Leaves Must Fall

Autumn Song

Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf
How the heart feels a languid grief
Laid on it for a covering,
And how sleep seems a goodly thing
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

And how the swift beat of the brain
Falters because it is in vain,
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf
Knowest thou not? and how the chief
Of joys seems—not to suffer pain?

Know'st thou not at the fall of the leaf
How the soul feels like a dried sheaf
Bound up at length for harvesting,
And how death seems a comely thing
In Autumn at the fall of the leaf?

~Dante Gabriel Rossetti

Leaves in Autumn.  Oh, they are beautiful to behold!  The way the sun casts its warm beams upon these crowning jewels is simply breathtaking.   Nature in its most magnificent dress--it's hard to tear our eyes away.  It would be easy to stop there.  To admire the beauty of the changing of seasons represented in our forests and tree-lined streets.  And yet, while we are amazed by all this beauty, let us not shy away from what is really taking place in front of our very eyes.  The leaves are preparing themselves to let go.  To let go of their life source, the tree, in order that it might survive the cold, dark winter that is fast approaching. The leaves are preparing to die.  The sacrifice is necessary.  Without it the tree is in danger of not surviving the winter.  If the leaves were to refuse to let go, they would end up being leaks in a vessel letting much needed moisture escape from their surfaces. If they were to hang on for dear life they would create a canopy from which the winter snows would cling and ultimately cause the branches to break, cutting off vital body parts of the tree. So, they needs must fall. Nature knows this.  She is a willing participant.  We should take note.  

Autumn is bittersweet.  We are thankful for the bounty that has been harvested in this season.  We celebrate the beauty of all things that have been cultivated and come to fruition.  It is a time of celebration, but it is also a time of letting go.  Yes, celebrate the beauty of the colors, the things you've accomplished, the obstacles you've overcome. They have made you stronger, wiser, transformed.  But it doesn't end there.  There's more to this life.  There's more transformation to go through.  Nature's cycles keep turning.  And in order to keep transforming, we must prepare ourselves for rebirth.  We must assess the things that need letting go.  Even those things that have been worthy and beneficial.  The sacrifice is necessary.  Without it we are in danger of not surviving the darkness of winter.  If we cling to comfortable, yet useless things in our lives we will lose the sustenance needed to carry us through the next stage of transformation. It's okay to let go.  Our leaves needs must fall.  A new Autumn will come round next year. How bright will your colors be?

A Practice:  Spend time in the fall foliage.  Sit amongst the falling leaves giving thanks for the beauty of the season.  Reflect on the things you need to let go of in order to prepare yourself for transformation.  Ask the Divine for guidance and discernment in understanding what these things may be. Give thanks for any gifts that are given.  Then go and let go.

May Nature's Beauty Be Yours,
Jennifer
 

This post originally published for The Sacred Wilds Nature Meditations on October 14, 2020.