AUTUMN
Labyrinth laid on Wôpanâak and Massachusett land, in what is now known as Boston, MA.
Journal Excerpts from Oct. 28th-Nov. 1st, 2021
It happens to be so timely that we are beginning with Samhain (typically known as Halloween or Día de Los Muertos in the USA), which is also the beginning and the end of the Wheel. I was reading last night that the Celts believed that the start of the day was at sunset when darkness sets in. It makes sense for darkness to have a purpose, for it to be at the beginning and end of a Wheel. For me, that feels weirdly good because it gives me more cause to pause and celebrate these times of the year. Instead of dreading when the world gets darker sooner. So Samhain, a time of the year to let go. To witness the beauty of death within the world. Especially with the trees and all their brightly colored leaves. I am going to work with some of Emma-Jane Cross' paraphrased questions for this time of year.
What will we take with us into this new cycle?
What do we choose to leave behind? (Cross 29).
The colors of the trees when they are truly letting loose their leaves.
I want to let loose my leaves and step into this new cyclical year.
Bare and ready for what might be next.
Here were some of the leaves I let fall.
And the seeds I hoped they would plant.
Leaves I released
Excess, overproduction, and burn-out which leads to times of laze and guilt
Lies and stories I was told to scare or hurt others so that continued live in the lie of white supremacy.
I am falling my younger vision of what I wanted to do or thought was next.
I am releasing new views of darkness and winter.
I am hoping to plant...
Learning more about balance and rejuvenating rest and following cycles of inspiration.
Taking forward the small moments and actions that ripple out and affect the larger whole.
I am opening up to the possibility of what could come forward.
Opening up to the possibilities of being cozy, resting, and fireside stories.
An Exchange
If it is Autumn for you...
Take a walk outside. As you are walking open your eyes and ears to find a leaf that has fallen from a tree. Once you have found one continue to walk with it. You can either play this meditation while you are walking or when you get back and find a comfortable seat.
Leaf Story & Meditation:
As you come out of the meditation, reflect on what you are hoping to release yourself from as we enter into this new season. Remember, as you release, you are simultaneously planting seeds into the ground for the next cycle of growth.
If you choose to exchange with me, there is a comment box below.
Laying Labyrinths: An Update
Moving from Autumn to Winter- Nov. 20th, 2022
I'm writing my self-evaluation for the semester and am entirely on the cusp of distraction and articulation! A thought surfaced that brought me to this journal space. About the city. About interconnections! About the Labyrinths and making a space for people to try it closer. Try it here in the city. Going with traditional drawing to make it more accessible!
It was more the thought I had been having, but I connected it with Brian's (my partner's) words. He doesn't want me to leave the city feeling like I have been defeated or that I am running away. Rather embracing it a bit, offering myself to it in a different way, and coming into community and communion with others. In ways that ring true to me, and my body. That have its own tradition that hearkens back to relating with the land. Or coming forward into it... I just thought what if the Labyrinth Workshop, I offer at Goddard College's upcoming Residency, is a two-parter... one that's a tiny drawing and small particle labyrinth laying experience? What if the second is my try at a small workshopping of a potential performance? A messy one! Where we lay the labyrinth, be in the sacred space we created, and actively relating with the land!
Cross, Emma-Jane. Walking The Wheel of The Year. Green Magic Publishing, 2020.