I love this time of year. The smell of the fall, dry leaves rustling beneath my feet, a crispness to the blue of the sky, the first morning frost giving the green grass a white fringe, squirrels frantically collecting pine cones in preparation for the winter to come. Since being a kid I have always felt there's magic in the air a this time of the year.
There is a spiritual change in this season that is clear for those with eyes to see and sensitivity to feel.
The Celtic people knew it. The new year begins with Samhain, the eve of which we celebrate as All Hallows (Halloween—the Christianizing of pagan ways).
It's a new beginning. But, strangely the new beginning doesn't start with the coming of the light, but with the drawing in of the light, the "shutting down" of nature. The new begins with "it will get far worse before it gets any better."
I have been stacking wood. More will be delivered today. I will be stacking again. It's quite hard work! Constant bending and lifting. I enjoy the ritual of it. A Samhain ritual of getting ready. The winter is coming. Change is happening. Be ready! I am one with the squirrels as we work side by side.
The Church's calendar changes in a few weeks with the beginning of Advent. It's a month too late! In 1978 the Joint Liturgical Group —an ecumenical gathering of scholars in the UK—produced a revised Daily Office. It was the version of the Office I was introduced to in 1981 and was my daily practice for many years. I have the very beat up copy in front me, page edges darkened through thumbing through. This version of the Office begins the ninth week before Christmas. In other words, it begins roughly at Samhain. It starts with the Celtic New Year. In 1980, the Church of England published its Alternative Service Book and also began the year nine weeks before Christmas. In its 2000 revision of liturgy the C of E returned to the Advent beginning of the year. I preferred it the other way. Advent feels just a little late. The party begins on Halloween, replaced quickly with preparation.
In more recent years I have reflected more on the nature of change in traditional Chinese philosophy. The constant movement of yin and yang. Autumn is yang turning to yin. Winter is fully yin. This season is the beginning of withdrawal.
Spiritually, there is a drawing in, a contracting—the expansive openness of summer is giving way to a smallness, fewness, rareness, gentleness of approaching winter. Between the two we prepare. When we came to the USA we were introduced to a new phrase: "Winterize." Generally, I resist turning nouns into verbs with the addition of "ize," but this one is useful. It speaks of getting things ready for the cold to come.
Chinese philosophy reminds us that neither yang nor yin are bad. They complement each other and fulfill each other. The coming of the cold is not to be feared, but to be embraced. Of course, it's difficult to embrace if you are not prepared. There is a season for preparation. The season has begun.
There's magic in the air.
+Ad. Andy
There is a spiritual change in this season that is clear for those with eyes to see and sensitivity to feel.
The Celtic people knew it. The new year begins with Samhain, the eve of which we celebrate as All Hallows (Halloween—the Christianizing of pagan ways).
I have been stacking wood. More will be delivered today. I will be stacking again. It's quite hard work! Constant bending and lifting. I enjoy the ritual of it. A Samhain ritual of getting ready. The winter is coming. Change is happening. Be ready! I am one with the squirrels as we work side by side.
The Church's calendar changes in a few weeks with the beginning of Advent. It's a month too late! In 1978 the Joint Liturgical Group —an ecumenical gathering of scholars in the UK—produced a revised Daily Office. It was the version of the Office I was introduced to in 1981 and was my daily practice for many years. I have the very beat up copy in front me, page edges darkened through thumbing through. This version of the Office begins the ninth week before Christmas. In other words, it begins roughly at Samhain. It starts with the Celtic New Year. In 1980, the Church of England published its Alternative Service Book and also began the year nine weeks before Christmas. In its 2000 revision of liturgy the C of E returned to the Advent beginning of the year. I preferred it the other way. Advent feels just a little late. The party begins on Halloween, replaced quickly with preparation.
In more recent years I have reflected more on the nature of change in traditional Chinese philosophy. The constant movement of yin and yang. Autumn is yang turning to yin. Winter is fully yin. This season is the beginning of withdrawal.
Spiritually, there is a drawing in, a contracting—the expansive openness of summer is giving way to a smallness, fewness, rareness, gentleness of approaching winter. Between the two we prepare. When we came to the USA we were introduced to a new phrase: "Winterize." Generally, I resist turning nouns into verbs with the addition of "ize," but this one is useful. It speaks of getting things ready for the cold to come.
Chinese philosophy reminds us that neither yang nor yin are bad. They complement each other and fulfill each other. The coming of the cold is not to be feared, but to be embraced. Of course, it's difficult to embrace if you are not prepared. There is a season for preparation. The season has begun.
There's magic in the air.
+Ad. Andy