Autumnal Equinox - Harvest and Transition

   I almost forgot to write the column for the Autumnal Equinox - as it began to transition so subtly it seemed to overlay with Summer and Late Summer. But the days are definitely getting cooler and sunset is so much earlier that there is no denying the transition has begun. Things are slowing down. Transitions can be difficult but best to just go with the flow of things.

   It is always a time of preparation. Late Summer was our first clue and even that is never clearly defined. It's  not as though the calendar decries that you will wake up one morning and say oh yes it is Late Summer. Autumn you feel gradually and so allows us to adjust.

   After one of the hottest summers since they started to keep records in modern times I was glad for some relief from the intense heat of July. 103 degrees was a bit much - especially in a house where it is designed to hold heat. And yet I do love Summer.

   In Europe there were also dangerous heat waves in places where there are never or very few air conditioners - because it wasn't needed. In Spain people died between intense heat and fires. It has been an unusual Summer indeed.

   There were wildfires up in Canada as well - with the smoke permeating here as well - but not as long as last year's fires. Intense heat, dryness and lightning can be a dangerous combination.

   While enjoying the beginning of Autumn to arrive in a few days one can't help but wonder what kind of Winter we will have here in the Northeast - with several bad storms last winter and severe cold. Of course it is not as cold here as up north, but for us it was cold indeed.

   For health we continue to prepare and gravitate even moreso than in Late Summer towards the heavier foods. Getting proper rest is also helpful and meditation for those who meditate. Autumn and Winter are a time of rest and going inward.

   The element for Autumn is Metal which represents the mineral ores and salts of the Earth. It is also aligned to mental energy, the nervous system, communication and connections. The body part with Autumn is the lungs and large intestines. Coughs often develop in Autumn so good to cleanse the lungs especially if exposed to alot of air pollution, exhaust fumes, allergens and smoke. Once I turn off the air conditioners I make sure to keep my Hepa air filter running - especially at night. The large intestines of course eliminate waste so good to make sure you are eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid refined or junk food or anything greasy. Otherwise you set yourself up for a Winter of illnesses.

   I don't tell people to do a "cleanse" per se - because people can get carried away with severe cleanses or cleanse too often. It puts stress on your body to be in rigorous cleanse at all times. Just find the right balance for yourself.

   The emotion associated with Autumn is worry and grief - best to let things go. Yes some sadness of past events always seem to emerge in Autumn but again time to let go.

   The climate associated with Autumn is dry so make sure to stay hydrated.

   And don't forget to take walks once the leaves turn into their glorious colors.

   

Until next,

Maery

p.s. as we go inward it is a good time to do alot of reading

my books are available on Amazon - 2 to do with being gluten free

"Gluten Free on the Go - You Can Take It With You"

And "Gluten Free - Tradition and Home Cooking"

Enjoy

   

 Welcome to Late Summer...............

Sun Setting over Eaton's Neck, NY 

   I never know exactly when the season of Late Summer actually begins. I know that it's August and regardless you can still feel Summer winding down - just subtle hints like a few cooler nights here and there blending in with remnants of heat waves on other days and nights.

   Curious too - like this morning the winds are from the north and yet Summer is meant predominantly southwest winds here in this part of the world. Once August begins it also seems like there are more storms - and these days it's heavy rains. It seems like it is trying to compensate for the intense heat and dryness of of the Dog Days of Summer towards the end of July.

   So yes it is a gradual thing and then as with all seasons you eventually just find yourself in the full blossom of the season - yet still wondering where it began and when the last season ended.

   It used to be like clockwork. August 5th was the day when I'd wake to a sudden chill in the air - especially when compared to Summer heat - and I'd have to wear long sleeves and sometimes a light sweater.

   I suppose that could be a sign of things to come or a signal. So how does one prepare exactly when knowing seasons will change. Maybe it's good enough to consciously know the change is coming and start to prepare. Better still is if you can sense the changes approaching.

   So we shift - to less intense activity - a sense of slowing down - and in doing so are able to appreciate what Summer has brought us - such as being out in nature - gardening - hiking the trails in the mountains or activities and more travel. We seem more outward - seek new experiences and or adventures - like a hunger.

   We plan our last vacations knowing Summer will be ending and then Autumn brings the harvest and preparation for Winter.

