Lessons from the leaves

Star-light in the woods.

Anyone who thinks fallen leaves are dead has never watched them dancing on a windy day.

~ Shira Tamir

Release

Yesterday, when I predicted the rain and wind from the latest weather front would strip the trees bare, I was wrong.  It is the northerly wind that followed the front which is beginning to help the leaves release themselves.  Today, the leaves are flying and floating, twirling and dancing, letting go of one existence to move on to the next.

Shining through the Mystery Tree.

We woke up to bright sunshine, gusting winds, and a clear, blue sky.  Clouds formed as the day grew older and a little warmer.  Now there are a variety of clouds racing across the sky, an armada of huge cargo ship clouds with dark bottoms, squat tugboats occasionally pushing barges, narrow gondolas and canoes, round coracles circling around, and sleek sailboats puffed up with the wind, all on their way to Elsewhere.

Blowing in the wind.

I walked and walked and walked this morning.  I might still be out there walking, but M came home for lunch and when he couldn’t find me or reach me by phone, he went on a small walkabout to look for me.  Usually I do put my cell phone in my pocket when I go out, or leave a note on the kitchen counter indicating the direction I am taking.

A curtain of dried marsh grasses.

Today I left the house without a thought, a phone, or a note.  The wind was singing a siren song, inviting me to come out and follow it wherever it happened to lead.  So I did.  I was somewhere in the middle of one of the meadows when I patted my pocket to make sure I hadn’t dropped my phone somewhere.  The pocket was empty, and that’s when I realized I forgot to bring my phone.  “Oh well,” I thought, “I won’t be out here much longer,” and continued to attend the wind and its song.

Under a cloudy spell.

Well, as you probably guessed, I was out there much longer.  I’m afraid I might have worried M a bit when he didn’t find me right away.  The wind is in the habit of leading me astray and off the beaten path.  I startled M when I popped out of a thicket.  He startled me since I wasn’t expecting anyone to be there.  I must have looked like a wild creature from the woods.  I’d been in the little graveyard, peering around and under trees, exploring places that have no trails, and exited through an opening in a thicket rather than through the usual opening in the woods.

An opening into the deep and dark of the fairy tale woods.

I made my way around the edges of the property, into the meadows, into the unexplored parts of the woods, across ditches and creeks.  Even in all that time and all that space, I only covered about half the property.  That’s because sometimes I stopped to listen to the wind.  Sometimes I backtracked when it seemed as if the wind had switched directions.

When the sun reappears.

The north wind is singing songs, whistling tunes, and telling stories of magic and adventures.  It is an uplifting, energizing, rejuvenating wind so the songs and stories are invigorating and fresh, exhilarating and challenging.

Resting.

Every now and then, the wind would bring me to ground where I would rest for a moment with the leaves.

Listening to the oak tree.

The wind is still whistling and singing.  I’m going back out in just a bit, to follow and listen, to go on more adventures and learn new songs.

Embrace.

Thank you for visiting today, and following the wind with me.  Let’s go down to the Point to watch the sunset today.  It’s at 4:57 PM.  Bundle up.  It’s not terribly cold, but the wind is persistent about trying to get inside whatever layers you might be wearing.  A pair of gloves (or some pockets) to keep your hands warm is not a bad idea, either.  I’ll bring the hot chocolate and hot tea, and we’ll toast the sun as it sinks down behind the waters of the river, the sound, and the bay.

Where some of the fairies live.

Be good, be kind, be loving.  Just Be.  🙂

End of the season.

Today’s joys:  The stories and songs of the autumn wind; the way the leaves twirl and float and dance in the gusts; explorations and small adventures; a nice cup of hot tea to warm me up; walking, dancing, and enjoying the twists and turns of a blustery day.