the season of Autumn....

Spiritual Essence.....

I love Spring, especially when new ideas birth and my creativity is at it’s zenith, and Summer is both a very productive time for me and filled with the enjoyment of the warm and even hot weather. With plenty of daylight to get everything done in a day, and time to enjoy the glorious sunsets and the splendour of Nature..... Late Summer being a time of balance and to celebrate achievements and the successful completion of projects started in Spring. I have even found enjoyment in the cold Winter months, staying home and cuddling in bed, reading books and watching movies, making time for reflection and the deep contemplation of my dreams and desires. During Winter introspection, I have even found the fortitude and resilience to tie up loose ends, complete those niggling and troublesome tasks like tax returns, filing paperwork and clearing clothes that no longer suit me from my wardrobe. Working determinedly to complete unfinished endeavours, or letting go of projects and things that no longer serve me, clearing space from my home and work environment, and time from my schedule, so that I can embrace the new ideas and energy of Spring.

However, I have always wondered, why on occasion I struggle so much with the changing energy brought in Autumn. I enjoy the elemental energy of reflection and love the vibrant colours, aromatic smells and riper tastes of fruit and veggies. I thought it might be the fading of Summer’s warmth that I mourned, as I love the hot days and balmy nights. Yet even my friends and acquaintances who much prefer the cooler Winter months... to the heat of Summer, seem also to find the April month of Autumn tiresome, sometimes much more than myself.

Researching Ancient Chinese traditions while compiling the Seasonal articles, and discovering that Autumn is linked with the elemental energy of Metal, made me realise that this is what induces a mirror image and very personal reflection at every turn that we take, and how important these six weeks of Autumn actually are for seeking tranquility and being reflective.

Imagine for a moment that you are standing in a pool of water the perfect temperature, surrounded by the beauty of Nature at it’s banks, with a full moon at it’s height, it’s subtle light reflecting upon the water so that it glimmers and shines like a mirror.

Just for a moment you stand perfectly still and the pool of water is like liquid metal, incandescent, luminous alchemy.

A thought comes to mind, an idea that births creating a magical feeling within you... Gently you run your fingers across the surface of the pond playing with the idea and creating ripples. As the idea grows and takes form you toss it about like a ball, splashing in the pond and having fun, creating a few more ripples. You determine that this is a good idea, creating intent to follow through and make it tangible. Then you toss it too high, lose your footing while trying to catch it and go beneath the surface of the water... swallowing some, you break the surface spluttering and gasping for breath. Maybe the idea needs to be left to one side while you consider your options, is it too much hard work or is it worth the effort. You pick it up, play with it, put it to one side, carry on with other things, all the while creating ripples in the alchemy of your life. The the ripples having reached the banks of the boundaries of the pond, start to ripple back, overlapping, rolling and undulating.

During Spring with the rebirth of Nature, we all have new ideas, or even ideas that were once forgotten or put to one side during Winter are remembered.... like having the body we want, shedding fat and excess weight, getting into shape, eating healthier food and exercising..... and even if it’s just an idea in Spring, the thought... IF part of our hearts desire, is created with intent and ripples through our life during Summer. So, depending on what we do to make that idea a thought, and what action we determined to make the idea a reality, during the Autumn elemental energy of Metal, the ripples of our ideas, thoughts and actions are mirrored and reflected back to us, as a reminder of our initial intent and to reflect on what we still need to make that heart’s desire a reality for the remainder of the Seasonal Year!

It’s a simple matter of numbers!

There are Five Hundred Twenty Five Thousand Six Hundred minutes in a year!
(365 days x 24 hours x 60 minutes = 525 600 minutes ;o)

The Seasonal Year begins with the Spring Equinox, 21st - 23rd September,
in the Southern Hemisphere, (21st - 23rd March in the Northern Hemisphere).
So allowing for the transitions during the Seasonal year, from the beginning of Spring at the Spring Equinox to the Autumn Equinox there are 182.5 days, which brings us to the middle of the Seasonal year at the start of Autumn.

Two Hundred and Sixty Two Thousand and Eight Hundred minutes....
having already passed in the Seasonal Year!

