Today we are trying something different. As the seasons change, nature responds; in autumn, nature provides us with bountiful harvests and time to reflect and look forward as we plan for the coming year.
Our summer visitors, such as swallows and house martins, prepare to leave for the warmer weather of Africa, whilst puffins and gannets leave to spend the winter at sea. Hedgehogs and bats are feeding up in preparation for their hibernation, whilst Badgers and Foxes ensure they are in prime condition for mating.
Starling murmurations fill our evening skies, the squirrels and Jays are burying nuts, the salmon are running up our rivers, the Deer are rutting, and mushrooms are bursting out of the earth as the leaves begin to fall.
Yet, new life is found on the beaches as seal pups are born. Autumn is coming – and that’s something to be celebrated.
As the sunlight diminishes daily, the leaves lose their chlorophyll, treating us to beautiful reds, and golds, with burnt umber and russet browns before falling slowly to the ground in the chilly autumnal winds.
The hedgerows look resplendent with their berries in stunning reds, purples, blues and blacks and look at the harvest in the fields and in your garden, abundant fruits like Apples, Blackberries, Elderberries, Pears and vegetables like crinkly kale, the stunning stems of rainbow chards, the orange blush of carrots, purple swedes, and the pops of taste and colour we know as radish, not forgetting the stunning fungi you can forage for out in nature now. Autumn really is the season of abundance.
There is little to rival blackberry picking to bring back your childhood memories. It’s great fun whatever your age, but as I’ve got older, I appreciate more the health benefits of these seasonal black fruits that are great for being full of vitamin C and fibre, helping to stop autumn sniffles, reducing inflammation in your body and improving Brain function.
Let’s not forget the folklore that claims that a blackberry bush outside your house will keep vampires at bay, not because of a pungent smell like garlic but because the vampires have to stop and count the berries.
Another dark berry you will find now is the Elderberry, a personal favourite.
Traditionally, Elderberry was used to treat influenza infections by boosting the immune system, and it is said to aid sciatica, headaches, dental pain, heart pain, and nerve pain. A word of warning it is also a mild laxative and diuretic. Elderberries taste great and can be used to make juice, jams, chutneys, and, best of all, elderberry wine.
Another fond childhood memory of autumn is collecting the fallen conkers from the Horse Chestnut tree. Their hard, prickly green cases, cracked open to reveal the ruby-red nut inside.
Back then, it was all about who had the toughest conker. Now, I see Conkers as a natural, organic, and completely free laundry detergent.
Conkers are full of saponin, taken from the Latin word, sapon meaning soap so conkers are also good as a natural body wash and shampoo too. Give them a try as I believe you will be pleasantly surprised.
Horse Chestnuts are not native to Britain; they were introduced from Turkey in the 1600s. Today though, Horse Chestnuts are at risk due to the leaf miner moth that leaves dark sores on their leaves.
With the Autumn equinox in the Northern hemisphere being 23rd September this year, the pagan holiday of Mabon is one of the eight Wiccan sabbats celebrated during the year. Mabon marks the autumnal equinox.
Mabon is a week-long celebration of Autumn where you are encouraged to spend some time alone in nature, one of the most sacred rituals for the autumn equinox.
Finding a quiet place to sit and reflect on the seasons passing by is one of the best ways to reconnect with nature. You can use this time to meditate or just be in silence and let yourself become one with nature again.
Mabon is also a time for reflection, on the year that has passed and planning for the year to come. It’s a good time to let go of things holding you back.
A seasonal feast with family and friends and burning dried wild herb bundles is a wonderful way to celebrate the autumn equinox.
To celebrate autumn, I am bringing you two autumn folklore stories.
The first is a traditional red Indian folk tale called;
Why the leaves turn Red
A time long ago, when the planet was inhabited only by creatures of the wild, a gathering known as the Council took place where important decisions were made.
One of the most imposing figures present was the brown Bear, known for its fearsome claws, gleaming coat, and thundering growl. The Deer, with its majestic antlers that resembled towering trees, was also a prominent attendee at these meetings.
As I gazed upon the assembly, it became evident that all the creatures had gathered for the grand Council.
