Autumn ~ The Season of Rich Reward

The Goddess of Autumn is holding court in all of her autumn finery and I am, gratefully, a guest at her table.

I think that autumn is truly becoming my favorite season. In my realm of the northern hemisphere winter predominates for six months, from mid November to mid May, leaving the remaining seasons to share the other half of the year among them. Spring bulbs often get nipped by a late, last frost, summer seems to be the most mercurial of them all–with occasional low temps that feel almost like winter, and then, almost overnight, fall is upon us and tender perennials wilt in the cold nights of early September.

Yet, every so often we are blessed with an autumn such as this year’s. This is what I’m talking about when I say I’d gladly trade a month or two of early winter for a lengthier fall transition.I suspect it is a fitting analogy to my stage of life as well. I would much rather linger in this sweet spot of relative health—physical and mental firmity—than slide too soon into a lengthy old age.

So for now, I am living in the moment, enjoying all that I have to be thankful for, including the rarity of fall days with temperatures to rival summer’s best (and minus the humidity). I am drinking in the beauty of deep orange, red, purple and gold with which Mother Nature has dressed her hair. I am relaxing in the misty morning sunrises and rosey hued sunsets. It’s like finding the pot at the end of the rainbow and discovering it’s brimming over with jewels and gold bullion. I feel a sense of enrichment during this time of the year more so than any other. I feel a sense of accomplishment, and a sense of possibility, a space to expand into for the future.

As I head into the dark half of the year, a time for turning inward and staying close to home and hearth fire, I am taking this moment of richness and rewards reaped, to ask–what next?

If you have been following the journey of the Dark Moon Lodge, we have come to our fourth and final task. Click here to learn how to sustain your life of enriching experience.