Retreating into the dark or not?

This week I have felt that I need to retreat and replenish my soul from the events of the world around me. But then I think that the time is not right for this as there is a lot of work to do to help others find their way in these troubled times. It is not just the wars that cause us problems but our ever changing weather. There seem to be more extremes of weather here in the UK and this was forecast when climate change was discussed some time ago. Yet we are never prepared for this. I think about my bungalow which was built about 30 or so years ago and won an award for the design of the complex of which it is a part. But no-one thought about the strong winds which blow around the houses and chase plant pots and wheelie bins away because there is no safe place to store them. But that is nothing compared to the floods up north. Yet we still build houses by rivers and streams and high bridges which cannot stand up to the wind.

So do I retreat for a while and ignore the outside world? I have tried over the last couple of days to find that quiet time for contemplation but was disturbed by the howling of the wind and loud bangs as things outside were blown around. Maybe now is not the time for this kind of work, contemplating our world in peace. Maybe some music will help. I have been listening to my favourite composer Shostakovich recently. His music tells of the pain and sorrow that is current in our world yet was current in his world too. As I have often thought and said, times do not change, history repeats itself continuously and we do not seem to learn from this. Maybe my time for a retreat is not yet here.

 

Autumn Equinox

It is that time of the year again. The time of equal day and night. The mornings have been misty like a veil between the worlds and the spiders are busy in their webs which glisten in the mist. Yet there are still many flowers in bloom and the trees are still quite green but their colours do change each day going gold and brown. It is a beautiful time of the year.

For me it is a time of contemplation, a time to look back and see what I have achieved and also to see what didn’t get done and question why. It is also a time to make sure I have prepared for the coming winter so that if and when it arrives I have done what needs to be done. Meanwhile I shall enjoy the feeling of mystery as the mist rises and see the glory of nature in the webs of the spiders and the changing colour of the leaves.

How do you feel about this time of the year? Do you do anything special to celebrate?