Ayathrem

Ayathrem is the fourth Gahambar celebrated by the Zoroastrian community, who honor the six seasons of the year with six Gahambars - the word gahambar means "proper season". Each of these six festivals is celebrated for five days, and each honors one of the six material creations: The heaven, water, earth, flora, fauna and man.

Ayathrem celebrates the creation of plants, the time to sow winter crops, and the season when the herds come home from pasture. It takes place each year from October 12th through the 16th.

Agenda:

1. Ongo journal
2. Recite prayers
3. Renewal plans
4. Plant garlic
5. Start native iris seeds

6. Autumn awareness walk

Water-wise

My focus of study this month is water, and becoming wise about it. Water-wisdom is concerned with planting to conserve water, but also with awareness of the water all around and within; we are water! 

Agenda:
1. Ongo journal

2. Love Meditation
3. Water-wise plans
4. Next steps for my wildlife garden
5. Days of Passion

Autumn Art

Fall is a great time to make art. I've defined three areas for What I Want and What I Will Do to Get it:

I want to make things with my hands to give away - useful things, things that inspire and teach, gifts and craftivism.This will be my late week focus, Thursday and Friday, and I will plan and prepare on Thursday morning. 

 

I want to make artworks with a message - things that explore and support my Nature-Culture writing. This will be my weekend focus, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, with at least two hours in the studio, and I'll envision, explore, write, and set out supplies on Saturday morning.

 

And I want to make things with my grandsons - fun things, exploring basic skills, seasonal materials, and folk crafts. This will be my mid-week focus, Tuesday and Wednesday, and I will do all the prep on Monday, gathering all the supplies and making samples.

Agenda Today:

1. Read "The Creativity Book"

2. Evaluate my creativity habits

3. Craftivism plans

4. Preschool plans

5. Do the smallest thing

Getting Organized for Action

We had a great Earthcare Action Meeting on Sunday, and generated ton of ideas. As the leader, my next steps are to make a plan, discern and do my parts, and find volunteers for the other bits. 

Agenda:

1. Read "The Earth Keeper's Handbook"

2. Proaction and reciprocity plans

3. Love meditation

Change my Beliefs

"If you don't change your beliefs, your life will be like this forever. Is that good news?" ~ Robert Anthony

Agenda:

1. Read "Present Moment Awareness"

2. Ponder this

3. Ongo Journal

4. Spiritual growth intention

Full Squirrel Moon and Chung Ch'iu

The squirrels are creating great entertainment these days

Today is the start of Chung Ch’iu, the 3-day Mid-Autumn Moon Festival - a happy and beautiful Asian family celebration that comes each year at the time of the full moon in September or October.

And tonight is the full moon called the Squirrel Moon, because now the squirrels are busily gathering nuts for the winter. We are now at the peak of the strong-energy yang phase of the waxing moon, and will soon begin the quiet-energy yin time of the waning moon.

Agenda for today:

1. Take a vision walk
2. Celebrate balance

3. Read "The Sweet Spot"

4. Fall cleaning and Home projects

5. Make moon cakes

6. Make a floating lantern

7. Have a moon-viewing party