Award in 2023. With over a million copies sold, he has inspired readers and seekers all over the world with his #1 New York Times bestseller The Book of Awakening.

Beloved as a poet, teacher, and storyteller, Mark has been called "one of the finest spiritual guides of our time," "a consummate storyteller," and "an eloquent spiritual teacher." His work is widely accessible and used by many and his books have been translated into more than twenty languages. He spoke with us at length about his latest book, just coming out, The Fifth Season: Creativity in the Second Half of Life; a deep conversation we offer you here.

OMTIMES: What led you to write The Fifth Season?

MARK NEPO: As the years go by, the question for each of us becomes more and more real: What does it mean to age? Despite the limitations that come as the body wears down, there are many gifts to inhabit by aging. For, in contrast to the many ways our modern world denigrates and pathologizes aging, the field that opens after decades of living is replete with vast gifts and new horizons. In truth, I have always used my own experience as a personal case study to explore the common passages we all must face. Since I'm now in my seventies, I feel compelled to explore the rhythms of aging in the second half of life. In many ways, this book is a natural inquiry for me.

OMTIMES: Please explain what you mean by the Fifth Season?