And all at once, summer collapsed into fall
The fall equinox is on Saturday—the day when we officially tip from summer into fall.
Here in New Jersey where I live, there are already some signs of fall, if you slow down enough to look.
It’s not just the cooler temperatures, although those help. It’s also the way that some of the trees are no longer exactly green: they have taken on a yellowish or orangish or reddish cast, at least here and there. The ornamental grasses have all gone to seed, and are starting to turn brown. Acorns are starting to fall from the oaks. And there’s a beautiful coolness at the edge of each breeze, reminding me that autumn, and then winter, is coming.
I am ready to go out and buy mums to put by the front door from now until November. Ready to start using the fire pit on our patio. Ready for hot mulled cider and poetry and sweaters.
But first, I will observe the start of autumn, which is sometimes called Mabon. It’s the fall festival, and it’s marked with all the things that those of us in the United States associate with fall: Apples, pumpkins, squash, cider, pomegranates, wine, autumn leaves and fall colors (oranges, browns, yellows, bronzes, coppers, and reds), and harvest celebrations.
It’s a good day to honor Mother Earth and to acknowledge her for all of her goodness and support. It’s a great day for giving thanks for the many good things in life (even if, like me, you’ve had a challenging year).
Break out that cornucopia and fill it with small pumpkins and gourds, dried wheat and more. Or put some corn stalks and straw by the front door—or, in my case, some potted mums. Bring fresh and/or dried flowers and plant life into your home to decorate your space. Cinnamon pinecones? Sure! Oranges studded with cloves? Yes!
Maybe YOU are ready to collapse into fall?
For many people, summer is a busy season. Lots of “go, go, go” and not always enough rest or relaxation.
If that’s you, maybe you want to consider setting aside some time to rest and find your center again. Because if you don’t set aside time to rest and recover from all the things you do, your body will do it for you—usually inconveniently, sometimes dramatically, and often for a longer down time than you anticipate.
If you are trying to figure out HOW to rest, or (more accurately), how to give yourself permission to rest without feeling guilty about it, then maybe this post will help. It includes a link to a piece I wrote for Tiny Buddha about how rest is the ultimate protective gear. Or maybe you would like to read a book on the topic, in which case I recommend Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving by Celeste Headlee and/or Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto by Tricia Hersey (founder of The Nap Ministry). Or, you know, you can always schedule a coaching session with me so we can work it through by addressing your particular issue.
Because, as it turns out, resting IS doing something.
And you don’t have to do anything to earn it, no matter what our society or your boss or your family of origin says about it—that’s all patriarchal nonsense designed to make you an efficient cog in the wheel of production, and you, my friend, are not a machine.
You are a beautiful human who both requires and deserves rest, among many other good things in life. The sooner you start treating yourself like a worthy human, the better. Which brings me back to the start of this post: maybe it’s time to go apple-picking, or decorate for fall. It’s fine if that means busting out Halloween decorations, too, because Halloween is decidedly a fall vibe.
Tell me how you plan to celebrate the change of seasons!
Seriously. I wanna know. Just comment below, or shoot me an email using the contact form.
