Autumn Wonders

The writer F. Scott Fitzgerald once said, "Life starts over again when it gets crisp in the fall." And I couldn't agree more. There's just something magical about the cool air & first frosts that make you want to drive down a forgotten country lane to the nearest pumpkin patch & take time to see old friends along the way. Perhaps it's the vibrant colors that inspire us to feel more alive, or maybe it's that nippiness in the air that makes us want to huddle around a bonfire & catch up with our nearest & dearest. Whatever the spell is that Autumn so faithfully casts, one thing is certain: it's a season filled with wonder & enchantment.

Each year, I can't wait for the grove of aspens along my jogging trail to turn gold, their leaves shimmering like bright coins. And nothing spells bliss for me quite like the feeling of those delicate leaves falling all around me in a colorful confetti when the wind begins to rise. I often see the tracks in the dirt of many wild animals this time of year, such as mountain lions, deer, elk & turkey, because this is the season when the wildlife are on the move, getting in their last foraging before settling down for winter.

I also love to take wilderness hikes with my family, in awe of the checkerboard pattern of brilliant reds & oranges & yellows that lay over the mountains. This was a particularly wet year for us in Colorado, and the aspen trees have responded to the bounty with an explosion of color that's a feast for the eyes.
 

It's as though God took a paintbrush and swirled every autumnal hue possible on the hillsides in a beautiful menagerie that's enough to take your breath away.

The vistas this year are so striking that at one point during our weekend hike, my 8-year-old son paused and tugged at my shirt . "Mom," he said softly, "are we in Heaven?" I fell silent for a moment, simply allowing myself to feel the same wonderment he did. And after taking a deep breath, I replied, "Yes, I think we are."

I loved my son's smug satisfaction afterwards—as if he'd discovered Shangri La in the quiet beauty of nature & couldn't wait to show me. And to be honest, I think he did—and I've tucked that memory in my heart & given a quiet thanks to Autumn for enabling us to experience it.

If you're at all like me, you can't wait to start decorating with fall colors the minute the first day of Autumn comes & you love to collect pumpkins to carve into fun faces for Halloween. But I hope in the hustle & bustle of this lovely season that leads us up to (gasp) Thanksgiving, you'll take a moment to cherish all the quiet wonders that Autumn brings. And maybe, you'll discover that its magical silence fills your heart with a special kind of gold...

P.S. If you're looking for an enchanting novel that takes place during Autumn & Halloween,

check out my paranormal romance TWIXT, available now on Amazon & Kindle

 (Photo credit note: All images on my blog are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of popular social networks like facebook or pinterest. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

Unexpected Magic

Autumn always feels like a miracle to me—the crisp air, vibrant leaves, and that lovely stillness that pervades the earth, bringing a sense of contemplation & subtle understanding of life's rhythm & mysteries. It's as though, with the leaves fallen from the trees now, life becomes more fundamental, and we not only can see beyond the former foliage of tree canopies, we can also perceive the bare bones of our lives. Nature reveals much in her stark beauty. As we head towards Thanksgiving & our thoughts naturally become more meditative, I love to step out into Nature as often as I can to let the earth speak to me. Since moving to Colorado a few months ago, I've been taking my family on hikes nearly every weekend on backcountry trails in the Rocky Mountains that often lead to an elevation of 10-11,000 feet.

When I breathe the air at these heights & see the glorious views, I feel deeply blessed & also content. Nature & healthy loved ones are enough. The beauty of the outdoors is enough. The fragrance of the pines & soft chortle of wild turkeys or the call of the elk are enough. It seems like blasphemy in moments like this to be anything but grateful for life, color, love, and the majesty of nature.

And it's funny, but in times like this—when my mind is at peace and I don't waste a single thought on what I "want" in this world—that's when it seems like I experience the most magic. Some people call it serendipity: that unsought moment when a blessings arrives, light as a feather, that seems to synchronize perfectly with the contentment you've cultivated in your heart. For me, a delightful example of this phenomenon occurred recently when I took my family on a spur-of-the moment hike on an unmarked trail near my property. It turned out to be far steeper than we'd anticipated, with extremely rough terrain that luckily rewarded us with spectacular views. And as we neared the top, my son (who is no stranger to a belief in fairies), called out "Look mom—a kite!"

Indeed, at the top of a mountain (that was almost 10,000 feet) lay a dirty Star Wars kite under a boulder that looked like it had seen better days long ago. But my son insisted that "The fairies must have left it for us!", so my husband decided to unravel its string and give it a shot. It took a bit of time to straighten out its mangled cross sticks, but before long, we hoped we had it in working order...

The wind began to rise, and with my heart in my throat, I watched my boys' anticipation as my husband gave a yank on the kite string. If only you could see the joy in my boys' faces as that kite began to soar! They squealed & laughed & skipped & chased after it as the sun glinted off their foreheads & the breeze tousled their hair. Nothing on God's green earth could have made them happier in that moment than flying that beaten-up, discarded old kite.

And I thought to myself, "This is what magic really is." A swelling in the heart at an unexpected blessing. A child's glee. Abundant sunshine on a mountain meadow. A fragrant breeze. Laughter that you could almost swear was punctuated by the giggle of fairies. Or was that angels? And it didn't cost a thing. Simply a belief that in that moment, life is abundantly beautiful—more than enough—and a flimsy old plastic kite & some worn-out string are all it takes to thrill your soul & fill you up with a magical memory you'll never forget.

Oh, did I mention that we hadn't sold our old house yet & were paying two mortgages, my car needed fixing to the tune of 1,500 dollars, I'd pulled a tendon that made hiking precarious, and the trail back to my house was so steep that on parts of it we had to slide down on our butts?

