Autumn is here...

I love the turning of the seasons, each with their own rituals and colors and energy. In our family we have a season table, which we change with every turn. We just got down our “Autumn” box—the kids pulled out old acorns and crumbling leaves from last year, a dried, red pomegranate and an orange and yellow gourd, dark, shiny horse chestnuts, some little acorn people made over the years complete with toothpick legs and acorn caps, and, of course, the requisite dried corn. This tradition was begun when my oldest, now 12, was a preschooler. I keep expecting her to outgrow it and leave it to just her younger brothers, but more often than not it is she who reminds me, “Mom it’s time to change the table!”

With the table set, we’re reminded of the things to come in autumn: watching the full harvest moon rise over the backyard, going to Sauvie’s Island to pick our pumpkins, picking out costumes for Halloween and trick or treating, putting our garden to bed and planting bulbs for spring, saying goodbye to the swallows and Canada geese and hello to the golden-crowned sparrows, gathering around friends and family at Thanksgiving, remembering to put slippers on our feet when it’s cold.

I’m reminded, again, of the calming effect of traditions, of routine. It grounds us. Reminds us that whatever times we may be walking through, there are things that are the same: the leaves turning, the days shortening, our breath, our heartbeat.

Do you have traditions that come with the seasons? What are your favorite memories of autumn? Your favorite colors and smells? Now’s the time to pause and acknowledge those rituals and routines and let their calming, centering effect soak in. Amidst the zoom and zip of this modern life, I am very grateful to have that.