Plans for Autumn?

Diane writes:

Hello there, everyone!

We've gotten some new members but there's been no recent discussion.

With Autumn truly here, do any of you have specific plans? I know I like to do “Fall Cleaning,” rather than Spring Cleaning, to get the apartment ready for the holidays (which begin with Samhain/Halloween)! Anyone else?

Best,
Diane

Re: Plans for Autumn?

I am working on building my new blogsite Goddess in a Teapot and become a bit more creative than I have been the past year or so.  Also, my son is just starting high school, so I want to help him have a good first year.  Other than that, I plan to enjoy autumn's gifts here in New England – the leaves, the pumpkins, the cool mornings and evenings.  Of course, we also do a lot of storing up for winter here since we never know when we may be snowbound once November 1 comes.

Re: Plans for Autumn?

I've collected wood branches and leaves in order to honour the Fall. I'm going to make a staff (walking stick) out of one of the branches.

Re: Plans for Autumn?

I am new here and I am still in my first year of “recognizing” my pagan side.  I say it that way, because although I can see I have always been this way, I didn't realize what this way was until last fall.  I have had for 20 years a sacred place, where a split in the stream comes back together.  On the side closest to my gravel bar sheltered cove, is a little waterfall that runs by my rock alter.  I have a witness tree with a sitting rock below it that looks out on the slower water that pools there.

So, I have tried to make some recognition of the solstice's and the equinox's.  The most recent was the Autumn Equinox which as I am sure everyone here already knows is the period when day and night are equal.  On that morning, I put on one of my favorite T-Shirts that shows the Equinoxes and Solstices with a Sun in the center that I got from Whole Foods and went off hiking while listening to my new CD of the Abraham-Hick's Amazing Power of the Emotions new release.

On my way to my sacred place, I collected appropriate objects.  A Yucca seed pod, a spray of Yellow flowers that are in profuse bloom at this time, a bright Red leaf, a switch of seeded grass, the fruits of a Blackberry Lily, an Acorn w/cap and a snowy White Owl's feather to set upon my rock alter.  I placed my little Black metal bucket with Jack-O-Lantern Smile and Green interior there as well.  The Orange colored, Pumpkin fragranced votive candle was then placed within and I lit the flame, thinking that Autumn subdues the sun's light, which I actually noticed in that place as I sat in meditation on that favorite sitting rock within hearing of the stream's little falls.

Then, I spent about 10 mins in comtemplation, realizing I am now in the Autumn of my life.  By contrasting this with my in-laws current state of winter, with gratitude and relief, I realized that this is my peak, my time of harvest.  That there are over 20 years left before my season begins to turn towards winter.  I still have a long time before the final letting go…

May all of your days be equally meaningful …

Deborah

Re: Plans for Autumn?

It's so nice to hear that Ilse and Deborah, you have both gone out to celebrate in nature. I have an acquaintance I made this summer at a retreat in upstate New York, the space is gorgeous – the land has a labyrinth and is located in the mountains. In fact, we stayed in a yurt but that is getting off subject. And she said she bought the land in September and then added, “you know, the sucker time of the year.” Of course she meant when the leaves are changing colors in the mountains like that, who can resist?

Autumn seems like a time of slowing down but for me it usually means projects start speeding up, and of course, to me it makes sense to start cleaning indoors for all the holidays that will be right around the corner.

Diane

Re: Plans for Autumn?

I love all these stories!  They are wonderful!  The rituals and ceremonies that we make for ourselves are so rich and delightful and important.  So many of us grew up thinking that we had to follow the liturgies that others created and have found that making our own are really such creative and meaningful acts.   Even though nature is starting to sleep, autumn seems like such an alive time full of such beauty.  I'm glad you all have found this pod!

Re: Plans for Autumn?

I've actually been going through a major cleaning in my home and getting rid of a lot of stuff I don't need.  I've pared down my herbal garden and getting it ready for the winter. 

I've already made plans that this time next year I will not be at my current job, I'm actually giving it til end of January because by then, I should have my finances in order, and the holidays will be over.  I'm keeping myself open to opportunity, and if something bigger and brighter happens, I can choose either to stay on or move on.  Either way, I know I can't continue the way things have been.  It's good to know I have a choice and a way out when the need arises.

I am currently going to be traveling the next couple of months so I'm really excited about that.  Seeing the leaves change makes me sad even though logically I know spring is just around the corner and less than 6 months away.  Still, I get a bit melancholy with the days getting shorter and getting colder and seeing bare trees.  People just don't seem that happy in the cold here. 

My altar is a work in progress. I'm looking for new material to place on the altar, something fall-like.  Right now it's a rather rich light green which I love, and I'd like to find a rich wine or brown heavy silk for my altar.  I guess I'm not ready yet to give up summer!

As for Samhain, I will be celebrating it in Mexico along with the Day of the Dead.  I'm very excited about that, as they treat the Day of the Dead with much reverence and celebration.  I can't think of a better place to be – save for New Orleans which has a similar attitude towards life and death.