During Spring and Summer our thoughts, focus, attention and energy is directed outwards in our efforts to realise our dreams and fulfil our endeavours, just like the ripples in the pond go outwards. During Autumn our attention and focus should be reflection on our efforts thus far, the returning ripples in the pond like the Autumn elemental energy of metal inducing reflection, reviewing what we need to complete our current projects, gathering in our energy and resources to be used during Winter. 

However, if we were unfocused during Spring, confused by what to do and unclear with our intent.... just going with the current and being pushed by circumstances and events during Summer, rather than following our purpose with passion, the undulations and overlapping of the returning ripples can be a confusing reflection. Then, even if we were focused on our ideals, creatively using what we have to pursue our endeavours, events and circumstances and especially other priorities, obligations and responsibilities can steer us in a different direction or off the course of our initial Spring and Summer intent, so that the Autumn energy of reflection can make us feel lacking in direction and purpose, sometimes even weak and undisciplined, having failed to pursue our endeavours with success being just a mirage of illusion.

Sometimes, having intended to fulfil certain obligations and responsibilities at the start of Spring and following through with those intentions by my efforts during Summer, falling short of resolution during the Autumn reflection, I can too often chastise myself for having failed to reach the end result I wanted to achieve. Forgetting that Autumn is just the mid point for my annual plans and the following of my heart’s desires, and that there is still time during Winter to complete projects and achieve success.

I suppose that’s a result of how we ‘measure’ success in the world we live in today.

During this time of Autumn reflection, I was reviewing what I had achieved and accomplished this year so far, wondering how and why I had missed the mark in reaching some of my ideals..... It was late at night, and I was watching a movie while my husband and children slept peacefully. When the movie was finished, and I could find nothing of interest to watch on TV, I went to view the previews and trailers on the DVD, (usually this helps when wanting to select other movies to rent ;o).

There was a trailer of a movie with the same theme and story line as a long running play on Broadway, the words and song moving me to Reconsider my Autumn Reflections...

Five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.....
How do you measure?
Measure a year!

In daylight, in sunsets, in midnights and cups of coffee,
In inches, in miles and laughter and strife.

In five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred minutes.....
How do you measure a year in your life?

How about Love.... Measure your life in love....
Seasons of Love!

(short extraction from the title song of the movie ‘Rent’ ;o)

If I were to measure my year in daylight.... then I could say I have worked some, played some, enjoyed some and loafed some.... *Grin*
If I were to measure my year in sunsets and midnights.... then I could say I have enjoyed some.... worked through some and slept through others.... *LOL*
If I were to measure my year in inches.... it would depend on whether they were Body inches, the inches of the heals on my shoes or the inches that I have walked.....
(enough about that ;o)
If I were to measure my year in the miles I have travelled and the laughter and strife....
I could say with relative ease that there has been plenty of all......

Yet if I was to measure my year in love.... then my year has been filled to overflowing...
With the love I have given... the love I have received, and the love I have shared,
So what more could I want?

My Autumn reflection became a kaleidoscope of memories... of tears and laughter, holding hands and cuddling my daughter.... encouraging ;o) or rather arguing with my sons to do their homework and chores, making love with my husband, watching the sunset over the sea while eating a meal with my family, chatting with a friend before she returns for good to her home in Ireland, replying to my email, writing for the website, waiting in anticipation for my husband to make comments on something I had written, phoning a friend, eating an ice-cream before it melts on a hot day, lying on the beach next to my hubby in the sun while my kids play cricket, creating graphics for the website......

Reflections of sharing smiles, giggles, tears, laughter, hugs, kisses and emails with my family and friends.... and through it all flows the love I feel and give freely and the love that I receive that is so freely given....

There is no more than that, that I could want....

Through Spring, Summer and now Autumn, my year so far has been filled to overflowing with Love..... successful, triumphant, abundant Seasons of Love!

And I sincerely wish You,
Much Love and Laughter during your Autumn time of Reflection!
Mands

PS. I would love to hear from you so please send me an email if you have something to share, Email: [ mands ] with the subject line ‘Autumn’ - thanks!

