As Fall progresses through October, days shorten and the chill of morning and evening lengthens. Then the second half of Autumn announces its arrival on All Hallow’s Eve, Oct 31st, the beginning of the Celtic new year. In Northern climes, the cold sets in with more frosts, fogs, rains and a descent on Halloween into the underworld–the land of the dead and death itself. This is the ancient inner ritual that underlies our dress-up, trick or treat games. It’s time to call on the help and protection of the ancestors, so that we can successfully navigate the perils of winter and our tribe can survive. But it’s also a time to honor the dead, their virtues and the part of their legacy we choose to carry forward. On an individual level, the increasing darkness and cold provides an opportunity to go within and discover our inner shadow aspects and through the light of awareness to transform them into allies.
Nature is now drawing into herself and preparing for the hibernation of winter. Many trees are without leaves, stark against the sky and many flowers have disappeared. We can go along with this natural movement of energy, by turning inward, slowing down and engaging in an inner journey. The Earth is pulling us down to the roots and the invisible realms of our unconscious. In Chinese medicine, this second half of Autumn is the season of the lungs, the element metal and the emotion of grief. On a psychological level, we can take stock of what we have harvested, of where we are at in our life process and how we deal with what ‘metal’ represents–money and social presentation.
Thanksgiving in America is the peak of this second Autumn. It is a reflection of an ancient tribal celebration of a hopefully good harvest and transcendent communal festival of robust good cheer that will encourage survival, warmth, and hope through the Winter’s cold. In our own family’s celebration, we honor the Native Americans, whose generosity to the Pilgrims hundreds of years ago created our Original Thanksgiving.
After the feasting festivals, there’s a slow descent to the deep yin as plant energy returns to the underground roots. This is a perfect beginning to what should be a time of deep rest and body mind repair. But the extroverted materialistic, social emphasis of the Holidays goes against our natural instincts to withdraw more into ourselves rather than Shop. To balance this ‘holiday’ social frenzy with some inner Holy days and deep down yin times to rest, contemplate and dream, just remember to observe how Nature’s energy is moving back to the roots and follow that flow. Enjoy some rest & reflection during the Holy days & nights. Dr. Shanti
