We’ve arrived at that mythic time of year when the trees are devoid of leaves, and the sunlight, now always at a steep angle, seems to bring an inner glow to everything it touches. November here has been warm and sunny, both anomalous given the long-term averages. Indeed, it was our warmest October on record, as it was in most of the world, and November is on track for record warmth as well. Snow has been mostly absent, except at the highest elevations. We have enjoyed the long, sumptuous autumn.
Last weekend was one of contradictions. Saturday Jennie and I worked with a group of healers who were interested in integrating more Nature based work into their practices, then, on Sunday, we offered joyous ceremony for a one year old. In the background loomed events in Lebanon and our beloved Paris.
The ceremony took place near the top of a soft mountain, with a majestic view across the central Green Mountains and deep valleys. The sun was warm and inviting, although we were chilled to the bone by the strong breeze that blew over the meadow. That wind stopped almost as soon as the ceremony began, then returned when we finished, providing a welcome pause of 15-20 minutes.
We had invited the child’s family and friends to bring gifts, memories, and wishes for her. What a remarkable experience to witness them, one at a time, slowly come to her, offering their gifts. After speaking quietly to the child, most then placed an object in the strikingly beautiful memory box her father had created for her.
When the ceremony was over, family and friends gathered around the child and her parents. It was time for them to celebrate her birthday and the warmth and joy of relationship. They gathered, laughing, and conversing, creating a light of their own, a glow that shone brightly, illuminating the late autumn afternoon.
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