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Life is made of millions of moments,
but we live only one of these moments at a time.
As we begin to change this moment, we begin to change our lives.
-- Trinidad Hunt

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Autumn Light......

As the daylight hours shorten during Autumn and the night time hours start to lengthen, even our senses change in response to what is happening with Nature....

The strength and light of the Sun also starts to diminish and this can bring about changes in our Body and our Mental energy, for some to the extent of starting mild depression...... when ignored or unnoticed will worsen during Winter.

The short daylight hours during Winter have been known to affect peoples sense of physical well-being, and scientific studies are indicating that more and more people suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD. Although, Depression and SAD can be considered as more of a mental disorder there is now scientific evidence that the root cause is physical in nature. As the daylight hours shorten, people start to feel down and may even feel close to suicidal. SAD has now been scientifically acknowledged and is known to affect close to ten million people per year. The theory is that SAD occurs because the shortening of daylight affects a person’s personal rhythm - this rhythm between waking and sleeping is particularly disrupted when the body is forced to wake up when it’s still dark in the early morning. The lack of light is said to be the main cause of SAD. Light activates the body’s pineal gland to stop secreting a hormone called melatonin which helps the body sleep. If there is insufficient natural light the gland continues to secrete melatonin, keeping the body feeling tired. The rigidity of modern working society dictates that we wake with an alarm clock, rather than following the natural rhythm of Winter by sleeping late in the morning. The affects of SAD or Winter depression can be eased and even alleviated by making some adjustments to your lifestyle and some changes to your Winter eating habits and diet.

During your Autumn reflection consider last Winter and contemplate your mental and physical well-being..... if there is any indication that you suffer from severe depression during Winter, consult a medical practitioner for help at the start, rather than waiting for things to worsen.

If you suffer from mild feelings of apathy during Winter, start making changes to your habits and lifestyle during Autumn by being proactive in your approach to Winter.

• Bring Warm Light into Your Home
  Rather than burning bright lights during the early part of Autumn and Winter evenings to alleviate the earlier nightfall’s, soften the lighting in your home to encourage going to sleep earlier at night, by burning softly lighted lamps, candles or lighting a fire if you are lucky enough to have a fireplace, so that you encourage earlier sleep habits. Research indicates that we need more sleep during the colder Winter months, and those people who go to bed early, getting a restful nights sleep, cope better during the shorter Winter days.
• Get half an hours exercise at least three times per week
  Vigourous exercise practised three times per week for thirty minutes, during the earlier hours of the day stimulates the body to activity increasing levels of serotonin and helps to alleviate mild feelings of apathy.
• Enjoy hot bubble baths or deeply relaxing natural salt baths
  This will relax and soothe you creating the right state to enjoy a good nights sleep, allowing you to wake refreshed in the morning and more able to cope.
• Talk to a trusted partner or friend
  Have an uninterrupted conversation with your partner or close friend at least once a week, daily if possible.
• Start a journal or keep a diary  - [ Read More ]
  - make a list of the things that you are most grateful for in your journal or diary, reviewing and adding to the list as often as possible.
• Learn to express yourself and connect with other people!
  Laugh, Talk, Cry, Write, Chat on the phone, start an email friendship, join a support group, socialise with family and friends and keep that human connection.
• Avoid alcohol and caffeinated beverages,
  Especially if you feel even mild depression and during the afternoon and evenings.
• Review the Autumn six week eating strategy
  - [ Read More ]
• Get a pet or plant something.
• Read.....
  Read an entertaining or inspiring book.... or email, or watch a movie that makes you cry, with tears of emotion or laughter, encouraging the expression of your emotions. Laugh at least once a day.
• Take up a hobby...
  or engage in service or volunteer work.
• Enjoy some pampering...
  Indulging in a facial, manicure, pedicure or full body massage. Aromatherapy body massage is said to be most beneficial in relieving depression, several oils are said to aid in alleviating depression and they include basil, clary sage, neroli, otto, Roman camomile, rose and thyme. Six to eight drops of any one of these oils can be put into your bath
• Indulge often in physical contact.
  Shake hands, hug a friend, cuddle a child, walk hand in hand or hold hands with your partner. Kiss your spouse when leaving, embrace when you return, cuddle on the couch and make love as often as possible.

