Inhale
the Earth
“At
no other time (than autumn) does the earth let itself be inhaled in
one smell, the ripe earth; in a smell that is in no way inferior to
the smell of the sea, bitter where it borders on taste, and more
honey-sweet where you feel it touching the first sounds. Containing
depth, darkness, something of the grave almost.”
Rainer
Maria Rilke (Letters on Cezanne)
As
I sit here on my porch in the dawn light, acorns rocket down and
smack like bullets on my neighbor's tin roof and on the top of my
car parked in the driveway. They sound like buckshot peppering
through the leaves surrounding me. I thank the gods once again for
the roof above my head. This morning is chilly and filled with
silence. Autumn is definitely here.
I
always think of my grandmother, who hated autumn. How could you when
the world lights up like a bonfire? To her, it portended death, the
silence of the grave. Perhaps that is why we celebrate Halloween in
October—the earth is taking its last good breath before the deep
freeze of winter.
For
me, autumn is a reminder of the cycle of life. On the American Indian
medicine wheel, it is represented by Bear, who makes preparations
this time of year for a long sleep, a little death of sorts. Animals
have more connection with the seasons than we; common sense tells
them to rest during the winter, to be less active, to only do what is
essential to maintain life. Bear's cubs will gestate during
hibernation and be born in spring, when the ground thaws and life
becomes active again. The birds, too, are sleeping late these
days—not rising until the sky is light. Mother Nature is very
smart.
We
humans should take notes. We are, after all, part of the natural
world. Fall could be a time of preparation for us—gathering in what
we need for the winter ahead, planning the inside projects we want to
accomplish. We could slow our frenetic lives and allow more time for
contemplation. We could catch up with ourselves, count our blessings,
say our prayers of gratitude. Whatever else we do, we could
appreciate the turning of the season. Autumn is here. Go out
and inhale the earth and be blessed by it.
In
the Spirit,
Jane
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