   With all of that being said Late Summer is a season according to Chinese tradition of five seasons. Yet it's like a gentle transition between the heat of Summer and coolness of Autumn - which then prepares us for the cold on Winter. Seasons and cycles and our bodies and lives adjust accordingly.

   Yes we do shift from outward to inward which prepares us for Autumn and Winter. Diet should gradually become a little heavier with more protein and whole grains, seeds, nuts and beans. Keep up your physical strength with regular exercise.

   The element for Late Summer is Earth which makes me think of needing to be grounded. The organs related to this time are the stomach and spleen which are related to digestion and nourishment. The sense is taste - so savor your food and focus on nourishment. The color associated with this time is yellow and the emotion is sympathy. The sound is singing - which reminds me of a young lady who used to walk the grid of my neighborhood and the boardwalks with her large dog and sing at the top of her lungs - never caring that she was singing completely off key!

  The taste is sweet which makes me think of a nice cup of herbal tea with a touch of honey.

   So Friends, be well and see you again for the Autumnal Equinox.

Maery

P.S. For more of my work I have several books available on Amazon 

"Gluten Free on the Go - You Can Take It With You" - "Gluten Free Home Cooking and Tradition"

"Monet and Me - Adventures in Life and Art" "Monet and Me- Going Home" "Walking with Dickens and Tales of Art"

 Summer Solstice Arriving

Here Comes the Sun!

Dawn at Orange Lake - the Sun begins to rise above the hills

   It's almost that time of year again - when the Sun reaches into new heights after such a long dark snowy winter - anxious for the Sun to warm our weary bones. But it seems to arrive so fast once the Spring Equinox comes - for everything comes alive again - sometimes slowly and dormant under the latest rainy, cloudy skies and then a burst of heat and sunlight. So then the trees and flowers do bloom almost on time despite the delays. Although it seems we are about a week behind. And also even though the first blooms and buds were on the trees it still felt barren and not quite like Spring as though Winter was holding us in her grasp and not wanting to let go.

   I am also writing this a bit early because June will be a busy month for me - onto new beginnings and new adventures at home and in the world of business. Sometimes the Summer Solstice merely seems like an extension of Spring - all bound and wrapped up together like the new leaves unfolding.

   The word Solstice has the word "Sol" in it which appropriately means "Sun" or "Solar". Bringing warmth and heat and causing all things to grow further. As well the Sun has alot of solar storms lately and auroras are being seen again in the North but also dipping South. Is the world and nature changing?

   And many traditions celebrate the Sun with bonfires and ceremonies on the Solstice - to ensure the Sun's return each year. Cycles upon cycles with the planet spinning and the heavens doing their own cosmic and astronomical dance.

   As well of course this is another time of transition with the seasons - when we move away from the heavier foods of Winter and include more fruits and vegetables. Spring was a time of cleansing, and so Summer will be a time of ripening, followed by the harvest.

   I won't say much more except do enjoy this bountiful time of year. Get out and walk or ride a bicycle but do wear sunscreen daily.

   And most of all be well!

Maery

Bluebird - a Rare Visitor

Spring Arrival

   The official beginning of Spring is really just a few days away - but we are still recovering from blizzards and ice and snow! Really only now has the bay begun to thaw and towers of snow still cling to the landscape. Thankfully the bitter cold temperatures here have moderated and brings some relief.

   And yet the birds have already started their Spring songs here and there - twittering and coming alive. According to the internet the hummingbirds are already making their way north - although I have never been lucky enough to see one here. And yet my friend who lives about 4 miles north and on the edge of a wildlife preserve has had some hummingbirds come through. I did see a hummingbird last year but that was in the Catskills. I was making breakfast and looking out the window at the flowers and saw what I thought was a giant bumblebee. Upon a closer look saw that it was indeed a hummingbird hovering over the bright red flowers - their favorite. I went to get my camera but by the time I came back it was gone. And it was also my birthday so I considered that my gift!

   Unfortunately the plant life seems to have suffered greatly this winter. The hardy Mediterranean heather is barely blooming when it is usually full of bright pink bells even with snow on the ground. The vinca groundcover is completely crushed along the path to the back yard. The winter jasmine is not blooming and hanging by a thread. The andromeda tree out front looks like its leaves are burnt. But with Spring arriving things may rejuvenate and new growth should occur - even if in small.

