Bringing the Harvest In: Accepting Abundance

Photo courtesy of Marta Wave via Pexels

The last of the farmers’ tractors chugged by my house last week, as it brought in the late summer harvest.  First the buckwheat, and then the corn.  The bees were busy as well.  As I walked by one of the empty fields, the flowery smell of honey from the beehives was heavenly.  If the smell had a color, it would have been deep amber, with flecks of green and gold. 

I live in a farming village, and after a final burst of energy to bring in the harvest, the fields are now empty and still.  For centuries, farmers often brought in the last of the harvest under the Harvest Moon—usually late in September, when the light of the moon allowed them to work long days.  Today, many cultures continue to celebrate and accept the abundance of the harvest by holding festivals or special days of remembrance.  It reminds me that now is the ideal time to celebrate our harvest: reflect on the seeds of intentions we planted earlier in the year and acknowledge what became of them.  Did they blossom?  Did we forget about them?   

Transitions

Transitioning from summer into autumn can ask a lot of us.  For those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, gone are long summer days full of warmth and outdoor activities.  We’re beginning to shift more inward, home earlier as the days become shorter and the air chillier.  Rather than spending too much time daydreaming about last summer or fixating on a dreary winter that hasn’t yet arrived, it’s important to focus on the present and engage in all that autumn has to offer.  Step outside and admire the changing colors of the leaves, take long walks in the local park or trails, sample fresh seasonal fruits and vegetables, and soak up some sunshine.  Accept with gratitude the abundance that this time of year offers.  And, yes, celebrate your harvest.  If you think that sounds a little wacky, I’ll explain in a moment.

Abundance typically is defined as “a large quantity” or “plenty of”.   Suzanne Moore, Founder of the IAWP, describes abundance as “a feeling that you can fully share your gifts freely…a sense of freedom and a knowing that you are cared for regardless of the amount of money you have.”   Another way to think of it is that you are able to freely receive as easily as you give.  Cultivating abundance can help improve your mental, emotional, and physical energy.  Emma Loewe & Lindsay Kellner illustrate this beautifully in their book "The Spirit Almanac:  A Modern Guide to Ancient Self-Care".

Celebrate Your Harvest

What do I mean by “celebrate your harvest”?  Very simply, acknowledge your highlights of the year.  Have you ever done a mental happy dance after finishing a project, creating something beautiful, or cleaning out your closet?  And that feeling lasts about 5 minutes because you’ve moved on to the next thing requiring your focus?  Well, celebrating your harvest is the time you can properly acknowledge and accept whatever makes your highlight list—whether that meant embracing something new or letting go of something no longer of use to you. 

Here’s how:

• Grab a pen and paper or a journal
• Reflect on any intentions you may have set earlier in the year, for example, a personal or professional goal (have more plants in the house, make a career change)
• Write down what you may have accomplished, the great moments or highlights of the year thus far, even if by luck something positive happened out of the blue (a new job, a visit with friends, you grew tomatoes from seeds for the first time)
• Write down what you chose to let go of, perhaps something you realised was not of value to you anymore
• Write down your top three highlights of the year and open your heart to receive the wonderful feeling of warmth and gratefulness these moments gave you
• Last, place a reminder of these moments such as a photo or other object, on a table or somewhere special in your home. It will remind you of the abundance of your harvest.

If you’re a little unsure about how to do this for the first time, you can follow my 4-step guide below.

Four Ways to Create a Cosy Environment for Your Harvest Celebration

1. Block out 30-60 minutes in your agenda this month- perhaps during the next full moon on October 20th or a weekend evening when you may feel more relaxed.
2. Find a comfortable area in your home where you won’t be disturbed. You might want to light some candles, have a warm blanket at hand, or include meaningful items such as a special crystal or a late-blooming flower from your garden.
3. Set the mood with some soft, relaxing background music. If you’re looking for inspiration, try my “Harvest Celebration” playlist on Spotify.  You can access it here.
4. Have a pot of warm herbal tea or if you prefer, a glass of wine nearby.

You’re all set to go--now bring that harvest in.