November: Reaping the Harvest

“Blueprint for Living”

by Dr. Susan Nettleton

Ancient cultures believed that by observing the natural order around us we could discover the qualities of our own nature, learn to cultivate them, and thus foster our own well-being. Such qualities lead us to deeper awareness of our spiritual nature and become guidelines for living. When the individual shares these principles with their community as an agreed-upon value system, there is a cohesiveness to life. Choices are simplified; conflict is minimized. The individual is in harmony with the community and both are in harmony with the natural order. Modern life is so complex, we no longer have such agreement. However, it is still possible as an individual to commit to certain principles as our blueprints for living and we can still find them in the natural world around us.

November is also a time of transition. As the light shifts, colors fade, and the landscape prepares for winter, some people experience sadness. There is a bittersweet awareness of the cycles of life. Yet, spring comes again... November is also a time of harvest, the fulfillment of all the months of nature's sustenance and from that people developed the practice of celebration, feasting, and sharing. What spiritual truth lies right outside your window, awaiting your discovery? Can you give it life in you, and stay with it over time? This is not a superficial quest. It is an ancient key to building a life of strength, authenticity, authority and peace.

“CLAIM YOUR GOOD WHEN IT COMES”

BY DR. LARRY MORRIS

We have probably all had the experience of waiting at the airport baggage claim area for our suitcase or bag. We stand there with hundreds of others, watching the baggage carousel going round and round with dozens of bags, boxes and suitcases. We keep looking in all this chaotic profusion for the one right suitcase. Finally, after so many wrong pieces of luggage have gone by, the right bag rolls magically toward us. We reach out, grab our bag and our long wait is over. Sometimes we feel like we've been waiting so long to connect with the good we seek, we almost want to give up. Yet if we are patient and open and receptive—like waiting for our suitcase—at the exact right moment our good will roll up to us and we just reach out and claim it.

“FALLING INTO FALL”

BY DR. LARRY MORRIS

We can allow ourselves to just relax into this fall season. Letting our relationships fall into place, letting ourselves fall into alignment with our highest intentions, letting each and every circumstance of our life come into agreement, order and harmony with us. We don't have to resist the momentum of this new season in our life: the leaves turn from green to golden yellow and gently fall from the trees, so too we can let our problems and worries gently fall away from us. The time of peace and beauty is at hand—let's let ourselves fall gracefully into the flow of this new season—no effort, no struggle, no strain—just happy openness to a new beginning for each one of us now.