Celebrating Balance and a Day Of Peace (Musings From Tracy Shapiro)

Cabin in the woods shapiro

Peace [Photo provided by Tracy Shapiro]

Traci Shapiro, owner-operator at Redwood Coast Arts and Crafts School, writes a regular column about life that she shares online. She’s agreed to share it with us in our column/letters to the editor section this time.

Today is the Autumnal Equinox, a magical day when all the world is in balance. Today the hours of the day and the hours of the night are equal and the natural world holds its breath hovering on the brink between Summer and Autumn. In the Celtic calendar, this celebration of this turning of the year’s wheel is called Mabon. At Mabon, we celebrate the bounty of the summer’s harvest and begin the preparations for the Winter to come. It’s a time for moving away from the work of the fields and gardens and toward the work of canning, firewood stacking, and hay barn filling. It’s also a moment of peace where we can take a moment to reflect on the bounty of the season of Summer and look forward to the beauty and crispness of the season of Autumn. 

Here in Humboldt, we had a beautiful blessed, and kind of miraculous rain this last weekend. This time of year it’s unusual to have a rainstorm that gives us enough rain to settle the dust but doesn’t give lightning that starts more wildfires. And for more than just settling the dust, this weekend’s rain was enough to clear the smoke from the sky and refresh the trees and plants. Last Friday the world was a smokey gritty sepia tone and today it’s fresh and bright and beautiful. If that’s not miraculous I don’t know what is. It feels as if Nature itself turned the page from Summer to Autumn and all Nature asks in return for this gift is that we enjoy it. As beautiful as is moment may be it will also be fleeting so we should revel in it while we can.

While we’re on the subject of “brief moments” I just realized something else that is rare and fleeting and kind of miraculous—at the moment there are no active political campaigns or pending elections! None, Zero, Zip, Nada! For the first time in months/years (feels like decades) there is no reason to have an election sign on your front lawn, so to speak. The recall election is over, the much-hyped “J6” protest in Washinton DC was a total fizzle and the Midterm election campaigns won’t start in earnest for a couple of months (hopefully). So at this brief blessed moment, there is no reason to try to convince anyone to vote one way or another. 

I know this is a strange concept for those that have become addicted to the need for the excitement of partisan outrage but at the moment there’s no pending election to influence so there’s really no reason to shout your outrage at anyone. My friends here’s the thing, just like any addiction, (and yes, outrage and anger are as addictive and destructive as any drug) there comes a moment when it’s time to step back and take stock of the consequences of our actions. And the consequences of all of these months/years (feels like decades) of partisan outrage have left our communities divided and exhausted.  And no matter what your political views I think we can all agree that our communities could do with a lowering of the political temperature and a return to more civility. 

So on this beautiful Autumn Equinox in celebration of balance and turning the page, I would like to suggest a new (unofficial) holiday, “Freedom From Politics Day”. I suggest that just for today we put aside our personal politics and just enjoy the moment. Maybe if we stop trying to convince our neighbors that we’re “right” and their “wrong” for just a moment we will be able to remember why we decided to live in our communities in the first place. Maybe if we stop yelling at each other we will be able to hear each other again. Will we agree politically in the future? Probably not. But maybe if we can make the commitment to stop and take a deep breath we will be able to disagree without hating. 

So how should we celebrate “Freedom From Politics Day”? Well, while most holidays are celebrated with special decorations I suggest that for “Freedom From Politics Day” we “un-decorate”. “Un-decorate” your house from the political trappings of the election campaign.  The elections are over and there are no elections on the horizon so take down the signs. For just a moment let’s try to stop being political enemies and go back to just being neighbors. Will this solve all of our problems? Nope. But it just might be a chance to start more kind and productive discussions. At the very least it’s worth a try. 

So in honor of the bounty of Mabon, the balance of the Autumnal Equinox, and the peace of “Freedom From Politics Day” I wish you all the very best.

Love to all and stay safe.

Tracy Shapiro

 

Facebooktwitterpinterestmail

Join the discussion! For rules visit: https://kymkemp.com/commenting-rules

Comments system how-to: https://wpdiscuz.com/community/postid/10599/

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

5 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
Dot
Guest
Dot
2 years ago

Yes 💚

Juanita
Guest
Juanita
2 years ago

it’s not that unusual to get rain in September really around here,” he said that the rain total in a single day from Saturday is around the normal totals for the month. “Normal precipitation for September is 0.68 inches,”

Guest
Guest
Guest
2 years ago

Thank you.

Nice Marmot
Guest
Nice Marmot
2 years ago

Guess no-one told her the results of the Arizona Audit are being released tomorrow.
The diamonds must be returned!

*Wouldn’t surprise me if we see a mass shooting or some other FF event.

Last edited 2 years ago