What Brings Autumn?

“Listen! The wind is rising, and the air is wild with leaves, we have had our summer evening, now for October eves!” 
          – Humbert Wolfe

Axial tilt is the reason for the seasons. Because of the earth’s mass, there is a gyroscopic tilt to its rotation. It is tilted 23.4 degrees in relation to its plane of orbit. This tilt appears from earth as if the sun moves across the sky at an angle to the equator.

Two times a year the sun rests on the celestial equator. And at this time the sun will rise exactly in the east and set exactly in the west. These are the equinoxes. This year (2015) the Autumn equinox takes place on September 23^rd at 8:21 UTC.  After the Autumn Equinox, each day the sun’s rays will shine more on the southern hemisphere and less on the northern hemisphere. Those of us in the northern hemisphere experience the gradual shift of seasons from summer to fall.

The laws of nature will also shift. Autumn is a time of culmination, when the cycle of plant life has completed; flowered, borne fruit and generated seeds. Scientifically speaking, chlorophyll production is declining which (poetically speaking) is generating a kaleidoscope of golden and jeweled colors. Plant life above ground is beginning to wither, while life below ground is burrowing deeper.

It is time to honor accomplishments and harvest from nature. It is time to thank the earth for her generous bounty; to come together in community and celebration as the days grow shorter and cooler. In order to benefit from the shifting laws of nature, we change our clothing, our food and our routine.

Ideally we will have a fall cleanse and purify our bodies of accumulated summer heat and toxins. Fall is the most effective time of year to cleanse, according to Ayurved, because all of the circulatory channels are dilated from summer’s warmth and the body is innately programmed to slough off and release all that is not useful for the coming season. After the cleanse it is a time to eat denser, more unctuous and starchy foods – the roots, gourds, seeds and nuts that are now amply provided as nature’s bounty.  Taking our cue from the sun, we do best to retire a little earlier at night for more restorative rest. It is also time to prepare the land for winter’s sleep, putting the garden to bed, filling the silo, larder, pantry and wood pile.

Autumn is a glittering time when colors dazzle and the air has a unique golden clarity. All around us nature is busy preparing for winter; the stirring call of the elk, the noisy migration of geese and the quiet and almost unseen scuttling of mice and garden spiders.

“I love fall! Fall is exciting. It’s apples and cider. It’s an airborne spider. It’s pumpkins in bins. It’s burrs on dogs’ chins.  It’s wind blowing leaves. It’s chilly red knees. It’s nuts on the ground. It’s a crisp, dry sound. It’s green leaves turning, and the smell of them burning. It’s clouds in the sky. It’s Fall. That’s why … I love Fall.”  
                 – Author unknown. 

Celebrating Ganesh

Today is Ganesh Chaturthi, the observance of Lord Ganesha’s birth (and perpetual rebirth).

Ganesh Chaturthi is celebrated throughout India, many parts of Asia and wherever the winsome

elephant-faced god is loved. This holiday has been celebrated for hundreds of years. It became an observance associated with the struggle for India’s freedom and a day of national pride.

In 1947 Ganesh Chaturthi was declared as a national holiday in India. In many places it is celebrated for several days, today being the first day of the observance. With so many people collectively honoring Ganesh on this auspicious day, the laws of nature that Ganesh embodies are especially active and accessible to us.

 

Today, sing a song to Ganesh, offer a flower, perhaps a sweet to your friend, protector and remover of obstacles.

Where will you find him? Look first in your own heart, he is the the heart of every devotee. 

We can also find Ganesh as the benevolent aspect of nature; the seasons coming on time and the weather balanced and nurturing. He can be understood as a part of our own physiology. For example, he is like our immune system, protecting from disease and in communication with all the organs for their optimal functioning. Socially, his face is the face of our good friend who looks out for our best interests. 

We could also say he is the self-directed and successful part of ourselves, as in “putting our best foot forward.” He is also our own higher self, our inner teacher. He is present in world affairs when diplomacy and policy work well and conflict is avoided. He is in the cosmos as the precision and order of planetary and galactic movement. He is cooperation, flow of communication, ideal sequence and outcome. He is omnipresent good will and beneficence.

May you be supported and blessed by Ganesha’s energy.

Happy Ganesh Chaturthi!

Ganesh Chaturthi

Today we celebrate Ganesh Chaturthi.

Who bestowed his presence on earth for all his devotees.

Shiva declares Ganesh as to all the gods superior

Of all earth’s interior.

Ganesh is the God of Wisdom, Good Fortune and Prosperity.

Invoked at the beginning of a new venture or travel, traditionally.

Decorate with flower garlands and lights.

Let the wisdom of Ganesh take flight.

Ganesha’s head symbolizes wisdom, the atman or soul.

The ultimate supreme reality of all.

Ganesha’s right hand holds a goad.

Helping people on their eternal path, removing obstacles to achieve their goals.

He holds a rosary in his left hand to acknowledge

promoting continuous knowledge.

On Ganesh, a snake runs around

representing energy in all forms.

Ganesh, the Destroyer of Vanity, Selfishness and Pride,
celebrated on this day when Vishnu attached an elephant’s head to revive
him,
thus allowing Ganesha to be reborn.

   -Poem By Haley Mary