Turning of the Wheel

One of our 1st enduring memories after our move was a loud, metal on metal, rhythmic sound on our Country Lane. It was Evening and the Night was Black. What was that sound? We ran to the Windows to peer out. Trees blocked our view at first. The Sound was strange yet somehow familiar. It was pure Country, not the City Sounds to which we were accustomed.

With a flash of Recognition, it became obvious that we were hearing an Amish Buggy heading down the Lane. The rhythmic sounds were the rolling of the Wheels and the Clip Clop of Horse's Feet.

Over the years, I have mused often about how such a sound was reminiscent of the days of my Grandmother Lottie Lillian Hart Brenz. I thought of other Relatives who would have gone before and how familiar those sounds would have been. I can imagine that sound has been known to Humans for a very long time. That sound was a wonderful welcome to our new Home.

Today was August 1st. For some, that date has also been known as a Turning of a Wheel of a different sort. When one looks at an Earth Calendar, or a Calendar which marks events in Creation, 8 dates represent significant markers in the Annual Cycle. Whether or not one chooses to note or honor such dates, they are imbedded deeply in Human Consciousness and probably in the Consciousness of All Living Things.

So what is so special about August 1st? The Sun now rises later and farther to the South along the Eastern Horizon. The Sun, while still strong, is less intense. We may even feel an underlying "cool", especially in the Night Air. We know that Fall is on the way.

At this time, Harvest has moved into full swing. After all the planting and tending of Gardeners plus hopefully favorable conditions, the Earth knows no bounds in launching Food to sustain our Lives. In these parts, we will be in the Peak of Harvest in August, September, and October. As Folks who are intent on raising most of our own Food, we will be very busy trying to keep up over the coming weeks.

Most Birds have completed their Nesting. Some have already moved on. Others are ganging up getting ready for Fall Migration.

For Humans, we feel a touch of sadness as if we are going to lose something very precious. Indeed, the Plants and the Animals have become our Companions during this vibrant Growing Season. Winter will represent their loss.

I have noticed some signs of Fall in our Friends, the Plants. Two Maple Trees in town were beginning to turn red. Some Sumac Leaves here on the Farm are turning red, as are the leaves of Poison Ivy. I can now see the Flower Heads of the Fall Bloomers pushing up on the Meadow. How can that be? I take comfort in the fact that they are not blooming yet.

The Annual Seasonal Calendar of the Earth is sometimes represented by Traditional Peoples as a Wheel. That Wheel is turning. Those Traditional Peoples saw (and see) Humans as intimately tied into the Cycles of the Earth. They believed that Humans need to honor those Cycles. Should we not honor those Cycles, the Earth could get off track. We are bonded that close.

We 3 C's on Butterfly Hill Farm try to note these days as the Wheel Turns. We are grateful that this beautiful Planet supports and sustains Life. We pray that those Cycles continue in the way that they should. We see Creation as a Great Gift from the Divine. We wish to honor that Gift on this Day and in Every Step.