Autumn has arrived

I love the feeling of the autumn sun and look forward to some warm autumn days followed by cool nights.  The warm and cool alternating temperatures are one of my favorite parts of early fall.  I also love seeing the colors change.  My son, Ben, is colorblind as is my father, Jim.  Ben always loved autumn because he said it was the season when he could appreciate the leaves.  The yellow leaves of the big leaf maples are magnificent and are starting to turn!

I spend time on the equinox walking the labyrinth in Fairhaven Park in Bellingham.  The labyrinth is a community jewel and is a pleasure to visit on special occasions.

The jewel at the center of the Fairhaven park labyrinth.

Walking the paths back and forth is an ancient form of meditation that has survived and is thriving today.  A woman was in the center when I entered from the north and she was writing in her journal.  We did not speak except when we passed, she going outward and me going outward.  She lifted her face to mine and said Happy Equinox is a reverent voice.  It was a wonderful moment.  My time in the labyrinth by a group of musicians who were softly playing and signing a chant nearby.  I love the magic that happens when we let it.

I realized as walked the path that in order to keep balance as I turned on the loopy paths that I needed to really slow down and appreciate the new direction and pay attention to each step.  I think that is a strong metaphor for where I am at in my life.  Slow down, think as the daily activities of my life take the twists and turns that come in the course of a day.

Labyrinth in the classical style and this is the model that was used to build the Fairhaven labyrinth.

The internet is full of helpful information about Labyrinths.  Some invite finger explorations.  Nothing replaces the real thing for me.  My first labyrinth was a backyard Cretan model in Olympia.  A member of the Olympia Unitarian Universalist Church built it.  She was a professor of Anthropology and very knowledgable and I am grateful that she was to person who brought them into my life.   I have created temporary labyrinths  and have had fun with them but I love the built ones best.  Orcas Island has a beautiful labyrinth in Eastsound, built by two cooperating churches in a shared space right on the edge of the sound.  Heavenly.  Where have you enjoyed a labyrinth?  

Equinox walk through the Padden Creek watershed.

Colors of autumn.  I love orange.

I hope you are enjoying the warm days, colder nights, the colors and the changing light as fall.

Thanks for reading.

A New Start

I have been feeling quite lost since my sabbatical blog ended.  It was a rich experience and I thoroughly enjoyed writing for more than myself.  I have been inspired to journal again using paper and pen.  I also decided to continue the process in the blogosphere.

So here I begin.  A Delicate Balance will focus on my journey through what I know is the last third (or less) of my life.  I am getting many signs these days that I need to practice the delicate balance between living and letting go.  Yesterday my minister spoke to Life and Death and All the in Between.  Paul said that two things are for sure. We all live and we all die.  Each day can be a full day but needs to be lived in the knowing that our time is limited.  A question I would like to open the day with is "what does day offer me and what can I do to be fully present in the day?"

I wanted to begin with a picture I took last week while visiting Western Washington University, my alma mater.

Stone Enclosure, Rock Rings. Nancy Holt artist, 1977-78.

I have never taken the time before to explore this structure.  Ironically it was built the year I gave birth to Kate and became a mother.  I was in graduate school at Western at the time.  As I wandered through the stones and took the pictures showing the different viewpoints, I marveled at all the intricate stones how they are connected and support each other.  The variety of sizes and shapes that make the beautiful piece are like the experiences in our own lives.  We have many small and large experiences, feelings, dreams, disappointments, thoughts, connections that make our lives what they are.  I think one of the greatest gifts we can give ourselves is the courage to look at our whole lives in context and to acknowledge all that keeps us in balance.  What I love about the picture and the reality of my life is that I have dark and light places and the interaction between them and the interdependence is what gives me strength and balance.

Happy International Day of Peace!  Next year I think part of my balance will be making intentions to honor this amazing day.

Thanks for reading.