   I've seen the rabbits occasionally - they are hiding in their burrow. The feral cat who thinks he owns the place still comes and sleeps under the cover of my lean to protection to keep snow and ice off the in spout for the oil delivery. He lies in the warm sunlight on my front stoop or in the driveway until a human arrives and then he runs. 

   As for us humans well Spring signals a natural flushing out of toxins accumulated over the Winter. So it is a time to shed and clean out, introducing more fruits and vegetables and less heavy foods like soups and stews. Everyone has their own cleansing routines - just make sure to do them. And also time to shed those winter pounds that have accumulated in the colder months.

   I've already started walking again - getting that sunshine when it's there and getting moving. Soon it will be time for yard work and just being outdoors.

   In about a month the trees will start to bloom - followed by flowers.

   Well we've all made it through a difficult Winter so let's rejoice in the fresh new start of Spring!

Be well,

Maery

 Winter Waterfall

Winter Solstice 2025

      Well Winter is upon us. It came suddenly - with no bearing in mind for the calendar marking the date and following tradition. Mother Nature seems to have a mind of her own these days.

   We had an early snow storm this year - which worries me - for if snow starts very early it is often a sign of things to come in the season. But as we know things don't necessarily seem to follow the seasons in the order they were given.

   No matter what it is now time for the solstice and all that the season brings. And as such we will be ending this year and ringing in a new year. Yet for once I hate to let this year go for it was a very magical year for me. Perhaps 2026 will be even better but one never knows.

   Thankfully the Sun has already started to set about a minute later already - something I watch for every year. And yet it's been so cloudy and stormy that darkness seems to fall even earlier!

   I've already started with the hot teas and soups - so warming and nourishing. It is important to consider nutrition in all the seasons but Winter especially it seems.

   Water is the element that goes with Winter. We even have water in our bodies which is important for functions like blood circulation which then carries heat thought out the body. As important is the lymphatic flow which helps to get rid of wastes and helps to also fight infections.

   The bladder and kidneys are the organs associated with the element of Water and the Winter season. the climate associated with Water is cold of course and the direction is north. Even tonight there is a strong northerly wind blowing - clearing out the storm of the last day or so. Why we even had threats of thunder! It's important not to get too cold and to stay warm and dry. It is a time to conserve energy and again there is the importance of nutrition, warmth and rest. There is nothing like curling up with a good book and a blanket with the wind howling outside like it does on a night like this.

   It is also a time of inner reflection - a kind of pause - moving from one universe of the past and into the future for as the sun gets stronger and the days lighter there is a sense of new beginnings. And of course together with water is the emotions so good to keep emotions in check. Excess emotions are never healthy. And the bladder is supposedly the storehouse of emotions so one would wonder about the cause of some bladder afflictions such as infections. And it is the kidneys that filter the blood and keep it clean. Everything in the human body is interconnected with everything else.

   Winter makes us turn inward, and in doing so it makes me appreciate the body I have. It also makes me think of how we should help and take care of each other. The other day I was in a doctor's office and there was an elderly patient who couldn't quite get their arm in the sleeve of the coat so I could not resist helping them to guide the hand in and get the coat on. It made my day.

   So wishing all of you well in this winter season.

Maery

 Autumnal Equinox 2025

   The Autumnal Equinox is quickly approaching - only a few mere days away. It came quickly because the Late Summer season is so short - spanning somewhere between the beginning of August and towards the end of September. Yet it prepares us to slow down from the action of Summer and embrace the harvest of Autumn/Fall,

   I also hesitated to start the Fall section because yesterday it was 85 degrees farenheit here! Which is pretty much unheard of in late September. And also because the beginning of September was unusually chilly. I can't say cold because the folks who love cold and Winter will be upon me in a flash! But yes it was an unexpected shift - especially when one was looking forward to enjoying the last few days of Summer/Late Summer. I must confess that I was tempted to pop the heat on at night just to take the chill off the house.

   With that it got me to thinking that we might have another cold winter - with that September chill being a harbinger of things to come. And then slowly it became more moderate and then of course yesterday very very warm! 

   Last winter was the coldest Winter we've had in ten years. Of course it was a winter where I had some work so I was bundled up in my heavy coat on top of corporate clothing whereas the previous mild winters I was home by the fire in my wood burning stove. And yes I do remember last October how it suddenly became cold in a flash as though Winter were here.

