It’s that time of year- Samhain, which in ancient Celtic culture it is believed to be a time when the veil between the living and the dead is
thinnest; allowing spirits to roam. This pagan festival has since morphed into a contemporary celebration, such as Halloween bringing with it a reminder of the earth’s cycle. As a result, it's easy to find myself turning inward during this season. This also means that my mood is sulky, creating is less often and those seasonal cravings are sneaking up.
You’d imagine that I could be bursting at the seams of creativity- inspired by the changes in the external landscape; drawing up some fall themed pieces or writing about apple orchards but this is not the case. It becomes apparent that the patterns of the natural world impact our mood. As a result, being curled up—swaddled in layers of quietude, nestled at the bosom of fall is the norm. It’s wise for me not to think of this sulkiness, as part of any impediment but perhaps an opportunity to explore new ideas.
By surrendering the need to know what direction I’m heading at every moment and going with the natural flow of things, I welcome the divine order. We, as sentient creatures are not apart from life; we are part of it. The leaves are turning gold, the air is filled by pumpkin spice and daylight remding us that we honor a palpable, feeling Goddess. Embracing the beauty of fall means accepting the fact that nature is on a retreat and this transformation is also taking place within me.
Many things slow down: certain plants become dormant, outdoor events like weddings become less frequent and summer vacations end; signaling a reflective period. It is during this time that the planet recharges and we are encouraged to re-connect with ourselves. Being less active means that my efforts can be re-focused during these long days. Many of us are creating fertile ground from which ideas will hopefully bloom.