Autumn’s Pilgrimage

Last updated on: September 22, 2011 at 11:08 pm by Dana Reynolds

Autumn’s Pilgrimage 2011-09-22T23:08:27-06:00 Dana Reynolds

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

To go in the dark with a light is to know the light.
To know the dark, go dark. Go without sight,
and find that the dark, too, blooms and sings,
and is traveled by dark feet and dark wings.

Wendell Berry

Autumn offers an invitation to make an inner soujourn… a pilgrimage to explore the terrain and landscape of the heart and soul. This is the season that has been referred to as melancholic, nostalgic, the season of souvenir. I find autumn to be fecund with abundance for the spirit. It’s a time for harvesting aspects of life that are rich and plentiful with possibility. This particular kind of harvest results from creative and spiritual efforts extended throughout the previous seasons.

When the leaves begin to fall from the trees I am reminded to look at my life for those facets of my outlook that no longer serve a Higher purpose or vision. I ask*…. What am I ready to release and let go of? What is ripe for the harvest? How shall I share the abundance I am blessed with?*

My inner pilgrimage begins when the daylight hours wane and the evening hours lengthen. My journal becomes a log book of sorts. I make notes in the margins like a mariner’s reference points to mark the swift passage from autumn to winter. Late afternoon walks in nature feed my soul while I observe Creation arranging herself in myriad ways for the change that has arrived while no one was watching.

The red squirrels with their curled furry tails frantically hurry from branch to rooftop then race down the gutter spout. Something within them is saying, “Prepare your house! Get ready!” Geese fly in their ancient V formation overhead. They often soar over the house at night. They plaintively call to one another, lest one of the flock should be lost in the dark velvet sky. The same Voice that guides the creatures and birds to get ready for change, is available to me. I seek God’s guidance in the stillness of early morning and throughout the day. Little by little I prepare my inner world for whatever is coming.

Signs. There are signs of change everywhere. Meanwhile, the world is changing and evolving day by day. Globally we’re on a pilgrimage headed towards unknown places. Everything is moving through a portal of transformation it seems and often this movement is unsettling, disorienting, chaotic and challenging.

This autumn I pray for courage to embrace the mystery of change in all its complexity. I long to seek the hidden beauty within the ensuing darkness. In the depths of not knowing and at the threshold of change there lies waiting the opportunity for both subtle and profound transformation. This is the place I’m seeking…. this unknown shore is the destination for my autumn pilgrimage.

Uncategorized

Previous Post

August 28, 2011

Hildegard of Bingen: Awakening the Senses

Next Post

October 14, 2011 Fragments and Shards as Visual Prayer

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category altars ancestors creativity journaling prayer retreat sacred memories sacred practice sacred wisdom spiritual practice Uncategorized writing

Select a Month May 2018 April 2018 February 2016 March 2015 January 2015 September 2014 August 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 December 2013 July 2013 May 2013 March 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Who was the mother of Jesus?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Sarah Elizabeth Martha Mary