When I was a child, one of my great delights was visiting Mum’s life-long best friend, Nan. She had a rambling house filled with dark wood and rich colours. It smelled of flowers and beeswax furniture polish.
Nan was a keen gardener with an artist’s eye, but she had only a tiny paved courtyard, so she poured a lot of her artistry into beautiful embroidery and tapestry. I was fascinated by one piece in particular, in which she had stitched an exquisite tiny garden scene for each month of the year. She had worked into it these words by Vita Sackville-West: “I sing the cycle of my country’s year.”
I used to wait with mounting excitement as the months ticked by and the colours in the tiny garden scenes became richer, warmer, more vibrant. Eventually came September with a deep, abundant russet glow of flowers a little like these.
Autumn has always been my favourite time of year. In the sheer richness of the descent into winter I see more possibility for renewal than in Spring. At this time the seeds of rebirth have already been sewn, and we are simultaneously harvesting the results of the year’s growth.
It seems to me that in the abundance of Autumn, we can see clearly the underlying rhythm and truth of all faiths. A time that sees the Harvest Moon and the Autumn Equinox close together seems to strip away our theology and our cities, and point us back to the basic fact that we are all people who for millennia have grown and harvested food for ourselves and our families.
Of course, buying our fruit and vegetables at the supermarket isn’t exactly poetic. I find that even growing a few herbs makes me feel more in touch with life and I’m branching out into vegetables next year!
Meanwhile for the Equinox on Monday I’ll be celebrating the abundance of life and harvest. I’ll take a long walk in the woods, where I’ll gather fallen conkers, leaves and sticks. I’ll breathe in the air with its new autumnal tang. In the evening I’ll decorate my home with my gatherings, add fruit and dried flowers, and light scented candles. I’ll turn off the lights and take time to sit and listen to the wheel of the year turning.
And I’ll remember that Meister Eckhart told us: “Even if the only prayer you ever say in your life is ‘Thank you’, it will be enough.”
How will you mark the turn of the year?
(Photograph by DWQ Online)
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Oh, Tess, what a beautiful post. Autumn is also my favorite, and I DO love winter. So many people love autuman but “hate” what follows; I find it all so fascinating. The entering into that happens as the weather becomes colder; the silence that descends; the darkness that envelops us. It is still very green here (due to our unique growing zone thanks to our lovely lake), and I anxiously await the reds and yellows to come. I have begun taking walks to try and not miss a moment of the transition.
There is something very special about autumn. It seems like a time for reflection. And it has its own very special aroma and look.
Great post, Tess. Many thanks.
Tess, I wish I were closer and could join you on that walk in the woods. I will have to join you in spirit as that is my plan for the day. I love the image of sitting to “listen to the wheel of the year turning.” Amen.
I love Fall as well. There is an inner turning within me as I go from being outside to working inside. I’m sure there is a corollary spiritually.
Lovely, Tess! I’d love to have visited Nan with you and your mother! Have you any idea what became of that embroidered garden?
I love each season, but since I lived for 10 years where there was no autumn, I especially delight in autumn these days.
Thanks for a wonderful post!
such amazing imagery you have offered us here. it feels quite holy and sacred (even for a spring-lover). hoping you had an amazing evening celebrating the equinox! peace.
This is such a lovely post, Tess. I read it on the 20th and again today. I celebrated the first day of Autumn by going for a walk with a dear friend (of 35 years!) along coastline trails. I thought to myself, “Thank you, this truly is enough.” Friendship, nature and the gift of a few free hours to enjoy both.
You’ve given me lots to think about in this post…cycles, wheels, autumn rituals. I will have to bookmark it. Thank you.
@Blisschick: yes I’m a winter-lover as well. Autumn and winter make me feel more alive. Interesting what you say about the way the lake affects the growing season around it.
@Barney: the aroma is one of the most important parts for me.
@Christine: unfortunately when the day actually came it poured with rain all day, so the walk didn’t happen! I gathered the last roses from my garden though, for the listening.
@Maya: inside/outside – yes I also know that inner turning.
@Barbara: I guess with global warming we’ll see more zones where there is no delineation between the seasons. Terrible.
@Lucy: I’ll convert you from spring yet! Yes, the evening was peaceful and beautiful.
@Elaine: what a truly lovely way to spend the day. Will we see pictures of those coastline trails?