By Lori Suzanne Holetz
*
The shadows are lengthening.
Apples are being harvested with
future yummy goods swirling in
the mind’s eye. The day and night
hours of light and dark are balanced
now as each day we move
more into the longer dark days of
winter. Firewood being split and
stacked, trees store the heat of the
summer sun to warm our bones.
Recipes are searched through for
the bountiful squashes, still finishing
in the garden. Zany daisies
pop bright yellow, waving at the
shockingly purple morning glories
in the early autumn breeze like a
Dr. Seuss drawing. Early morning
dew appears, twinkling like tiny
diamonds, sun kissed…as the
veils thin.
There is a hint of rain to come
wafting through the morning air.
The shapes of the clouds begin to
change. Poison oak leaves glow
red, yellow, and orange in its
full glory, then gently float to the
ground – Mother Nature’s fancy
Autumnal carpet. Suddenly the
morning is chill. Leaves litter the
roadways, toppling and twirling,
cartwheeling in a race along. The
wheel of the year turns on.
The last of the Indian Summer
eves spark bonfires. Glasses clink
in salute to one another. Now is
the time to foster inner light. Candles
are collected in anticipation
of darker moments…to find our
way. Tis the season of the witch.
Moving into the time of dead,
winter is the new year beginning.
Magical wishes are blown into the
four directions as blessings are
bestowed upon those in need. It is
a time of giving.
Walks in the redwoods; crunch,
crunch, crunch…smells mushroomy,
moist, soft, the womb of
the Great Mother tempts to lay
down for a nap. A fat yellow banana
slug ever so slow and steady
goes on its way with no thoughts
of time or worldly events…a blissful
ignor-ance. Can you hear the
fairies whisper?
Children’s excitement begins to
build. Tis the time to make costumes
shine. What’ll it be this year,
sweet pea? A ghostie, a pirate, a
ghoul you’ll be…a witchy witch
hat will fit perfectly. Halloween
magic begins to swirl, black
and orange decorations sparkle
around town, hanging down,
tempting us to dance like clanking
skeletons round. Harvest festivals
and Renaissance faires, bring us
out to float about, clinking glasses
and here’s “Huzzah!” as we share
each other’s festive wares. Last
gatherings of the year point to
times ahead for more cheer as the
holly daze do loom. Get out those
gorgeous hand knit sweaters…
none too soon.
The veils between the worlds
thin. What does this mean…to
go within? It is the time when the
ancestors rise and may come to
visit right before your eyes. Have
you seen, on Halloween, how very
quiet the night can be? We always
believed it is the time when
the ghosts come out. But to our
surprise, they are not about. It is
the time for human lore…for us to
ponder and be grateful for ancestors
before. All Souls Day brings
them back, in Spirit’s good graces,
they rest again in peace. Tis the
season of the witch, for she is the
one who knows, who sees with
eyes closed. There is comfort in
Grandmothers still around, long
after they’ve gone from sight and
sound. Don’t be afraid, you’ve just
peered into the world, as the veils
thin. Boo!