Turn of The Wheel
An Autumn Offering
It is autumn, my favorite season and all feels possible and new again. The dramatic changes here in the Northeast — darkening skies, cooling temperatures, green leaves exploding into orange, yellow, red and brown — remind me that change is inevitable, life is impermanent and I must savor the now before it slips away. The poignant beauty of the season puts things in perspective. Nature reminds me to be present and to let go. I’m grateful for that.
On the eve of the Equinox, I reflected:
What seeds did I sow in spring?
What hasn’t worked, hasn’t grown? Where has energy been wasted?
What am I ready and willing to release and compost as deciduous trees shed their leaves?
What has flourished? What am I harvesting now, in this swell of nature’s abundance?
What am I most grateful for?
We are moving toward a time of hibernation.
From the perspective of holistic herbalism, our bodies are living ecosystems and the changing season is a reminder to prepare our bodies and apothecaries for winter. We can ask: How does my body respond in the cold? What does my immune system need? How can I support it? Do I tend to feel more grief in autumn, more isolation in the darkness of winter? It is time to pull my circle of friends, loved ones, healing plants and practices close? I’ve found it incredibly helpful to look ahead and align my body with the rhythms of nature.
Â
Celestial events like summer and winter solstice, spring and autumnal equinox are pivot points our ancestors recognized through practice, ritual and story. I’ve been exploring these traditions and delving into my Gaelic roots with friend, colleague, and Gaelic cultural activist Àdhamh Ó Broin for the last five years. Though globally renowned for his work as Scottish Gaelic advisor to the Outlander film production, his daily preoccupation keeps him closer to home and the long-overdue decolonization of Scotland’s people through reconnection with the carrying stream of indigenous culture, language, and earth-based practice. It has been a fascinating exploration. One that has made me feel more rooted, closer to ‘home,’ and more engaged with the wild web of life.
If you’re interested in exploring with us, I invite you to check out our Wheel of the Year: Embodiment of Gaelic Storytelling and Herbal Tradition course beginning October 30th, around the time of Samhainn. This is an intimate online offering — just 9 students — so everyone has a chance to share and be heard. Each class makes connections between the transitions and changes on the Earth and the ecosystem that is our body. Together, we will dive into practices for each turn of the Wheel. You can learn more HERE. All are welcome.
I hope you had a lovely transition into the new season. Enjoy the day, and the cycles of nature wherever you are.