Probably. But though in my town we’ve had sufficient rain, I’m still determined to enjoy a dry and vibrant autumn. Soon, I will have pots of yellow and burnt ocher mums nestling by pumpkins on my front porch. My autumn welcome sign is hung and a wreath of yellow leaves blazes on my front door. This is my time. Because for me, autumn is always a beginning.
When things fall back toward the earth, the outlines of garden and lawn, of walkway and road become more apparent. This precise definition creates a sense of order and organization. In fall, there are memories of wild vines and riotous summer flower color. But now it’s best to be more satisfied with quieter denser things like clipped boxwood and evergreens, bare tree trunks of grey and soft brown. The air is cool. The skies seem swept up too, presenting swathes of crystal color. Cold air outlines things so definitely, you can almost see each leaf and branch.
ORDER ALLOWS TIME FOR CONTEMPLATION
Definition and order also soothes the soul. I lean toward putting things away in their proper place. I lean toward knowing that everything sleeps quietly waiting for a reawakening. Autumn is a time to store energy, store knowledge. It can also be a time to read and contemplate, make difficult decisions.
If you seek solace and quiet, this is your time too. For as we move inside to do our living, placing things we love like a bright pumpkin or a sheaf of leaves on table surfaces; brightening a room with a flowered pillow or candlelight, it can also become a time to move inward in our thinking–to meditate, determine exactly who we are.
Autumn decorations remind us of endings, good endings that are resolute and leave us feeling blessed, not sorrowful. Autumn is the time of atonement for Jewish people; and how appropriate to tidy up one’s soul as the earth is preparing for sleep and hibernation, as winter winds are soon to come, warning us humans to stock up on food energy, light energy, the very ability to survive.
ATONEMENT
But no matter what the season, we should atone for the hurts we have caused; we should try to mediate our expressions of anger. And certainly, if we have hurt someone, we need to ask for forgiveness; and if someone has hurt us, we should try to find a way to forgive that person, to lighten the loads we often carry, as we also forgive ourselves.
SETTLING IN
It’s a little early, but there will come a time as the days get shorter when we will want to settle back into our brains and examine who we are, where we are going, and how we might improve. Life cannot be lived like the riot of spring, when nature blows her wad and lets everything grow, rush about. We enjoyed that fertility. But now it’s time to be more judicious in our use of harvest fruits; we need to carefully use and share our bounty.
Certainly in the spring, when life comes back, we have no fears of the future. But in the autumn, we need to count the jars in the cellar, the apples in the basket, the sins on the soul. We need to tidy our lives and draw within to discover how we will survive, how we will make it through the dark times of our lives. How we can help others through their darker, harder times.
6 Responses
Great piece. Brought back memories of Fall in Beverly. Starting a school year, catching up with friends after Summer. The aroma of burning leaves in cooler temperatures. I’m a little nostalgic‐-thanks.
Love,
Ray
This makes my day, Ray. There is something about Beverly, about HOME, that feels like FALL. Well it is here. Sending a hug, Beth
Fall is my favorite season. There is a chill in the air, the smells are crisp and rich, and it’s the time to get ready for a long winter. I love the idea of cleaning up for winter!
THANKS FOR READING, Melanie.
Beautiful
Thanks, Pennie.