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. Colors of MabonThe 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. Herbs of MabonHerbs, 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! Stones of MabonIn 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. Activities for MabonIn addition to the ideas mentioned about you might also want to
Wishing you all a blessed harvest.
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This is an update from an earlier post. . . There was a time in my life - around the time I was turning 40 - when everything seemed redundant. Every day was the same as the day before. I woke up every morning in the same house, took the same route to work, went to the same job with the same people, ate the same foods, did the same volunteer activities . . . my life was full and productive, but I was weary of the repetition. I remember journaling one morning, stating I had probably already done about everything I was going to do! Then I realized, if there were any limitations in my life, they were from my lack of imagination! Things were about to change! Later that day, I gathered the girls and we went grocery shopping, but this time I set some guidelines. "Today we will be collecting firsts. We will shop for enough food for one week, but we can't buy anything that we've ever purchased before. It has to be a new kind of fruit or vegetable, or a brand that we've never tried." We laughed so hard I thought they would kick us out of the store! That week we found we liked some products better than the old standbys - and others were truly disappointing - but at least they added variety! One example was guava paste instead of cranberry sauce. This still brings a smile when it shows up at Thanksgiving dinner! For weeks I actively collected firsts - I would leave earlier and take a new way to work. Or open the phone book to the local restaurant section, close my eyes and point to one for out next evening out.. Randomly choosing books and magazines on unfamiliar topics opened up new worlds! Small steps helped me build courage! Eventually I traveled to India - alone - and participated in pujas, took an untethered hot air balloon ride, illustrated a children's book, became the managing editor of a magazine . . . Heavens! I even experienced my first flood, lost my home and moved to Baltimore where I am blissfully continuing to expand my collection! This is my first pandemic and hopefully my last. I’m teaching courses on Zoom for the first time, watching my favorite sports teams play in empty stadiums, and training to run a virtual marathon in October. Who knows how many more I’ll collect before 2020 ends? Shifting my experiences to collecting firsts makes them less unsettling.What firsts have you been collecting? There wasn’t a name to give credit for this. If you know who wrote it, please let me know and I’ll add it. 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... “Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the whole world revolves. |
"My mission is to help others see and cherish the beauty, romance and treasures within and around them that are often dismissed or completely overlooked." Categories
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MikellMikell is a writer, artist and professional treasure hunter, finding the greatest treasures in the wonderful people who enter her life! |