From the majestic animals to the soaring birds and from the wriggling invertebrates to the buzzing insects, every being had come together for this momentous occasion.
Despite her diminutive size, even Little Turtle had mustered the courage to attend. Her reservations about her ability to contribute meaningfully were palpable. Yet, she remained steadfast and watchful, hopeful that an opportunity to assist her peers would eventually present itself.
Little Turtle had been holding onto the thought of performing a kind act for quite some time and was eager to seize the chance when it finally arose. During the council meeting, a member voiced concern about the lack of illumination in their dreary surroundings. They suggested fashioning a light source and stationing it in Skyland.
Little Turtle quickly recognised an opportunity and bravely proposed, “Might I have your permission to ascend to Skyland? I am confident I can cast a dazzling light across the sky.”
Following a brief exchange of glances between the animals, they granted Little Turtle’s request. They called upon Dark Cloud to ferry him to Skyland.
The tiny but observant Little Turtle had noticed the approach of the ominous Dark Cloud, which carried within it the menacing forces of Thunder and Lightning.
Once Little Turtle had safely reached the lofty heights of Skyland, she deftly moulded the powerful lightning into a compact sphere. She used it to create a brilliant Sun.
However, Dark Cloud placed the Sun high up in the sky, where it remained motionless and lifeless. The world below was left barren, parched, and scorching hot, rendering it uninhabitable for any form of life.
The helpless animals pondered their next move, and one among them suggested infusing the Sun with life and spirit so that it could move across the vast expanse of the sky and bring life to the world below.
A group of animals came together to carry out an important task – they collected the essence of time and spirit.
They requested Dark Cloud to transport these precious elements to Little Turtle, who resides in Skyland.
Little Turtle followed the instructions and breathed life and spirit into the Sun. As a result, the Sun gained the ability to move across the sky.
Mud Turtle played a supporting role by digging a hole of the appropriate size through the Earth. This allowed the Sun to journey around the planet daily, bringing light and warmth to all living beings.
Little Turtle, the diligent caretaker of Skyland, believed that the Sun needed companionship. With the remaining lightning from Dark Cloud, she created a new companion and named it Moon.
As time passed, Moon’s offspring became the playful stars that now scatter the vast expanse of Skyland. Little Turtle’s dedication to her responsibilities earned her recognition and admiration from all the creatures on Earth, and she found great satisfaction in making a positive impact.
Little Turtle was admired by many animals, but envy began to grow within some, particularly the proud Deer and his magnificent antlers. One day, Deer approached Rainbow and asked to be taken to Skyland, where Little Turtle resided.
Rainbow hesitated at the thought of bringing Deer to Little Turtle’s home and replied, “I will take you only when I rest upon the big mountain by the lake during winter.”
The Deer was content with Rainbow’s answer and waited patiently for Rainbow’s arrival throughout the winter near the big mountain. However, Rainbow was nowhere to be found.
In the spring, Deer happened upon Rainbow at the lakeside and posed a question about a promise that had been made.
Rainbow found himself unsure of how to respond and instead made a new promise to Deer. He said, “Meet me by the lake when the mist settles in.”
Deer held onto this promise, keeping it hidden as he planned to venture to Skyland alone.
Day after day, he waited patiently by the lake, watching for the telltale sign of thick fog rolling in.
Finally, he caught sight of the resplendent Rainbow. Its magnificent, shining arch extended from the lake all the way to the towering mountain.
Suddenly, a burst of bright, brilliant light illuminated the Deer’s surroundings. When he looked up, he saw a straight path that shimmered with all the colours of the Rainbow, leading directly through the Great Forest.
Rainbow provided Deer with clear directions to navigate through the vast forest. The path was illuminated with a vivid spectrum of colours, leading Deer towards Little Turtle’s house in the distance. Nonetheless, Deer decided to venture further into the unknown to explore the wonders of Skyland.
Deer’s absence did not go unnoticed during the Animal Council’s meeting on Earth.
The other animals were curious about his whereabouts and questioned each other, “Has anyone seen him?” Hawk shared that he had searched for Deer but to no avail. He promised to continue his efforts and scour the entire area to locate him.
