Wednesday 29 August 2007

Autumn Waits in the Wings


This morning there is a tinge of autumn in the air. Although the last week or so has been perfect summer weather, early in the morning autumn is waiting in the wings.

Some scent in the air, or chill in the breeze, or heaviness in the dew seems to whisper of autumn. The birdsong has a mournful edge. The summer flowers have peaked and are in decline. Blackberries bejewel the hedgerow.

No wonder poets write of the fleeting nature of summer. She comes with such promise, but never stays as long as we hope.

As a witch I love the cyclical wheel of nature, relishing each season in turn. And yet I find myself wanting to hold on to each one too. The crisp clarity of winter, the freshness and promise of spring, the easy bounty of summer and the melancholy woodsmoke-scented autumn. Perhaps this wanting to cling to every last moment is age-related. It is true that time speeds up as the years pass. This world is so beautiful, who wouldn't want to savour every minute?

14 comments:

Leanne said...

what a lovely post!

I too notice all the subtle changes, Autumn is definitely knocking at the door. I dont know if its an age thing, I think its more an attunement to the Earth that some of us achieve, and many dont?

Leanne x

Mike Farley said...

My first sure sign that Autumn is coming is that our central heating fuel tank has ruptured and we need a new one... Grrrrrrrrr! Lovely post!

halfpintjack said...

It doesn't even feel like we've had a summer, in terms of weather.....!

I'm going to get into the seasonal swing with some of the new autumnal/Samhain bpals: http://www.bpal.org/index.php?showtopic=36557

Also I have some imps to stick in the post to you when I get round to it! :D

Reya Mellicker said...

Beautiful post! I feel autumn this week, too. And, I welcome it!!

Love the pic. Since I'm reading The Cloudspotter's Guide I'm proud to report that those clouds are altocumulous floccus. It's a great book to read in front of the fire with a cup of tea on a chilly fall day.

Anonymous said...

ny"This world is so beautiful, who wouldn't want to savour every minute?"

The world is a beautiful place, I wish i could slow down time like i did when i was a kid... Making summer holidays last for ever, idle winter nights laying in front of the fire with a smoldering labrador.

I hate the feeling of time passing so much left undone, unseen, or not fully understood...constantly marching towards our demise..

Padadoxically death gives meaning to life, it makes time important, if we were immortal time would become meaningless, and lifes beauty would be lost.

i am sure there is a point in amoungst the rambling.

Miss Robyn said...

great post! And yet I find myself wanting to hold on to each one too ~ but isn't it good to know that as the wheel turns we will eventually get back to where we are again, year after year.
Spring is showing her face down here on the other side of the earth - perfect balance autumn and spring happening all at once! Mother Earth is indeed clever!
ps - I don't mind if summer is fleeting, never staying as long as you hope - down here summer is hot, hot, hot! and even though I look forward to the warmth, I am not looking forward to the heat
xox

AutumnZ said...

Joni Mitchell sings "I'd like to call back Summertime and have her stay for just another month or so...but she got the urge for goin'"

Nice to meet you, fellow pagan!

mrsnesbitt said...

Yes Autumn is knocking on the door but I am hiding in the kitchen refusing to let her in!

AC said...

A lovely post...I so agree with you!
Alison x

Reya Mellicker said...

Not so much for the frozen orchid, but because the most haute NYC cocktail includes elderflower liqueur, I thought of you.

Hope you're well and happy!

Loraine said...

Already the leaves in the mountains are changing colors, the winds are changing directions... and I'm worrying about winter.
Lovely blog.

Unknown said...

I find that even as I savor moments they still slip so fast. I am thinking that is exactly how fleeting and fast life is. Lovely photo here too. Happy Autumn.

Moonroot said...

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts on the arrival of autumn (or spring for those in the southern hemisphere!). We all seem to feel some sense of time moving too fast; perhaps mrsnesbitt has the right idea!

Thanks also to halfpintjack for continuing to enable my downward slide into BPAL addiction and Reya for thinking of me at cocktail hour!

Peg said...

Beautiful post. We are still very summery here in upstate NY, but driving to the west of the state last week we saw hills just starting to turn, the greens duller, a bit of red peeking through...

I always love John Keats' "To Autumn" at this time of year...