Autumn is the most poetic of seasons, wouldn’t you agree?
As we prepare to greet this latest juncture in our eight-fold year – the Autumn Equinox on Monday 23rd Sept – I was inspired to create a video poem in tribute. No great, sweeping epic – rather a modest visual journey from Lughnasadh through to the Equinox, all here on my doorstep. Click on the play button in the image above to watch – it’s only 10 minutes long (and don’t forget your headphones.)
Oh, it’s a simple life I lead and simple pursuits I hold most dear. Playtime in the woods and time spent at the river with soft gaze and long deep breaths ; drawing and painting, crafts and connection ; tasty organic food from the local veg box ingredients … and art as ritual.
Art as ritual
Creating symbolic art is a ritual in itself. Oh, yes.
Perhaps it’s taken me a long time to feel fully confident in this viewpoint, always looking for more meaning, more purpose, more, more, more … going deeper, wider, bigger …
But here I am having had enough personal time this year to gain a fuller understanding that in my almost entirely symbolic life and related art projects there’s little need to add even more ritual on top.
My art, my creations, these wee films I’ve been making : they’re unlikely to win awards (tho’ I do hope I’ll keep improving), but they’re full of such deep meaning, great symbolism and heartfelt intention, each is a ritual in the making.
- Where in your life might you discover you’ve been creating rituals that hold deep meaning in their own right?
- Might you be inspired to create an offering to celebrate the pause in the wheel of the year as day and night become equals?
Whether north or south, vernal or autumnal – may your equinox arrive and allow you some pause to connect your inner world with the outer world.
This was a very poetic little film that reminded me why autumn is the season I love most! Thank you for those minutes of reflection on nature‘s generosity.
Oh, thanks for watching Angelika! I’ve been feeling rather helpless around the issue of the climate emergency (and all else that is caused by the capitalist, patriarchal, biased systems + governance we have become embroiled in) and find that engaging more deeply with the nature on my doorstep is helping… those moments of wakeful engagement each morning are helping me make it through the day and night! Autumn is wonderful, isn’t she?
Really beautiful Julie. Full of symbols. I feel homesick while watching. I live in Spain and autumn gives here a different nature then in my homeland Holland. Autumn is my favorite season especially when it gets really dark early when you can put on the candles and go on your inner journey and make art. Thanks for the impression of Scottish nature, love it.
Oh, Wil – I feel you! Thanks so much for watching + touching in … May you enjoy your Spanish September *and* good memories of your home 🙂
This is absolutely breathtaking. Thank you for sharing such a magical and beautiful film with us. I am feeling very inspired to head into the woods today.
Yes, Sheila – get down those woods, hehehe – exactly what I was hoping from my wee escapade 🙂 May you find the trees full of conversation and welcome. (and thank you so much for your kind words!)
Hey Julie, so beautiful… It realy touched me.. For a reason unknown to me Scotland is in my heart.. Having no family connection with it it always feels like I belong there. I try to learn Gealic online (I live in Belgium)
Oh, Carine – isn’t it funny how some places can touch you, even when there’s no obvious connection. Gaelic is such a wonderful language – it makes me terribly sad that it has been replaced so ubiquitously with English. So impressed that you would take some online classes to learn it!
Beauty Full expression Julie! Brought tears of comfort and contentment to my heart and eyes especially as I watched your mandala creation come to life. I just spent the last day and a half in the countryside here in my home land of Canada where the autumn is turning as surely as it is in Scotland and so resonated with my inner and outer experience. Thank you for this inspiration of simple gestures of expression. Much love your way as we both create and struggle with all the changes we find ourselves in at this time of year and time of global crisis.
Anessa! Thank you for receiving this wee piece of poetry and seeing the wee mandala come into being (it’s actually from a part of module one fo the next wee workshop series 🙂 Appreciate you touching in here in solidarity, in these times, at this time, yes.
I loved the magical gentleness of the video you shared. A reminder to take comfort in simple things and always connect to nature. I am in beautiful Derbyshire and also love to spend time in the countryside around me. Often the sacred treasure found on walks gets placed on my altar, but whenever I put on a coat I always find twigs, seeds and feathers in the pockets. Autumn Equinox blessings to you and thank you for your sharing xx
Pockets full of treasures, oh yes! So glad you enjoyed, Sandra – thanks for touching in. Aren’t we lucky to be able to head out into this countryside and experience it in such a way?
Thank you for your inspiration. Blessings to you and your loved ones.
Aaaah, thank you, Maureen 🙂 Same to you and yours!
Lovely clip Julie. Soothing energy to welcome autumn.
Enjoyed your voice and the music. What castle ruins are shown?
Keeps up my spirit and my voice that has me dreaming of Scotland and Mandalas and neeps and tatties .
Appreciate your making this video poem.
Thanks Deborah!
The Bothwell Castle is our local – just a 5 minute walk from our place so we really do appreciate it …
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/bothwell-castle/history/
Neeps + tatties – oh yes! Cannae beat it 🙂