Dear Friends,
We are in that golden time of the year. The sweetness of summer is never more precious as we hurry to experience the last swim or hike, the end of the homegrown tomatoes, fresh bail, and corn on the cob; the final ferry ride back to the mainland. At the same time, we can smell the apples ripening on the trees and the faint aroma of autumn in the cool night air and that too is full of promise and seduction. For a few weeks we have the best of both summer and fall; that dreamy, melancholy place between the seasons.

Here in the far north we’ve had an unusual amount of rain; the meadows are overflowing with Goldenrod and Black-eyed Susans. The woods are thick with wild strawberries, raspberries, blueberries. Outside the Astrology Café folks linger around the fountain or sit at the stone tables under the old apple tree sipping chilled lemonade with mint or Bellini’s (fresh peach juice and champagne). The scent of Honeysuckle and Night Jasmine fill the air. It is late but still light and magic is in the air. Welcome back dear friend, you have been missed.

If you are a dreamer, come in. If you are a dreamer, a wisher, a liar, a hope-er, a pray-er, a magic bean buyer…If you are a pretender, come sit by my fire. For we have some flax-golden tales to spin. Come in! Come in! –Shel Silverstein, Where The Sidewalk Ends

Come inside and make yourself comfortable. There are wild roses and day lilies on the tables, soft jazz playing on the stereo and the air is filled with the aroma of vanilla, butter, and maples syrup. We have Summer Soups: Tomato Mint Gazpacho, Chilled Lemon Basil Avocado, and Slow Cooked Summer Chowder. There’s a Tomato Garlic Pie, Chopped Greek Salad, and a Zucchini and Goat Cheese Tart as well as a selection of cheeses, fruit, and warm bread from the oven. For Dessert: Homemade Ice Cream with Honey Poached Apricots, Warm Peach Cobbler, Carmel-Almond Ice Cream Torte, plus Ginger Shortbread Cookies and Red Velvet Cupcakes. There’s wine, Prosecco, Viennese Coffee with Whipped Cream, Green Chai or Earl Grey Tea with Roses.

Take your time and when you’re ready, follow me up the winding stairs, through the library (be careful of the cats), then under an arch, down a long corridor and up some steps to the tower. Our old friend, the wise women, the crone, is waiting for us; she has been waiting all along.

Our friend is sitting at her round wood table wrapped in her midnight blue velvet cloak. The candles, placed around the room, illuminate the sacred statues and Kwan Yins; the air is perfumed with the scent of lavender and rose. In here time seems to stand still. Can you feel it? Our friend smiles warmly and gestures for us to join her at the table. Let the conversation begin. On the table before us are Runes, cards, crystals and sacred stones. Our friend picks up the Mystic Shaman Oracle cards. She shuffles them and turns one over. This card is called Upper World. Listen closely; perhaps there is a message just for you.

The Essence: Angels, divine helpers, the Ancient Ones, and all the varieties of luminous beings populate the upper world. It is the place where you go to retrieve your destiny and find out who you will become, discover you great potentials, and undreamt-of possibilities. It is also the place where the spirits of the dead arrive when they complete their journey to the light.

The Invitation: The upper world is calling you to step into your fully realized self. Clear the distractions so that you can move into a higher destiny. Do not fall to the temptation to craft a slightly more improved version of yourself. What you perceive as a problem or an obstacle is in fact the irritation you need to take a great leap. Remember you cannot cross the Grand Canyon in two small jumps.  

The Medicine: Ask divine helpers for guidance. If the oracle has already spoken to you, do not ask for more guidance, take what has been offered. Now you must clear the lethargy and idleness. While support for a new destiny is not yet in place, a new destination is available to you if you act now.

–Alberto Villoldo, Colette Baron-Reid, Marcela Lobos.

Sticking with uncertainty, getting the knack of relaxing in the midst of chaos, learning not to panic – this is the spiritual path. –Pema Chodron

September: The Spiritual New Year

Since ancient times, September has been viewed as the beginning of the spiritual New Year by several different cultures. Jews observe the High Holy Days: Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) begins at sunset on September 10 this year. Ten days later, the year’s transgressions are forgiven on Yom Kippur on September 18, the Day of Atonement (at one ment). It is the most solemn and sacred festival of the Jewish calendar; a day of withdrawal from the world in order to become right with God and others.

To me, September has always felt like the real New Year. School begins and there’s a sense of excitement and anticipation in the air. Summer lingers on and the same time autumn moves in gently, giving us time to ease into it. It is a time of reflection and renewal. At the end of the year we often feel worn out and January resolutions can feel compulsory; September resolutions are about authentic desires. What do you want to create more of in your life; what brings you alive?

The beauty of autumnal resolutions is that no one else knows we’re making them. Autumnal resolutions don’t require horns, confetti, or champagne. September resolutions ask only that we be open to positive change. –Sara Ban Breathnach (Simple Abundance)

Dearest Friends, It is getting late here in the tower above the Astrology Café. The old owl has appeared on the Alder tree outside, signaling that it is time to take our leave. Above, in the velvety night sky, a silver crescent rises among the stars. Inside, the candles have all burned down yet the room is filled with your divine presence. Thank you for visiting. Enjoy this beautiful time between the seasons. Celebrate yourself, those close to you, and your life. All is well, you are loved, Virginia