My Season

Fall is here. I always call it "Fall" because it flows more naturally for me than "Autumn", not least because we had a beloved pet canary growing up that was named Autumn, and I always think of him when I use the word, and his death was very sad and, unfortunately, rather traumatizing for the tween-aged me. Fall is now my favorite season. Most of my life, I didn't really have one. I always said it was Spring, because Spring is about beginnings, and I like that idea, but I live in northern Illinois, and, in my lifetime, "Spring" was pretty much the rain that washed the last of the snow away. We had a really long Spring this year, and I did not like it at all, actually. It was too unreliable and confusing! Humph.

But it was years ago, four or five, to be exact, that Fall became my favorite season. The coolness, the color and crunch of leaves...Fall is always seen as an ending, the flip side of Spring, but it is beautiful and rich and there is a warmth of living things cuddling up for Winter that balances the coolness.

I have found, too, that my father comes back to me in the fall. This year, his spirit popped up one day, right about the equinox, and hasn't left yet. He was just helping me shop at this awesome stand I found at a Powwow I went to yesterday. Apparently, he has nothing better to do with his time. No, seriously, I've been thinking about my tattoo lately and apparently he wants me to add something to it. How does one disagree with a beloved dead parent? So figuring that out is on my to-do. (Yes, I do realize that it not normal to have this kind of ongoing relationship with someone who is not actually alive anymore. It is what it is!)

I'm rambling, but I do that, so consider this a "get to know your wise woman" moment. I do have a magical point here; it seems that Fall is my powerful time; my magic is most effective this time of year, to the point that magic just happens more for me during this season. I don't know if it's just me, or if everyone has a "power season".

For many years, in early Summer, I would get the urge to take off for parts unknown. Call it the gypsy in me (there actually is some!), but it was pretty reliable. Then, this year, it didn't happen. But when the weather started to change to Fall, suddenly there it was! So now all of my energies are gathered in one place. For me, this means that I'll probably always be doing the most and my best work in this season. Fortunately, this works for me! So, pay attention as this year turns and see if you have a powerful season.

Each season has its strengths and wonders; Spring with its beginnings, moisture, and tenderness, Summer with its heat, light and riotous growth, Winter with its cold, dark and dormancy, and Fall with its harvests, richness, and sweet, long goodbye.

Time to enjoy the slanting of the light.

Comments

[Missy Pratt]

I completely understand your Dad still giving you advice - Shay does it to me all the time. Pushy danged folks, anyway.

It has finally hit Fall here today. It's in the low 60s right now and feels amazing. Mary An and I are going to redo the screens for the windows so we can at least put up the ones in our bedrooms. I love sleeping with the fresh air nipping at my nose.

[Acelightning]

My favorite time of year is winter - especially a clear, piercingly cold winter night, with brilliant stars shining down on a snow-covered landscape. But in general, the colder the weather, the more energized I feel.

Spring and fall, the times when the battle between Cold and Hot can go either way - the times of changes - both tend to induce that gypsy restlessness in me. I get the urge to just jump in the car and drive, destination unknown, direction unimportant, and not stop until I need to buy gas. There's a feeling in the air as if anything might happen, and it's just about to, any moment now...

It's only just barely getting fall-like here on the East Coast; I've been able to shut off one or another of the air conditioners occasionally. I'm going to a pagan festival in less than two weeks, in upstate New York - I do hope the weather is "seasonable" by then!'