We’re 14 days away from the Autumn Equinox. And although it sounds wonderful to have an exact moment (3:20 p.m.) that Autumn begins, that’s also not the full picture. The Autumn Equinox pinpoints the exact moment when the Sun is directly above the Equator. However, according to the meteorological definition of Autumn, we’ve already begun. Meteorologically speaking – or based on the annual temperature cycle – the Autumn season began September 1^st and will last until November 30^th.     

Change of Seasons

I live in the Northeast of the United States. I’m grateful that I get to beautifully experience all four seasons. Every year, without fail, we go through each transition. Sometimes the transitions are perfectly in line with what we expect. Sometimes the transitions last longer than we are used to. But either way, they run their courses and the new seasons follow. I’ll miss certain things about this summer such as the abundant cherry tomatoes, sunflowers, marigolds, gladioluses, and Dragon Thai peppers growing in my back yard. But I must admit to looking forward to wearing long-sleeved flannel shirts and enjoying pumpkin flavored everything.

As author Gary Zukav has written, “The coming and going of the seasons give us more than the springtimes, summers, autumns, and winters of our lives. It reflects the coming and going of the circumstances of our lives like the glassy surface of a pond that shows our faces radiant with joy or contorted with pain.”

Seasons of Change

We will all experience joy as well as pain. Our emotions and life circumstances will eb and flow throughout our lives. And while our lives may not have an exact Equinox or even a meteorological range we’re able to pre-define, we can learn to appreciate the transitions.

The author of the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu, articulated that point well when he wrote, “Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them; that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.”

We may feel the urge to hold onto summer – or any previous season – a little longer. But why? Let’s agree to let it go and simply enjoy the transition. Let’s get excited for the leaves to change color, for the nights to start sooner, and for our lives to flourish further.