I haven't written all Summer, and at times I haven't even logged on to facebook for days. The reasons for that I will keep private, I will just say that I didn't have a good Summer (and as a result is was hard to log in and see everyone having the summer of their lives), so that is one more reason why I couldn't wait for autumn to come and put this summer behind my back.
So recently I went back to being more active on facebook, but that was not a good thing. Facebook is, for most of us, addictive, and it's very bad for our mental health. It has been, though, a place that gave me the opportunity to meet beautiful people from around the globe. But that's it, usually very far from me. I hardly have the opportunity to meet any of these wonderful people and that makes me feel even more socially isolated.
So I decided it is time to focus on real life, and one of two things will happen: either I'll feel more isolated, or it'll give me the chance to seek and reach real people instead of facebook profiles.
I am, from today on taking a break from Facebook for a month - at least that is my goal.
So that's when I finally found the courage to write again, in this second of September.
September really is my favourite month of the year. For an active forager, it's the best time, for most of the Summer berries and greens are still out there, Autumn berries and fruits are just ripening, and all kinds of mushrooms are popping out of the ground everywhere!
 |
| Guelder Rose |
 |
According to the celtic calendar, we have entered the Autumn season since Lughnasadh, contrary to popular belief, the Equinox and Solstices are really the middle of the seasons, not the beggining. Samhain marks the beggining of the New year and Winter, and Imbolc the beggining of Spring, and so on. The cross-quarter festivals mark then the start of the seasons. It has been since Lughnasadh that I have been noticing the subtle, yet noticeable changes in Nature.
This time of the year, together with the beggining of Spring (from Imbolc to Ostara), are my favourite times of the year. They are times of Transition - one is from death to life, the other from life to death - both equally beautiful and important.
It is now that we notice the trees preparing themselves for winter sleep, focusing their energies on their roots to better survive the winter months and shedding their leaves. The swallows will soon leave for warmer places, and the land will go silent. 'Tis a beautiful sight to behold. The plants are all going to seed, securing next generations.
 |
| Hedge Garlic has gone to seed, and the seeds are now dry and falling. This is a great time to save seeds from our native plants |
One of my favourite shows in this time of the year has to do with heather.
I love heather for many reasons, not only is it a beautiful shrub, with medicinal properties (physical as well as metaphysical) it also puts up a beautiful show in the mountains.
Experiencing the Autumn in the mountains is something I am incrediby grateful for ever since I came to Ireland, and now I can observe it closely, from my window, as I am now in the highlands of Kerry (oops, need to write a blog post about that too).
Part of the mountains are covered in heather, in organic random patterns. For most of the year it is unnoticeable, but since Lughnasadh one can admire the changing colours of the mountains, thanks to heather. Around the beggining of August, the green foliage starts to turn brown, creating brown patterns in the green hillsides. Not long after, the flowers start to bloom, different species of heather with different shades of pink and lilac - and then is when you start to notice the change from brown, to lilac, to purple. It is a show given to us by Nature that most people ignore, or are too busy in their daily lives to notice the beauty of Nature.
I am wholeheartedly thankful for being able to experience it every year. The mountains are always changing colours and soon they will be partly covered in white (another show I can't wait to see from up close!).
Brightest Autumnal Blessings to all my dear friends <3
