Summer is Saying Goodbye - Fall Opens Its Arms

Ellen Hofrath-Stovall

 

When we leave the house or even look outside our window, there´s no denial. Summer is over and Fall marks its position. And for me that's not a bad thing at all. You already know, I love nature, the changing of the seasons, and for me each has its own beauty.

For my artistic senses, I love the quality of light at this time. Especially on these clear, sunny days. All colors are magnified, the contours seem sharper, more defined, and the colors have electrifying intensity. The sky is almost neon-blue, rosehips, all kinds of berries, the last petals of roses, or the leaves… its an orgy for the eyes, full of life and vibrant beyond comparison. It's like nature is saying “inhale it, enjoy it, see it, feel it, take it in. The dark days are coming soon.”

And not only do we get the gift of these colorful memories. It's also the time for harvest,  to dry the last herbs, prepare your stocks, fill your storage. Actually the fruits, berries and vegetables we have now, are some of the healthiest. Rosehips and sea buckthorn contain more Vitamin C than oranges or lemons, so in the ancient days it protected people from malnutrition diseases like Scorbut. The tips of pines are great to fight cough, and cranberries are great to fight cold induced bladder infections. And so on, and on.
 
It's the season where we change our habits from being out, showing off, spreading our circle, to turning inside,preparing for cocooning in the winter. We make our nests, pull out the blankets, and start to decorate our spaces in a cosy way. We even sort out our personal circles. People we meet regularly outside, at the lake or in Outside-Bars may not be the ones you want to have in your home. We slow down, reflect, maybe even start to look more inside of us, when the distraction from outside gets less.

But still it's great to be outside and enjoy the sensations, fall is offering. Preparing this article, I remembered, when I was a child that was the time to let our paper-kites fly. I always loved the wind. And you are never closer to it, than when you hold the cord of a “dragon”, which is the German word for a kite. And it is like a dragon that wants to escape onto the sky, wanting to be free. When the wind grabs the kite, throws it around, pushes it up and down, that's literally like handling a beast. And more than once I've gotten into trouble, for letting my beast free. I felt for it so much, I wanted to be free myself, to be anywhere else, to discover the sky. So I had to let it go. 

Maybe that´s the reason why I'm still so attracted to wind, storm, and heavy rain. I feel so alive when it is pulling, dragging and pushing me. But I also enjoy the Indian Summer a lot. When it is really warm and comfortable in the sunshine, the last taste of summer. Like the memory of the ice-cream you just had.  Then, two or three steps ahead, in the shadow of a building it's so much colder.

These days I often walk on the street for any reason and get almost high from all the vibrating colors around me, and the wind tossing my clothes, blowing my hair in my face so I'm almost blind. For me it is very sensual. 

Another thing I really love are leaves piles. I can´t pass one without jumping into it and kicking the leaves around. 

So go outside, grab a kite, kick some leaves, be the child you always wanted to be. Be free and enjoy the opulent gifts from Mother Nature.

Oh, I almost forgot: This issue is my anniversary at mysticlivingtoday. This is my 12th regular column. My first year is completed, the circle is closed. Isn't that symbolic?
I want to take the chance and thank all my unknown readers, for taking time to follow my thoughts. I dearly hope you enjoy it, and I can inspire you to live your life a little bit more intense and aware.

My greatest “Thank you” and lots of hugs to our friend Natalie, who is head, heart and soul of this Magazine, who opened her arms and invited me to be part of her beautiful work.

Natalie, I love you...................Ellen I love you toooo
 

Cat in Falling Leaves
 

                                     Fall                                                                          Eye of the Storm

                                                                                             City Lights

Generated Mirror9

Preparing for Winter