Can you feel the transition from Summer to Autumn?

"Through celebrations in their seasons are the deeper powers of human nature realized."

-Rudolf Steiner

So today, in the Northeast was a completely cloudy, with a certain chill in the air. For many summer days, it's been hot and muggy, no signs of any changes, except there was more rain. But today was significantly different. The air was calmer, and I realized I haven't heard the loud sounds of cicadas for a while now. It is the first time I had to done a sweater (and not because of the highly air conditioned office I work in) to stand outside at night. 

More than anything, I love the changing of seasons. The subtle transitions that are hard to observe if you don't spend most of your time out-of-doors. I love how it slowly is revealed to you as you go about your daily life. It drags us out of the mundaneness of the mechanical life we sometimes are subjected to and makes us realize that we too are part of the cyclical nature. 

Many cultures celebrate the Autumn Equinox for it is a time of great joy and harvesting. The trees start to lose their pigment and for us, it's a magical transformation to see the leaves change from green to red, orange, and yellow. The colors are ridiculously bright and shine through even on a cloudy day. It stimulates my senses and fill my heart with joy. 

In the real world, school starts for many students across the world, and I too am going back to college for my 3rd year. It means shopping for fresh notebooks, binders, pencils, and highlighters. These simple tools will aid us in filling our heads with knowledge, though it also promises the stress of exams. But even then, all we need to do is to walk outside, put our hands on the bark of a tree, walk barefoot onto the dewy morning grass, or sit on the benches and enjoy some warm tea, to feel the magnificent, loving force of nature that surrounds us all the time. The sterile buildings we work or live in today only separate us farther from the great outdoors. We must leave them for fresh air, or reside in an old-fashioned stone home with a real fireplace that provides the warmth we need against the incoming cold. 

Needless to say, I'm greatly looking forward the experience of Autumn. 

Is anyone else happily looking forward to school? :D