Autumn Landscape – William Reedy
Seven has always been my favorite sacred number, & my birthday comes in late September… this time is always my emotions. There’s something about this month – the air changes, the light intensifies, & the world seems to pause… September comes from septem, a Latin word that means “seven;” it is the ninth month of the year. The old Roman calendar had only ten months, the year starting in March, making September the seventh month. Rome added January & February later, which shifted September to the ninth spot.
September marks the end of summer & the start of autumn in the north, & the end of winter & start of spring in the south. In the U.S., September is one of the most common birth months (third most popular after August & July, which both have 31 days), as all but one Top 10 most common birthdays are in September. The September equinox falls in this month, the Autumnal Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.
September’s full moon is most commonly called the Harvest Moon (rising around the time of the autumn equinox) or the Corn Moon (named for the time of year when corn is ready to be harvested, casting a helpful light over the fields & aiding farmers working late into the night); Barley Moon, an old European & Anglo-Saxon name tied to the barley harvest; & Falling Leaves Moon, a traditional Indigenous name reflecting the changing autumn foliage. As the leaves slowly begin to turn & the air grows crisp, September’s moon beckons us to step outside & sync with the rhythm of nature & with its brilliant glow, inviting us to savor the beautiful shift of the seasons. It is a time for reflection, a reminder to honor the natural cycles that guide us.
September birthdays: Jane Addams was a prominent American social reformer, feminist, & Nobel Peace Prize winner born on Sept. 6, & Grandma Moses, an American folk artist who began painting in earnest at the age of 78, arrived on the 7th, both in 1860; Confucius was born on the 29th, 551 B.C. September’s birthstone is the sapphire, & the birth flowers are the forget-me-not, morning glory & aster. The zodiac signs are Virgo (until September 22) & Libra (September 23 onward).
There are three Native American holidays in September, bridging a spectrum of historical mistreatment & Indigenous joy & celebration. The Cherokee National Holiday commemorates the signing of the 1839 Cherokee Nation Constitution. It is an annual celebration of shared history & heritage that draws tens of thousands of visitors each year over Labor Day weekend. September 16 marks a sad & solemn event in American history – Trail of Tears Commemoration Day. Native American Day (4th Friday in Sept.), honors the history, distinct culture, contributions, & tribal sovereignty of Indigenous peoples.
If you find solace in nature, September’s significance is not just a visual feast, it’s steeped in spiritual meaning – a sort of natural cyclical obsolescence, rich with stories passed down through the ages. Just as trees drop their leaves for autumn, September invites you to let go of bad habits, heavy emotions, & things that no longer help you grow. Look back at the year so far, count your blessings, & celebrate the physical & spiritual fruits of your hard work.