The Time of Harvest, Balance & Remembering
by Lori Suzanne Holetz
“This is the time of harvest, of thanksgiving and joy, of leave taking and sorrow. Now day and night are equal, in perfect balance, and we give thought to the balance and flow within our own lives. The Sun King has become the Lord of Shadows, sailing West: we follow Him into the dark. Life declines; the season of barrenness is on us, yet we give thanks for that which we have reaped and gathered. We meet to turn the Wheel and weave the cord of life that will sustain us through the dark.” ~ Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
Life dances on, the seasons change, and the children grow up. I sit in my front yard and watch as the falling autumn leaves begin to fall down to tumble, tip over tip, cart-wheeling down the middle of the road in a pretend race against one another. They look so pretty fluttering down like a golden gift of the gods of the season. I sit there and watch, the seasons go by for not nearly enough years; always present, always thankful, always graced by the beauty and the natural magic that surrounds me, here in this majestic mountain forest. The Wheel turns, time flies, and life becomes more precious by the minute.
Yesterday, my children were running in and out of the house, boisterously whooping and hollering in the joy of those fleeting end of summertime moments, splashing through the fiery leaves piling up on the lawn. In a few tomorrows, my eldest son will wed his wife, all grown. I, too, am now in the autumnal days of my life. It truly is fleeting fast, seemingly more so every day. It is a time of reflection, with so much abundance to be grateful for. We are surviving, thriving, despite the enormous trials and transitions of our world and these times. The apples still fall not far from the tree, even as the 100+ year old tree slowly dies away. There is still tremendous abundance, satisfying nourishment, and enough to feed everyone, including all the little critters who scurry about stashing their winter stores. It is that time and blessed be!
Life dances on, the seasons change, and the children grow up. I sit in my front yard and watch as the falling autumn leaves begin to fall down to tumble, tip over tip, cart-wheeling down the middle of the road in a pretend race against one another. They look so pretty fluttering down like a golden gift of the gods of the season. I sit there and watch, the seasons go by for not nearly enough years; always present, always thankful, always graced by the beauty and the natural magic that surrounds me, here in this majestic mountain forest. The Wheel turns, time flies, and life becomes more precious by the minute.
Yesterday, my children were running in and out of the house, boisterously whooping and hollering in the joy of those fleeting end of summertime moments, splashing through the fiery leaves piling up on the lawn. In a few tomorrows, my eldest son will wed his wife, all grown. I, too, am now in the autumnal days of my life. It truly is fleeting fast, seemingly more so every day. It is a time of reflection, with so much abundance to be grateful for. We are surviving, thriving, despite the enormous trials and transitions of our world and these times. The apples still fall not far from the tree, even as the 100+ year old tree slowly dies away. There is still tremendous abundance, satisfying nourishment, and enough to feed everyone, including all the little critters who scurry about stashing their winter stores. It is that time and blessed be!
Remembering, grandma would make the most delicious apple pies; no one ever bothered to ask her where she was getting the apples…. they just seemed to magically appear; every apple holds a secret star. Now as I pick them, I wonder if she thought of her father, my great grandfather, planting the orchard in Juanita Woods, which is now also slowly dying away. Time is a cruel and melancholic lover. But what joy when a sweet neighbor comes and hands me some beautiful pears from those dear old trees that still hang on in the various now established home parcels. Many know not what jewels they have in those gorgeous old trees, nor what those trees have seen in their centurion lifetime. But I do, and my heart swells with happiness at the blessings my ancestors have left for us. It is their time too.
All Hallows Eve and All Souls Day approach and remind us to thank our ancestors. For without the seven generations, we would not be here. It is a bittersweet time. Now, my granddaughter picks the fruits of past labors, and the generations proceed. So go forth, be prosperous and gather in your fruitfulness. Be thankful, delight and be graced by the beauty of the changing colors of the leaves… they will return. Rejoice in the time of waning, and rest peacefully. Search out those fruits, bake to your family’s hearts delight, remember, and be sustained. It is good.
May the abundance of the season be yours. Life now is goodness at the peak of rich, ripe deliciousness. And never forget to bless the Elders, be they human or tree. Without them, this time would not be ours.
All Hallows Eve and All Souls Day approach and remind us to thank our ancestors. For without the seven generations, we would not be here. It is a bittersweet time. Now, my granddaughter picks the fruits of past labors, and the generations proceed. So go forth, be prosperous and gather in your fruitfulness. Be thankful, delight and be graced by the beauty of the changing colors of the leaves… they will return. Rejoice in the time of waning, and rest peacefully. Search out those fruits, bake to your family’s hearts delight, remember, and be sustained. It is good.
May the abundance of the season be yours. Life now is goodness at the peak of rich, ripe deliciousness. And never forget to bless the Elders, be they human or tree. Without them, this time would not be ours.