   I thought about that again - wondering if this October would be like this as well and then came across the Farmers Almanac, which was predicting a white Halloween. We actually had a white Halloween here after Hurricane Sandy hit. And of course we had no power. However had that cold front hit just a few day earlier Sandy would have been pushed out to sea or lessened in strength. Such devastation from such an unusual storm.

   And speaking of hurricanes I hate to jinx it because hurricane season is not over yet - but we have not had a major hurricane this year yet. Alot of very bad smaller storms with lots of flooding and destruction. Watching the patterns on television the storms have been going out to sea and giving us some rain and rip currents on the fringes.

   So it is an unusual season for sure. Good to watch trends and patterns. But also to be prepared for the seasons as they change and be aware of how it can place some stress on our bodies and health. And not only to be mindful but to eat properly and rest when appropriate and to prepare for the Winter season ahead.

   Of course there is a natural slowing down as the light begins to fade in early sunsets and later sunrises. We reflect on what we have done, reflecting, but also taking steps towards the future from what we have learned. Harvesting that which no longer belongs - toxic situations and unfortunate incidents.

   For nutrition we begin to eat foods that produce more heat - such as soups and stews - but healthy soups and stews - being careful not to have chemicals and toxins and salt in our food but cooked fresh with fresh ingredients.  

   It's funny because I automatically start finishing up projects outdoors that need to be done. The final trimming of the bushes out front and pruning back branches that seem to be  growing towards the house too closely and getting last minute things done. As always I am struggling to trim back the ivy to keep it from over taking all the beds but with an emphasis now because soon it will be too cold to be too effective outdoors. And no I am not a wimp - I often hike in the Catskills in November when the temperature is 25 degrees.

   I also find myself stocking up on supplies and over the counter herbs and syrups for any Winter ailments. Also because strangely enough even simply every day items can be hard to come by in the middle of winter.

   So stock up, prepare and reflect. And harvest that which does not belong but cherish the warmth of those around you.

Be well,

Maery

Late Summer - A Time of Reflection

 Dawn at Montauk, NY

   It's that time again when Summer reaches its full height - with record breaking temperatures soaring into heat indices of 105 - 126 degrees across the country - and then suddenly it breaks as a cold front comes through. Temperatures plunge down to 64 degrees and storms move across the country. Heavy rains, flooding, lightning, trees down. We were spared in my area but other parts of the Island were severely flooded.

   There was already a sense of Late Summer onsetting despite the heat, for after the Dog Days of late July you get a sense of change coming. Days are getting a bit shorter and cooler temperatures will start to arrive, but not until Summer and the Sun give their last gasp of a few more heat waves. Until gradually Late Summer will transition into Fall.

   So it's a time of reflection - what have we done or accomplished over the last few months. And where do we go from here.

   Of course Late Summer is a 5th season that exists only in Chinese lore, so for most of us we consider this time to still be Summer. But nevertheless you can feel a shift. Summer has reached its peak.

   Late Summer of course is related to the element of Earth, which is more grounding than the robust Fire we have just come through. It is also the time of harvest so there is plenty of rich produce available in the stores and on the many farm stands that dot the Island on both the north and south shores.

   The organs or body systems related to Earth are the stomach and the spleen. The stomach to do with nourishment and digestion - and the spleen helps to distribute the energy from foods through the body. Often, if out of balance, stomach viruses and upset appear during this time. Your stomach will ache and you will think it is something you ate. It is just more sensitive at this time.

   The throat and the mouth are also under the influence of Earth and the color associated with this time is yellow, also very earthy in its nature. With this being the time of harvest one would naturally tend toward fruits and vegetables in their diet but also start building towards the Fall diet to come so to include more protein than in Spring and Summer.

   No matter what any transition from one season to another can be taxing, so it is important to take care of oneself by eating well and getting the proper rest. I know for myself I make an effort to continue to spend as much time outdoors in nature as I can because I know all too soon it will be too cold to be outdoors too long. Last year there was an abrupt shift early in the Fall - in October - where I had to turn the heat on in the house way before I usually do. I take long walks especially by the water, or sit in the yard, and cleaning up all the summer projects outdoors that are not finished yet - like trimming and weeding and seeing what areas need new seed for next year.

   It's a bit wistful this season, which only deepens in the Fall so I spend quiet time in meditation. It's been a good Summer with many new adventures and seeing friends old and new - so I have no complaints.

   I hope each of you finds your own sense of contentment.

   Be well

Maery