“Solstices and equinoxes mark the four movements in a celestial score. The older I get, the more I aspire to tap into the symphonic song of nature. To harmonize with the flow of seasons, the cycles in our landscapes, and the larger universe…
The autumnal equinox falls between 21 and 24 September, as the Sun heads southward, crossing the celestial equator. In Celtic tradition, this equinox was celebrated as Mabon, which featured the building of an altar laden with harvest fruits and vegetables—an offering to the goddess or mother earth and a cue for people to count their blessings. In the Old and New World, harvest season and cooler temperatures typically led to more foraging, butchering, and baking. Late-harvest grains were made into seasonal breads, cakes, and beer; nuts and late-season fruits were turned into pies, cider, and brandy. Harvest festivals brought people together around a common table to celebrate the abundance of the season, the landscapes they shared, and community.
Gardeners and farmers are perhaps tied to these cycles as much as any of us can be, living in the modern world. And as a gardener still crafting a life and livelihood from the land, I am touched and heartened by our human impulse to mark the seasons together with earthly and celestial rites and rituals that help us celebrate our circles around the Sun.
