Once upon a time these awakenings were well marked by magic and ritual as our clans and communities knew that if place and time were to be an instrument for conscious creation, it must be held by the storied, dreaming, dance and play of those that waited and watched as new life teemed upon the surface.

Our modern world affords us the comfort and luxuries of central temperature control, artificial light, and a grocery store full of food from all over the world any time of year, but in the Northeast and other geographical locations with extreme seasonal fluctuations, it is nearly impossible not to be effected by environmental signals. Even in climates that experience less dramatic change there is always some shifting from season to season that influences day to day life. Regardless of our efforts to keep comfortable, our body systems, neurotransmitters, and DNA hold the intelligence of the ages and cannot be easily fooled by contemporary technological environmental management. When we live in a Northern climate the deep, darkening of Winter is difficult to refuse, try as we may. No matter how we may attempt to keep warm and avoid the impact of lack of sunlight, most of us still experience the effects of long nights, cold winds and the isolation that comes along with not wanting to leave the house and go out in the cold any more than necessary.

As late summer approaches and the scent of fall is on the wind, many of us are busy harvesting, preserving and eating loads of yummy veggies and berries. It is also high allergy season as I, a long time allergy sufferer, and many of my friends and clients are feeling a strong attachment to the nearest box of Kleenex or our handkerchiefs (save trees!) or even toilet paper, anything that will staunch the sometimes constant sneezing and dripping. It doesn't help that it has been the wettest, rainiest year I ever remember here in the Northeast.  The air is heavy and full with lots of thriving mold and fungi sporing around happily while we all try to figure out how to grow webbed feet and gills.