Here’s this week’s reflection. I hope it resonates with you and ask that, if you enjoyed, please comment and share on your social media. Heartfelt thanks for all your support!
Keeping the light on for you,
Carol
Quietly entering our open bedroom window in late summer, her cooling tendrils wrap themselves around my sleeping face. A first kiss is gently placed on my forehead as I wake to enjoy the hint of what’s to come. The calendar may state otherwise, but her stealthy wink lets me know she’s returned and in the wings, rehearsing for her yearly fete.
Autumn, Mother Nature’s most flamboyantly costumed diva, is my personal bestie and mentor. Her arrival whips up palpable excitement within me. As I loathe humidity and crave a temperate clime, Autumn is as Goldilocks proclaims: just right.
The seeds of our communion took root early. Firmly glued in my childhood memory banks are snapshots of the kaleidoscopic glow of eastern hardwood forests. All senses were engaged with that visual smorgasbord, crisp air, perfume of dried foliage, and their satisfying crunch underfoot. Flavors of cinnamon, pumpkin, and caramel were the frosting on this autumnal cake, coupled with the start of new school years and the eager anticipation for what would lie ahead. As an adult, an even more robust bond exists with this dear one, who now nudges at and deeply nourishes my soul.
Autumn begins her artistic seduction for me in late August as she sneaks in those occasional chilly nights here in the north. Her whisper changes the grass to the deepest green, then a hint of khaki. Trees start to blush. Readying herself for her debut, her nod prompts the goldenrod to erupt and flowers to bloom their last hurrah of vibrant hue.
Finally stepping on stage, the delivery of her awe-inspiring monologue transforms the entire landscape into one of deep azure skies, golden fields, and resplendent timber. She speaks to her entire cast and audience, for even the weeds cloak themselves in their seasonal Sunday best for this event.
Her glittering costume, fiery headdress and pageantry captivates. She is a heroine who knows how to party, compelling us to dance outdoors with wonder and reckless abandon in the glamorous yearly soiree.
Autumn is also one clever subliminal savant. Her reds, oranges and yellows flood our eyes, the windows of our souls, subconsciously suggesting our internal pursuit for a matching tint. Guiding us to our inner fire is the most critical message from this riveting Earth Sister’s production.
We all possess this internal spark; the question is whether we recognize and fan a flame to illuminate paths unseen or sadly let the spark die to the ashes of what could have been.
Once she has delivered her decree, the denouement is an arresting polychromatic explosion. The time, after all, has come to allow another child of Mother Nature to be front and center, and Autumn refuses to leave without her unforgettable, florid bang.
Autumn is a bona fide member of my spiritual sisterhood. Aside from her beauty and intelligence, she’s a wonderful confidante who takes my hand and energizes me, helping to push myself out of stagnant comfort zones. I’m continually moved by her showmanship to raise the bar for myself, cultivating more to harvest in my own life. Our reunion each August is one of joyful anticipation, for I know those next few months in her presence will delight me with growth in ways I cannot predict.
And then, like every goodbye between platonic soulmates, I know we will impart one last peck on each other’s foreheads as we part ways before the winter wind blows.
The endearment continues and encourages me well into the new year. I cherish her gifts, and as always, gratefully await her annual return.
This one is definitely my fav!! I feel the same way about autumn. You have a much more eloquent way to express it than I. Thanks for sharing!
My pleasure! Glad it resonated with you!