Garden Column By Wendy Crist –

It’s early October and it seems fall is upon us. I remember last September-October I was still sitting out, under the trees after my daily chores. Not so much this year. We’ve already had fires in the morning to take the chill off. 

The moon was full on the sixth. We are in another waning, or passive, phase of the Moon. And it’s so welcome after a huge growing season. 

I’m down-for-the-count, in more ways than one. I’m ready to rest up after getting the garden’s bounty harvested, processed and put away. I’m also down following knee revision surgery September 24th. Looks like putting the garden to bed will be a “honey-do” this year. 

In other astrological news, the comet 3I/atlas had its first flyby in our solar system last Friday. This is only the third observed interstellar traveler on record; it came from beyond our Solar system. This may be due to our evolving abilities to observe and not some fluke. 

This year has been remarkable in many ways. The weather has reminded me of years gone by with a long sweet spring, not the abrupt winter to summer transition we usually see. It also surprised me with the hottest days never getting to 100 degrees, at least where we are. We’ve seen more rain this growing season than I remember and now, with the fall rains beginning early and temperatures dropping to the mid-thirties, it feels like the old days, before climate change began to supercharge our global weather. By old days I mean 50 to 60 years ago. 

Two thousand twenty-five has also set records for price increases, political uncertainty, astrological alignments, cultural divides and general unrest and division between those who serve others and those who think they deserve from others; those who are charged by love and those who are driven by fear. 

As I’ve mentioned before, Michael, my husband, and I have been working to become as self-reliant as possible for our 45 years together. What has always driven us was our love of the Earth and the natural world. 

Our choices have served us well, especially with those challenges I mentioned above facing us now. We are now living the lives we hoped for. We can rely on ourselves, the Sun and natural world for filling  most of our needs. At this point we are retired and can live lightly upon the Earth, playing in the garden, cooking good food, enjoying life. Yes, we get Social Security and VA benefits, but are prepared to do without, if it comes to that. 

So, again, we are not driven by fear of what might happen but by the love of being alive!
Living free of fear can be difficult these days,  especially if you read or watch the “news” every day. Those networks make their money on bad news. There’s so much good news out there. You might be surprised. 

I have my days when I feel anxious and, with practice, I’ve learned to recognize when I slip, stop to notice what I’m feeling (as a mother would an unhappy child) and watch the anxiety dissolve. So, stop, take a breath and get out of your head. 

Ive also made a concerted effort to avoid the “news.” My intention now is to look for good news and I’m finding lots of it! I read the headlines but rarely go further; too much click-bait and redundancy of questionable information. 

Grousing about the bad news, tilting at windmills, trying to get even, blaming others only makes me feel bad. Choosing to see what’s right in my world; what makes me happy and brings joy my way, is choosing love over fear!

I truly offer this as a salve to what may be ailing you as it has really helped me. Talk soon … and in the meantime remember, sitting by a stream or walking through the woods helps you feel lighter and makes the world look brighter.