Nature friendly: Welcoming the autumnal equinox

The sun does not rise as high over my redwoods. Deciduous trees — the cottonwoods, the sycamores — are changing into their fall wardrobe of gold and glitter along the San Lorenzo River. The big-leaf maple is dressing for its show-stopping finale. Even the demonic poison oak is turning crimson.
Fall is stealthily approaching, and on Tuesday, Sept. 22, we will celebrate the autumnal equinox. Of course, as most of us are no longer members of an agrarian society, Tuesday will probably just come and go like any other ordinary day, with no harvest celebrations or rituals.
But for most of the time humans have walked this planet, fall was a time of special meaning. The equinox divides the day and night equally, so our ancestors believed it was a time to find balance in life, to be retrospective and feel good about the fruits of their labor during the year.
As daylight wanes, fall can be a time to tie up the loose ends of our lives and find time to cuddle ourselves and others and find peace as winter comes.
Pagans called the autumnal equinox mabon, an occasion to dress and eat lavishly, to take walks in the woods and offer gifts to the trees.
Worldwide, people have honored Mother Earth during the four seasons, calling her by different names. In American Indian mythology, she is referred to as the Old Woman Who Never Dies and Mother of Maize.
In addition to walking in the forests, we can reconnect and celebrate fall outside in these ways:
*Apple-picking and pie-eating at Gizdich’s Ranch in Watsonville (www.gizdich-ranch.com)
*Pumpkin-thumping at the many pumpkin patches on Highway 1 up to Half Moon Bay
*Making merry at Oktoberfest at the Tyrolean Inn in Ben Lomond, surrounded by redwoods in the biergarten with German bands, food and beer, Sept. 25 through 27 (www.tyroleaninn.com) — you can even take your dog
Watch out for our animal neighbors on the roads during autumn, too. Go to www.defenders.org and click on “Watch out for Wildlife” for more information on how you can save a life.
Carol Carson has been a docent for Henry Cowell Redwoods State Park and has taught courses on Big Basin State Park for UCSC Extension. She is an environmental educator; a member of the Valley Women’s Club Environmental Committee and can be contacted at [email protected].