None of those distractions could water down the magic of that particular moment—because I refused to let it. Because if I've learned anything about magic, it's this: Magic exists in the NOW. It's up to us to notice it & let if fill our hearts when it comes our way.

May this Autumn season give you many opportunities to stumble into magic. And may you have the wisdom & openness of heart to recognize those unexpected moments when they alight upon your world : )

(Photo credit note: All images on my blog are either my own or were gleaned from pictures in the public domains of facebook, pinterest, or other popular social networks. If you own the copyright to any of these images & do NOT want them used publicly, please contact me & I will take them down immediately! : )

Autumn's Spell

Each year, Autumn exhilarates me with an electrical sense of anticipation & joy. I love how the brisk fall air sweeps away the heavy-laden & stagnant heat of summer & encourages the bright colors of trees to burst forth. It's as though Nature herself is ready to celebrate the beauty & mystery of change. Few things in life feel as wonderful to me as the gentle warmth of Autumn sunshine that often permeates nippy October mornings, or the transcendently glorious aspen leaves that can suffuse an entire mountainside with gold. The whole mood of the season takes on the delight of renewed color & energy, and this is the time of year that I adore perusing Farmer's Markets where the vendors proudly spread out their wares.

In the small mountain town in Colorado where I live, vendors come from all over the state to display their organic fruits & vegetables, artisanal cheeses, & grass fed beef & free range poultry.

The produce always looks downright sumptuous, and I love it that even pastas take on a creative flair with varieties like "Garlic Asparagus Tagliatelle" & "Sweet Potato Pappardelle".

And then there's the "egg lady" Ms. Peck (yep, that's her genuine moniker), who knows the names & eccentric habits of each one of her free-range chickens because to her they aren't just poultry—they're her beloved pets. Given the fact that her farm has a view of one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the western hemisphere, I wouldn't mind coming back in my next life as one of her free-spirited little chickens or goats...

And speaking of free spirits, who could overlook the charming Farmgirls Homestead booth, with their unique Garden Fairy Apothecary of salves, notions & potions? It's well known that fresh mountain air & intense alpine sunshine has a magical effect on herbs, tinctures & homemade soaps, so it's no surprise to me that their enchanting concoctions are usually sold out by noon.  

So to take advantage of my weekly Farmer's Market experiences, I usually try to arrive by the crack of dawn (they open at 6 am!) to sample the very freshest breads & produce money can buy—and for far cheaper than most organic grocery stores. Here's just a sample of my usual delectable haul:

 But is it really just a bargain that I seek when I brave the crisp fall mornings before the sun has fully risen over the mountain tops to relish the sights & smells of the local farmers & artisans?  To be honest, I think that's simply my excuse to experience the full range of Autumn's spell. Harvest, cornucopia, bounty, abundance—these are all synonyms for the color & wealth of sensation that Autumn offers before impending Winter will strip our lives back down to their essentials once again. But each season has it's special kind of magic, and for me, the enchantment of Autumn means both hope & mystery. Hope that after enduring a sometimes oppressively hot summer, cool air will invigorate my body & spirit & make me feel excited about pursuing my dreams again. And a deep sense of mystery as I anticipate what kinds of changes my dreams will bring into my life & how I can honor the sacredness of each day the sunlight grows shorter & shorter. Shadows begin to grow long, revealing a new sense of shape & form in the natural world—and with that comes more time to perhaps reflect on what is truly meaningful & magical to our spirits.

And may you find during this season of golden-colored days and crisp starry nights, a new courage to pursue changes in your life that will bring you the abundance you deserve. If you're uncertain how to envision that abundance, try doing this simple & good-natured spell to bring you closer to manifesting your dreams:

AUTUMN'S SPELL

(Items required: 1 candle & a match)

Meditate on this charming picture for a moment & imagine yourself taking a walk through a dark forest & coming across two rows of glowing pumpkins that gently highlight your path. What is at the end of this trail for you that would give you a feeling of peace, contentment & a very deep sense of arriving "home"? Is it a good relationship, more satisfying work, vibrant health, true soul friends, or all of the above? Don't be afraid of true magic—for "magic" is simply the outward manifestation of the genuine longings of your soul. So take a moment to fully envision (in every lovely detail) precisely what the manifestation of your dream looks like. Then light a candle & pause, imagining yourself as you walk into your dream. Everyone is so delighted to see you there (even ancestors who have passed on), and they are very, very proud of you. What are the sights, colors, sounds & smells here? How does this place make you feel? Take a moment to realize that you are truly valued here for the unique contribution of your spirit—and for that alone—and the sooner you accept & genuinely believe that, the sooner you will find yourself manifesting your dreams. Now hug everyone who has welcomed you here & send them joy & love from  your heart. And then know, as certain as the ground that you stand on, that you will not accept anything less than this beautiful dream for yourself. Know, too, that it is already waiting for you. Actively take the next steps towards your dream today—because your dream wants you. It needs you to be fully alive & to help you co-create joy. Before you blow out your candle, fully embrace the golden feeling that the Autumn season can bring & the inevitable changes that are an integral part of its magic. And now give thanks aloud for this dream already manifesting in ways that are beyond your imagination & control! Nevertheless, it will come into your life as surely as the moon always waxes to fullness once again. Picture your dream in bright detail with you in the center, smiling with contentment, & then blow out the candle. Gently inhale the smoke of your dreams as they are carried into the Universe & will come back to you at just the right time.

Happy Halloween - Sásta Oíche Shamhna!

And if you love the gentle enchantment
of nature & spells, check out
my magical novels at Amazon & Kindle!

Twixt 

The Robbin' Hearts Series