​Yesterday  my oldest daughter reminded me I used to say  "the only one who likes change is  a wet baby." That was before I started 'collecting firsts', opening my heart and mind to new experiences and actively seeking change. I love  it! Variety is truly the spice of life!
The end of summer is marked by the Autumnal Equinox and Mabon, which begins on September 21 , 2020. Summer is delightful, but I don't want it  to  go  on forever. I'd find it difficult  to live in a place with no change in seasons. I guess if I had never experienced them, I might not think about it. But having enjoyed their unique  beauty and variety, I look forward to each one. 
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The colors of Mabon include many of  my favorites - shades of orange, gold, red, burgundy and browns. As the leaves  change here in the north eastern part of the United States, we will watch the colors gradually unfold until they crescendo. Even after they pass their peak, they are still breathtaking, with more muted and metallic tones. I once heard leaves are the only  thing that gets  more beautiful right before death. 
Decorate your home and wear colors in these glorious shades. If you're an artist, create a painting with the warm, vibrant shades of Mabon. Or pick a favorite color and look for it as you go  about  your day. 
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Herbs, defined by herbalists  as "any plant that is useful", are abundant during Mabon. Some most traditionally associated with the season are acorns, apples, barley, carrots, chamomile, corn, marigolds, onions, pomegranates, rosemary, sage, walnuts and wheat. Harvest some of the herbs from your garden or look for them at farmer's markets or garden centers. Combine them to make a still life, bouquet, wreath or swag, to celebrate this second harvest. 
The sun moved from Virgo to Libra on September 22, and I will be adding at least one of Libra's zodiac herbs, so stayed tuned!
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In addition to the colors and herbs, there are also stones for those of you familiar with  the power of  gemstones. And if you aren't familiar, you may want to spend time around them and see which ones catch your attention! There's a reason! 
Amber, in  shades  of orange, golds, yellows and browns, will warm and delight! Yellow agate, cat's eye, hematite, jasper and topaz are also associated with this  time of  year. 
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In addition to the ideas mentioned about you might also want to

• Make a gratitude list.
• Compare this year and the same time last year with columns labeled Same and Different. Then consider what is valuable and what isn't working. Make changes as needed. Last year I did an ABCs of Autumn list. This year, it is very different. 
• Light candles or have a bonfire to create an atmosphere to enhance meditation.
• Take a walk in a park, garden, forest, etc., to celebrate nature.
• Pay attention to the blessings and beauty of the season. Take a deep breath and be mindful of the moment.

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Barely the day started and... it's already six in the evening.
Barely arrived on Monday and it's already Friday.
... and the month is already over.
... and the year is almost over.
... and already 40, 50 or 60 years of our lives have passed.
... and we realize that we lost our parents, friends.
and we realize it's too late to go back...
So... Let's try, despite everything, to enjoy the remaining time...
Let's keep looking for activities that we like...
Let's put some color in our grey...
Let's smile at the little things in life that put balm in our hearts.
And despite everything, we must continue to enjoy with serenity this time we have left.
Let's try to eliminate the afters...
I'm doing it after...
I'll say after...
I'll think about it after...
We leave everything for later like ′′ after ′′ is ours.
Because what we don't understand is that:
Afterwards, the coffee gets cold...
afterwards, priorities change...
Afterwards, the charm is broken...
afterwards, health passes...
Afterwards, the kids grow up...
Afterwards parents get old...
Afterwards, promises are forgotten...
afterwards, the day becomes the night...
afterwards life ends...
And then it's often too late....
So... Let's leave nothing for later...
Because still waiting to see you later, we can lose the best moments,
the best experiences,
best friends,
the best family...
The day is today...
​The moment is now...

The chamomile from the Rosemary House arrived! Their packages are always  a delight!

I added the  chamomile, then decided it needed more mint so gathered and dried more from the garden.Isn’t the fabric perfect? It reminds me of a starry night!  The mini-pillows are filled and ready to help ensure a more peaceful night’s sleep!  

​Advise from Maria Sabina, Mexican curandera (medicine woman) and poet.

“Cure yourself, with the light of the sun and the rays of the moon.
With the sound of the river and the waterfall.
With the swaying of the sea and the fluttering of birds.
Heal yourself, with the mint and mint leaves,
with neem and eucalyptus.
Sweeten yourself with lavender, rosemary, and chamomile.
Hug yourself with the cocoa bean and a touch of cinnamon.
Put love in tea instead of sugar
And take it looking at the stars
Heal yourself , with the kisses that the wind gives you
and the hugs of the rain.
Get strong with bare feet on the ground
and with everything that is born from it.
Get smarter every day by listening to your intuition,
looking at the world with the eye of your forehead.
Jump, dance, sing, so that you live happier.
Heal yourself, with beautiful love, and always remember ...
you are the medicine.

My kitchen smells divine! I've been gathering herbs and heating them in a slow oven to make sweet dreams pillows for a couple of friends who are having trouble sleeping. Lavender, peppermint, catnip, rosemary and old-fashioned (fragrant) roses have been drying in batches in a 200 F oven for days. Wish I had fields of all of them but I'm fortunate to have enough for a few pillows. My chamomile didn't do well this year, so it is ordered from the Rosemary House in Mechanicsburg, PA, my go to source. Once it arrives, I'll add it to the mixture and complete the pillows.  
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My first sweet dreams pillow was a gift from Joyce, one of my very favorite participants, from my Enhancing Your Life with Herbs course in the autumn of 2015. With a few gentle squeezes, the pillow is as fragrant now as it was when she first surprised me with it! See my October 23, 2015 post for more information!