Thoughts on well-being, sustainability and those things that constitute a good life beyond consumption.

Saturday, September 22, 2012

Happy Autumnal Equinox

I noticed today the early tinges of color in the trees along the mountain as I worked on a sustainability project for campus. I had forgotten that today was the autumnal equinox, the start to my favorite season. And then I stumbled on this passage and thought it perfect for the day.

A hidden fire burns perpetually upon the hearth of the world.... In autumn this great conflagration becomes especially manifest. Then the flame that is slowly and mysteriously consuming every green thing bursts into vivid radiance. Every blade of grass and every leaf in the woodlands is cast into the great oven of Nature; and the bright colours of their fading are literally the flames of their consuming. The golden harvest-fields are glowing in the heart of the furnace.... By this autumn fire God every year purges the floor of nature. All effete substances that have served their purpose in the old form are burnt up. Everywhere God makes sweet and clean the earth with fire. ~Hugh Macmillan



My friend, Drew Lanham, posted this on Facebook today:  “Happy Fall Y'all! 'Tis the season for chasing migrating warblers and wary whitetails. As summer relents to autumnal senescence, embrace the pace of things slowing down, moving on and storing up. It is my favorite time of year!”
I responded:  “For reasons I cannot explain, I love the word "senescence". Some find it sad and linked to death. I prefer to connect it to the cycle of life. And there is some pretty cool biochemistry involved as well!”

What do you like about the autumn season?

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