Ushering in Autumn

     

          Today, ladies and gents, I am here to tell you all about this week’s theme. This post will be one of the more wordy posts about our pictures since I was so excited for it. Last October, I published a post entitled “Delicious Autumn”. In the post, I mostly summed up that I love the season and got to pick the theme. Then I showed you pictures. If you can’t tell, I am leading up to telling you about another week of autumn photos. This year, however, I am giving you more than just visuals. Last year we found some great pictures. I have saved albums on my computer and highly enjoy going back to look at them. While the theme itself has been repeated this year (as will more in the coming months, especially October), none of the pictures were. We decided, upon starting this game over, that we would not repeat any pictures even if we re-did a theme or three. This works our great because I get to find more pictures and focus on some of the cooler themes for a second time. So if you know anything about me at all, you know that I was extremely excited about this week’s autumn theme. The concept this time was to welcome autumn so each day I included a picture with the words “welcome autumn” or at least “autumn/fall”. There were the typical pictures of leaves as well. We did not go overboard with the foods or holidays this week though. It was mostly interesting pictures of foliage. There were a few pumpkins in there and I definitely got sent a harvest themed picture at least once. Primarily, though, there were rivers, roads, and houses surrounded by trees with foliage of various colors. It was definitely a beautiful week in pictures.

              

  Now you may wonder what I am going to ramble on about that pertains to fall. I’m sure I could find many things to talk about that have to do with this amazing season. However, I am posting this today for a reason. Today is the first official day of fall. Here in the north east, the seasons have begun to change and the weather has been cooler. It has been great. Yet today it is official. Today, in the Pagan religions, is Mabon. Some may call it the autumn equinox, or simply just the first day of autumn. It is one of 2 days out of the year where the day is equally as long as the night. It is a time of thankfulness and balance. In earlier times, it was the end of the harvests. Now is the time of year when preparations for the winter would begin. Thanks would be offered for the foods that were left and the fields would become barren as the weather began to change. In celebration of this day, there are many things a person could do. Cleaning out your house to prepare for winter is one. Once the weather gets colder, people spend more time indoors. A type of spring cleaning is always recommended. Get rid of anything you don’t use, and any clutter in your space. Emotionally, physically, and spiritually get rid of bad energy and prepare your home so you can enjoy it more. Also, focus on the harvest itself. It is now apple season as well as a great time to make wine. The gods of the vine or gods of vegetation are the focus of this particular holiday. Bake a pie, make your own wine, or simply enjoy a crisp bite of a fresh apple. As I mentioned, this is a time of balance. The light is now equal to the dark, but the dark is also becoming more prominent. The end of the year is considered darker. Autumn and winter are represented by deep colors such as browns, oranges, reds, and dark greens. While spring and summer are airy and light, autumn and winter are dense and dark. This is not a bad thing at all. Without the darkness, one would not know the light. Embrace the darkness to come. Decorate your home with the foliage of the season. Place gourds, leaves, pumpkins, etc around to further enhance the feeling of fall.

               

As negative as some of that sounds, it is all truly a good thing. As I have said many times, I love the fall. There are so many good foods and holidays. Who doesn’t love Thanksgiving? Personally I prefer Halloween, but to each his own. Whatever you like best, find a way to enjoy this season. Thanks to the changing global climates, this season is never around like it used to be. So step outside and take a deep breath. Enjoy the coolness (if it is cool in your area) of the air. Grab an apple, carve a pumpkin, do something festive today. I found a quote that sums up how I feel today, and is my favorite of the day (perhaps even the week or month): “Autumn, the year’s last, loveliest smile.” –William Cullen Bryant