September and New Beginnings.
Ahh...finally after a very hot and humid summer here in the Northeast, we are finally feeling some of the first cooler nights and morning with the dawning of Autumn. Most people don’t think of this time of year as a new beginning. Most people associate that concept with springtime when the first flowers break through the frost of late winter.
September is the beginning of a new school year. It is also a time when adults feel that now that summer is over, it’s back to business. We often start out this month with that sense of renewed energy from summer’s lazy days and vacations. In this very sense, September and autumn are a new beginning.
The cooler, but still warm and sunny weather of September always makes it my favorite month. For me, it marks the date of my birth and enhances into this crazy world. In the world of astrology, the month of your birth is the beginning of your solar year and chart. On my birthday, September 28th, I will embark on new beginnings at a Spiritual retreat with “John of God” at Omega Institute in Rhinebeck, NY. He happens to be there on my birthday, so I took that as a good sign. I really am looking forward to re-charging my batteries with Divine influence to re-start my personal year.
For all of you, I strongly suggest that you take some time in nature to enjoy the dawning of the autumn season while we still have this beautiful weather. As my arborist was investigating some dead and diseased trees in my little orchard, he was reminding me that we really only have 2 seasons now. Spring and Fall are very short, a few weeks at best. So take the time to get outdoors and enjoy the special season in any way you can.
One of my favorite types of meditations to do this time of year is a walking mindfulness meditation. Just walk in a park, your neighborhood or anywhere you can find yourself alone. Still your thoughts by being mindful of your surroundings. Engage all your senses and take notice of everything! Feel the breezes against your skin and in your hair. Hear the sounds of birds and leaves rustling in the wind. See the beautiful blue sky and its cloud formations. Touch a tree, give it a big hug and feel it’s strength hugging you back. Take in a big deep breath of crisp fall air and taste that freshness as it fills your nose, throat, mouth and lungs. Using all of your senses in this way will help you feel connected to the greater energy of the ALL…Mother Earth, the Universe, and all other beings.
This simple act of engaging all of your senses will help your other random thoughts, to-do lists, etc…to just fall away. Being mindful in the simplest way is a wonderful form of meditation. You do not have to sit on a mountain top in complete silence to meditate. Being mindfully in the Now moment will bring you to a deep sense of peace and relaxation, lower your blood pressure, your heart rate and so much more. Most importantly it will just plain make you feel good, renewed, refreshed and alive!