Welcome, Autumn
Today marks the first day of autumn.
Here in Madison we have a Labyrinth Society that has an indoor walk on both equinoxes and solstices, and today I was blessed to be able to find time to walk it not once, but twice!
It was rainy here today, a gift both to the soil and, I think, to our souls. A firm, steady rain for most of the day, cool and grey until just before dark – a perfect first day of fall.
It’s the time to come inside. The days grow colder, the nights longer. The heady, hearty scents of soups simmering on the stove and bread baking in the oven comfort us in primal ways.
We haven’t pulled out the heavy coats yet, but we’re zipping into hoodies and jackets. Sandals are giving way to socks and shoes.
When I was twelve I cried at the end of September. The long, lazy summer was coming to an end, and I wasn’t ready to relinquish it. It was a special summer. A new soul friend that I rode bikes with for hours every day. The Boy I’d have a crush on for years – who noticed me. I was in a play and bonded with the cast in that way you can only understand if you’ve experienced it.
Today, I know that everything has a season, and even transcendent summers must come to an end. Endings don’t hit me quite so hard, of course, as they did then. How could we ever survive the pain if we didn’t learn to weather things with a tad bit more grace?
Today, I welcome fall with reflective anticipation. Indeed, it may be my favorite time of year. As children we rejoice in the extremes – hot, hazy summer with its academic freedom, and fun, joyful winter with its snow and holiday frenzy. As adults, we appreciate the beauty and symbolism of the less lavish seasons.
The leaves have started to fall. In Wisconsin it gets cold early. Soon I will break out the pumpkin candles and the never-ending battle with falling leaves will begin, at least until the first snowfall, after which we pretend they no longer exist.
If you had the opportunity to greet autumn with a labyrinth walk, I hope it was your first gift of the season. For autumn offers us the chance to tuck in, to cozy up, to rest and to reflect. Foods are hot and rich, the fruits of the soil are resplendent in greens, browns, yellows and oranges – deep earth colors we identify with harvest, abundance, thanksgiving.
It is the first day of the new season, a fresh turn on the journey of life. May it treat you well. May it bring you joy. ~ Namaste ~