The July sun starts to descend in the sky creating a dappling appearance as light reaches through the leaves touching the earth. Waves on the lake take on a shimmer reflecting the annual solar migration into midsummer. A breeze is welcome on hot afternoons. Crickets chirp in the fields. Rose of Sharon and milkweed are in bloom. All signs are stirring up the ancient notion that it is nearly time to go.
A thought about the cycle of seasons came to awareness after a day out at sea on a whale watch. These magnificent beasts respond to many indicators that it’s time to swim on. Water temperature, sunlight and the movement of their food source tells them to be ready for change. As the birds start to flock together, the notion becomes more forceful internally.
Without a basis in science, more a reaction to nature, it seems for years upon years, humans evolved around a migration cycle. Although it’s common now to be fixed, there’s still the memory of movement, not as a result of war or famine, natural disaster or plague, but to simply follow the sun. Should the sensation come along of restlessness, wonder if it’s not instinct asserting itself over domestication. Always the transition to fall is marked by a disturbance in the body manifested as migraine and mal de mar. It’s gotten milder over time. Still, the discomfort starts to appear in a sudden difficulty in sleeping. Little fluctuations start the desire to go.
The whereof it is the great unknown.
Under high heaven apes wail against the rushing wind
Keep them in keep them out. It’s that time of year when creatures seek a safe hiding place for the cold months to come. Oak and Norway maple leaves are still on the trees. But, so many more cover the ground now.
LuceStellare 