Despite his best attempts, Hawk was unable to track down Deer and returned to the Council empty-handed.
Determined to find Deer, Wolf volunteered to take over the search, believing that Deer might be hiding in the deep woods. He tirelessly combed through every nook and cranny of the woods, but Deer was nowhere to be found. The next day, Wolf informed the Council that his search had been fruitless, leaving the other animals with more questions than answers.
At the behest of the Council, Dark Cloud was tasked with escorting Little Turtle to the meeting. During the proceedings, Little Turtle disclosed that she had recently spotted Deer.
It was revealed that Deer had arrived on a brightly illuminated path that Rainbow had fashioned specifically for him to ascend to Skyland.
Little Turtle went on to draw attention to this path, which was new to many of the animals present. They were left wondering why Deer had not waited for them to join him on this journey to Skyland.
While taking a walk near the lake, Brown Bear spotted a glistening pathway that seemed to invite him to follow it. Without hesitation, Bear made up his mind to explore the great forest by following the path. With excitement, he continued on the path and eventually reached Skyland.
Bear was surrounded by stunning scenery, but he felt disappointed that his friend had left him behind. He spotted Deer nearby and asked why they had gone to Skyland without him and why they hadn’t waited for him.
But Deer, who was always proud, did not like being questioned. He shook his antlers angrily. “What right have you to question me? No one but the Wolf may question why I came. I will kill you for your impertinence.”
The Deer stood tall and ready to defend itself against the imposing Bear. Its neck was arched and its impressive antlers poised. The Bear, however, remained unafraid, towering over the Deer on its hind legs. Its sharp claws glinted menacingly in the sunlight, and it let out a deep growl that echoed throughout the surrounding wilderness.
The fierce battle that erupted between the mighty Deer and Bear was so intense that it caused the ground to shake uncontrollably, sending tremors that reverberated throughout Skyland.
The entire animal kingdom was captivated by the spectacle, as chaos erupted in the tumultuous skies above.
The once serene and tranquil land was now dark and the land shook beneath the animals from the intensity of the fighting above them, leaving all the animals on earth in a state of fear and uncertainty as to who would be brave enough to intervene and bring an end to the bitter conflict.
Without hesitation, the confident Wolf stepped forward and declared, “I will go”. Wolf wanted to end the conflict between his friends and raced along the vibrant, colourful path that led him through the Great Forest
In no time, he arrived at the battleground, ready to face the challenge ahead.
Suddenly, Wolf growled, “STOP!” His command was so loud and assertive that even the fighting Deer ceased their battle. The Deer’s large antlers, resembling trees, were covered in blood. As he shook them, large drops of bear blood splashed down to Earth below.
Following the intense combat, Wolf took the lead as they made their way back to Earth. Deer and Bear were walking slowly in front of him, helping each other by tending to the other’s open wounds.
They both had visible injuries from the battle and both appeared defeated. The once vibrant path was now stained with droplets of their blood, as their wounds continued to bleed.
The Dark woods were a stark contrast to their usual calm and serenity.
The blood from Deer and Bear dripped off the path and tumbled down towards the trees of the Great Forest. Covering the leaves of the trees with a mosaic of colours, from the deepest of reds to the most radiant golds, and from captivating amber to rich russet brown.
Wolf looked at his two companions and said; Let this serve as a reminder to us all that we should always stand by our friends and never let our pride or self-importance come between us – especially in the most challenging of times.
When the trio arrived back on Earth, the animals cheered and waved, as they were so happy to see Deer and Bear back on Earth as friends after the terrible battle they had in Skyland.
Bear and Deer walked slowly, their heads bowed low as they limped past the crowds of animals, that were cheering and applauding them and behind them was the Bravest of all animals. The Wolf who was pleased he had returned with his friends.
Wolf sighed and thought to himself that A valuable lesson had been learned by them all.
And that’s a good place for us to leave our story
Further Reading
The Nature StoryTeller For more stories by the Author
Wild of the Words Pridie Tiernan
If you enjoyed this blog, please check out more of our wildlife blogs here,
or you may prefer to listen to the Wildlife Matters Podcast here.
If you want to support our work, You can donate here.