Slowing down, waking up

It's true that some people (i.e. me) slow down as they grow older. I specially notice this in the mornings when it takes me longer to get up and dressed. But I'm not sure this only has to do with physical action.

What I find is that I'm constantly enlarging my mind, my thoughts, my heart. The latter has to do with children marrying and producing off-spring, my husband and I making new friends, and for me, entering into writers' communities, and just generally meeting people. As to my mind, I find I spend more time musing and thinking things over than I ever did before.... It's like an expansion of consciousness, if you will. So maybe if I'm putting so much energy into the more interior matters of being, it doesn't really matter if I'm physically slower than I used to be. Would you say?

Oops, I wuz wrong.

Apparently, the equinox only happened yesterday, not on the 21st. A friend who's more up on astronomy than I am put me right. But I have to confess, astronomy is not one of my strong suits. Neither is ornithology, for that matter.

With both of these, I struggle to learn and understand. I'm better with birds these days, maybe because there's not so much of a variety where we live, but generally I have a hard time remembering their names. So I make an effort, but soon, like whatever I've learned in between about movements of the planets and so on, I forget again. Which is frustrating.

But I suppose our souls have their own inclinations as to what we grasp easily and what's more difficult. Who know whence these come? Only someone with a profound knowledge and insight into karma, I imagine. And that's not really me. Not yet, anyhow. :-)

And green, and golden

Beautiful words from Dylan Thomas, I believe. They so sum up my experience right now. Yes, I've managed to sing the 'Summer goodbye' song, my body is adjusting to cooler temperatures, and I'm enjoying the early fall. Our neighbour's maple tree is already sporting its colours, while the green is just beginning to retreat in ours.

Yesterday I heard something interesting on the radio. This was, that the yellows and browns are already there in the leaves, but we can't see them because of the green. Once the chlorophyll process retreats, they are revealed. However, it's different with the reds because they are connected to the sugar process.

Truly, there is much to wonder at in this world of ours.

Autumn Equinox

Now I suppose at the equinox we should feel nicely balanced. Can't say I'm quite in that sort of a space. In fact, earlier this morning I was telling myself 'Buck up, Brenda'.

So updating the blog is a start on that process. I hope!

What interests me broadly about the equinoxes and solstices is how our Christian festivals come soon after. Of course, this doesn't strictly apply to Easter, as it's a moveable feast. But St. Johns takes place three days after the summer solstice and Christmas three days after the winter. Michaelmas, on the 29th September, is eight days after the 21st. Why? My only thought was that maybe we need to experience a full week in between in order to access the Michael time of the year.  

In days of yore when I was at primary school, this term was called the Michaelmas term. Generally these days you don't hear much talk of archangels. Angels are much more au courant, and there's plenty to read and glean about them. Are we losing the higher hierarchy from our consciousness?

Autumn brings us some help in trying to connect with the archangel Michael, I think. All those fiery colours and the zing in the air banish the dreamy greens of summer and help us take up our swords to fight the good fight. I hope!

Indulgence

In the winter of my life I long
for eternal summer
and resist
the necessity of business.
-Do webwork for Gill.
-Write a cheque for Phil...
So goes my list
And yet
I'd rather wipe the windowsills
Indulge in fictive imagination
Hang the laundry out to dry
While autumn's sun still holds
It's warming glow.

Wouldn't you?

This and that

This morning I put my T-shirt on back to front and I thought 'I wonder what my mom would have said about that?' If you put a garment on inside out, she'd say you'd be getting a letter. Well, I guess these days most of us get plenty of letters via email but very few actually in the post. Another thing which I think I've mentioned before... if you cut your nails before noon on Monday, you'd get a present. Hmm. Did so last week. I'm still waiting.

One of my emails this morning had the subject line: So long, summer. Can't avoid that truth, but it struck me a while ago that this is a strange way of saying 'good-bye'. I mean, so long what? Till I see you again? You've already had all you're going to get this time around? And yet the sounds and casual way we use this doesn't convey negativity to me. It feels more positive. I guess I can live with  'okay, till the next time'.

Making space for inspiration

Although I'm fiddling around with a couple of stories, the truth is that I'm between manuscripts at the moment. So I'm taking the opportunity to do a bit of a more in-depth cleaning around the house. This feels good because I take the view of my fellow countrywoman Linda Thomas and consider this not so much as getting rid of dirt, but as making space for the spirit.

And there's another aspect. I know it makes a difference to the quality of my sleep if I've been involved in some sort of meaningful activity during the day. And no, that doesn't include staring at my computer screen, although the typing can't be entirely dismissed.

Talking of activity, I've really gotten into the bike riding. Leisurely, that is. I like to take a turn around the 'hood mid-morning and early evening. I've found 5.30 is a good time because traffic is light and most people and their children are busy with the evening meal. So is my husband, for that matter, and this little sortie comes courtesy of his willingness to cook!

So now it's a little after ten a.m and I'll say ciao because I'm off for that ride. Catch u soon again.