“I have never met a person whose greatest need was anything other than real, unconditional love. You can find it in a simple act of kindness toward someone who needs help. There is no mistaking love. You feel it in your heart. It is the common fiber of life, the flame that heats our soul, energizes our spirit and supplies passion to our lives. It is our connection to God and to each other.”

-- Elizabeth Kubler-Ross ‘The Wheel of Life’

There is no mistaking the fact that there are many people who despite the vast population on the earth, live their lives alone, and are often lonely, whether by choice or design. Even individuals that are married or that are involved in a relationship, can experience feelings of isolation for various reasons and as a result experience mild to severe depression, particularly in the colder Autumn and Winter months. Reaching out in any form to a person can empower feelings of positive expression for the giver and the receiver.

Continued struggle with a challenging problem, even or especially something like being overweight, poor self-image and the lack of self-esteem, all being interrelated, can cause mild to severe depression. In times when a person feels severe depression, they are usually incapable of recognising the fact and unable to make decisions, or even one decision to get the help they require, then usually it’s up to the people closest to that person to intervene, with unconditional love and support, encouraging them to get the help they need.

At the first signs of mild depression or Seasonal Affective Disorder, reach out to someone for help, in any form. Write an email, pick up the phone and call someone, even make an appointment with your medical practitioner for advice.

If you know of someone that seems even mildly depressed, embrace them with a smile, a compliment or an invitation to share a cup of coffee, then encourage them to reach out for help.

Embrace yourself in a warm cocoon of love and laughter during Autumn and Winter!
Mands

PS. I would love to hear from you so please send me an email if you have something to share, Email: [ mands ] with the subject line ‘Autumn’ - thanks!

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Life is “sexually” transmitted.......
by Bev

Love means to commit oneself without guarantee,
to give oneself completely in the hope
that our love will produce love in the loved person.
Love is an act of faith,
and whoever is of little faith is also of little love.
-- Erich Fromm

Yep, what a true statement – for all – for animals, plants, insects, and humans! Without the “sex”, there is no life! Let me explain….

A product of a successful “coupling” (sex, nookie, making love) in humans is invariably the fertilisation of an egg*.  A new life! A life that draws nutrients and life-force from within a mother’s womb.  A fertilised egg to a full grown embryo; to a smaller version of you; and into this world a wailing, helpless, smiling, gurgling, suckling baby. A life that in the early years needs constant attention, comfort, nurturing and stability. 

* admittedly today there are other methods of fertilising the egg within the womb without sex, but for those of us who were blessed with the ability to get pregnant the old-fashioned way and not “a womb with a view” test-tube pregnancy.

In animals, it is easier – they either lay an egg and sit on it awhile until the young are ready to break out, or the baby animals are born without intervention and are running within an hour of taking that first breath.

So, yep again – Life is “sexually” transmitted.

However, due to this new life that you and your partner have created, your “own” life becomes shared – with baby, with friends and family. With your mate, who now sees you more as a “mom” than a sexual being.

So, how do you still create that life inside you without losing your place in the world? How do you stop losing your “self” through life, love and everything else.
Life; your own, other’s and kid’s lives.
Love; your own, kid’s, hubby’s, friend’s and family’s love.
Everything else; things you used to do before kids.

Keep your “self” by loving yourself and who you are; by loving the different roles you play in life – the wife, the lover, the mom, the career woman! When you love inward, love flows out of you and when you love outward, love flows into you.  When you have love, you have life; when you have life, you have love, and live life fully. The more love between two people of opposite sexes, the more chance there will be of creating more life – and the process comes full circle!

As individuals we are not islands. We belong to groups, and the group of strongest influence is made up of parents, siblings, grandparents and so on. And as children we are surrounded by these strong influences. When we speak of children, we of course are talking of each one of us, for each of us is the child of two parents, and whether we are 6 or 60 we are someone’s child forever.  And a child is more than one life – it is the merging of two special lives.

So, love yourself and who you are, whatever role you play; balance your yin and yang energies within, and love will come back to you - FULLY.

To be loved, be lovable.
-- Ovid

Bevskins xxx !!!

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