There is a lot of weird stuff out there to talk about this week, but most of it is of a decidedly partisan nature. So, for those of you who would rather avoid that kind of messy discussion (and I don’t blame you), I’m offering up an update of an earlier post that’s appropriate to the end of August. On the other hand, for the political wonks among you, my more pointed remarks can be found on my personal blog here.
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| A quality of light; the leaves just before turning: Fifth Season. |
The Chinese call this time of year—roughly from the middle of August to the end of September—"fifth season.” Fifth season is not summer, not fall, but something all its own.
Here in the western North Carolina mountains, it’s the time of year when the days are still warm, but the nights start to get chilly. The light takes on a golden quality as the days grow noticeably shorter, coating the still-green leaves of the trees in a buttery glow. Queen Anne’s lace and milkweed cover the fields and roadsides, while coneflowers and bee balm rule in the garden. Bees busy themselves with storing up for the winter; butterflies with strengthening for their long migration to the tropics.
It’s not quite the time of harvest, but it is a time of savoring the last of summer: that final camping or fishing trip; that last visit to the beach or cabin if you are able to travel during the pandemic; the last of the white corn, tomatoes or watermelon from the garden. In the night sky, the Perseids rain down meteors if you’re lucky enough to see them. Or thunderstorms dump torrential rainfall from hurricanes coming up from the Gulf if you’re not.
In Chinese philosophy and medicine, Fifth Season is a time of storing energy, of things relating to the Earth element, proper digestion and metabolism, of taking in, absorbing and making use of what the universe is providing.
In a few weeks the kids will be back at school, if they aren’t already in your part of the country, even if only virtually. Vacation and the lazy days of summer will be over. Fall will be truly in the air—cold and crisp and smelling of apples, pumpkins and freshly sharpened pencils.
Take a moment to breathe in the sunshine and energy of Fifth Season before Fall brings long shadows and bright leaves.
Cheers, Donna
(Apologies to Greta on the other side of the world, where the seasons are reversed!)
Huge grin. Yes, indeed, Donna. The days are getting longer here.
ReplyDeleteI loved your post. The writing is so lyrical. And I shall now go and read your more pointed post.
Aw, thank you, Greta! Enjoy your spring and thanks for checking out Across the Multiverse.
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