"Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." —Stanley Horowitz
Yesterday, autumn arrived quietly. I like autumn - it is undoubtedly my favourite season. In Australia, autumn not only brings respite from the heat and humidity of summer but it slows down the pace as we transition to the new season. While summer is synonymous with a hive of activity and cacophony, autumn enters silently and spreads her soothing arms to imbue a sense of calmness and peace before the chill of winter sets in.
I like the quiet and clear days when the sun hangs low and makes the trees glow. And as summer’s light dims and the leaves begin to fall, I like autumn’s reminder that a meaningful life isn’t only about transition, but also about productivity, completion and letting go.
One of my fondest memories I cherish is our time spent in New Zealand where we resided in the beautiful, picturesque suburb of Cambridge in the North Island. Most of the residents there were of English descent so had a penchant for growing deciduous trees that changed its colours during autumn. I used to love pushing Kim on her stroller through the tree-lined streets of the neighbourhood to drink in the beauty of Nature’s spectacular, colour palette. As the season progressed and the air got crisper, I would notice the subtle changes in the foliage of the field maples , silver birches and the English oak and elm trees.
In this season of unparalleled colour, the vibrant green of summer soon gives way to the earthly and rich tones of autumn: amber, russet, carmine, carnelian, auburn, crimson, scarlet, sepia and feuille morte. Oh, what a rhapsody of colours as the liquid gold of the late afternoon sun enhances the picture perfect autumnal vistas with its Midas touch.
Tis the season of inner calm and a kindly stoicism etched in memories of joy. Another flashback that warms the cockles of my heart is of the rapturous delight I had when I raked in the leaves shed by our avocado trees in our backyard of my childhood home. As I inhaled the strong earthly and homely aromas, I couldn’t wait to jump on the mountain of withered leaves as it crackled deliciously. The huge frog leap on the mound of rustling leaves at the end was more than ample pay as fruits for my “labour”.
Summer trees are laden with fruit that hang like bejewelled adornments and accessorised with colourful flowers while spring sprouts green shoots of new life everywhere. Autumn, not to be outdone, reacts regally by transforming her foliage into colours of burnished copper, rust, bronze, brass and gold. It is a second chance to bloom, for the green to glow with new hues as pretty as any petal. And as the inevitable happens when autumn must shed this coat of many colours too, she is still breathtakingly beautiful as she stands stark naked in her glory before nature where every limb and ligament of her branches are open for scrutiny. She sashays her final farewell as her leaves of caramel, chocolate and mocha tumble in wistful abandon before the landscape is claimed by a wintry embrace.
The cycle of nature which dictates the forceful letting go of what was new and green only months ago, would be a time of such sadness and mourning if it were not for the parade of the riot of earth-centred hues, shades, tints, tinctures and tones in this carnival of colours. Instead it is a gateway to rebirth, to renewal, to redesign and to rejuvenation.
As the leaves change colour and fall to the ground, we can take some lessons from this season on letting go. By shedding their old leaves, the trees allows for new growth in spring-
what a wonderful metaphor for allowing yourself to let the past go. The past sadness, trauma, anger, bitterness, hatred, unreconciled relationships, old clutter, whatever it is, there’s power in allowing it to go. After all, it’s nature’s way to welcome in the new into your life which will rejuvenate, recalibrate and re-energise you for another year. Just let go of objects, relationships and feelings without any regrets.
Autumn, the season of harvesting nature’s bounty, is also a timely reminder to give thanks: to nature for the riches it gives to sustain us, gratitude for the accomplishments and achievements in the work we have done and the gift of the universe in blessing us with family, good health and happy moments.
So as you seek cosiness and snug spaces with the dropping temperatures and cast away the summer salads to make way for hearty, comfort food, I hope that you like autumn as much as I do when things slow down to make time for inner reflection and spiritual growth.
Stay safe and stay warm as you have another fabulous week, Folks.
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