I apologize for sounding vulgar in the title of my post but if I don’t rant at least a little bit about the time change, then, well, I’ll be mostly the only one hearing my annoyances. No matter what, this change of the clocks is rediculous. I hear many people say how much they like it and if you’re at work indoors all day, I can sympathize with that need and desire for sunshine and light.
But let’s look at the time change from an earthly, connected perspective. This is how I feel what happens: in the fall, Equinox comes and day and night are equal. Abundance abounds in California as tomatoes and peppers ripen red on the vine. We harvest, we eat our apples fresh from the trees and at every potluck or dinner party, there is dish after dish made with zucchini. October rolls around and the sun becomes noticably lower in the sky. The golden fields glow as evening light settles over land. Orange pumpkins capture our attention as if pumpkin carving was a long held tradition of Autumn and finally, after costumes and fretting over candy and offerings to the Rubbish fairies, alas, we “fall back” (seemingly regaining the hour that was stolen from us last week; but I don’t think regaining this hour makes up for every hour I’ll lose between now and next fall).
After the clocks are turned back that week following Halloween, then what? For one, it’s easier to put the children to bed. Ever notice it’s easier to put yourself to bed too? The first frost beckons you turn on the oven, bake them potatoes or Butternut Squash, plan for pies and who’s cooking what for the coming holiday. For the busy American, the full time job and commute becomes more intense- there’s shopping to do and holiday planning and if we don’t have a loved one who is sick, we may be recalling a time when a relative passed away. Grief and pneumonia visit many in this dark time of year. Some people get flu shots, others make hot chocolate and still others make tea and soups. We all have different Autumn traditions and habits. But generally, we have to fight colds and keep warm. Some of us go personally inward, become depressed or dive deep into creative projects.
Think about it, the darkest of days come on the first day of winter so that means November through February the nights are the longest and if we’re going to get good rest, this is the time to do it. If the holidays included rich meals, extra baked goods or sharing bottles of wine, the New Year starts with efforts toward the best intentions, a desire to make improvements and somehow, since the days are shorter, maybe you’re like me and you like going to bed earlier and earlier. I love sleep more and more as January turns to February. I embrace my dreamtime, knowing I can store up energy for summer, knowing that in my dreamtime and meditations, I will find inspiration.
Yellow begins bursting from the fields here in California. Mustard flowers glow from near and far. The roadsides light up when the clouds break and even on foggy days, the earth glows yellow and gold. This is the time when I KNOW, Spring is Coming and I love it and I can feel it with every cell of my body. As the earth awakens, I awaken and I feel as though I am being beckoned from my slumber. From the pleasures of my layered blankets and the coziness of my shelter, I enter the day, excited, as the sunrise inspires me morning after morning. I rise early, easily and well rested and I look outside in shock and awe- it’s so pretty! Light and morning fog, each day, new and different from the last. I can’t wait to start the day. I feel like an Earth Baby whose been resting for months, like a little one rubbing my eyes in amazement as Mother Earth says, “Here child, take this color, put on these colors and go be lovely with the rest of the world- life is awakening again- this is the promise of Spring that I told you about when we planted the Tulips.”
Yes, this is how it is for me- an earth baby awakening as if with new eyes, all is new again. Life is green with miner’s lettuce and chickweed and I want to go out and be in this world- inspired and happy to rise, rise, rise!
Then… I won’t say it. The title of my post already said it. Instead I’ll dream, I’ll dream of a day when the world says, “No- let’s not make that agreement. Let’s not pretend day is longer. Let’s not assign an alternate hour to the light that we do have. Let’s just keep in sync with one time and see what happens. Maybe we’ll like it even better.”
Celosia Mae 