Changing Seasons: The Art of Renewal

“Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit…”- Thoreau 

It’s fall here in Los Angeles, but the summer heat still greets me when I step outside onto my balcony. Autumn means the downtown traffic is revving up again and the pace life seems to quicken with people coming back from vacation and the school year starting again. The changing of the seasons comes with profound psychological significance- it’s a time for renewal.

Over the past summer, I allowed myself to just be in the moment enjoying my time with family, celebrating milestones and suddenly mourning another. I had family time with my own family unit, swimming and playing underwater games for hours. By the end of summer, I marveled at how much my son grew. Unexpectedly, I flew to Texas to be with my extended family and the few short days felt long and satisfying in that every minute was full… of memories, sadness, love, and tenderness. I was by my Mom’s side and I felt how made happy it made her. I was her child all over again when she thoughtfully helped me pick out my clothes for the next few days’ events. I watched how she handled everything so quickly with grace and realized that life’s events round out our edges and we step into who we are supposed to become. 

This week, today in particular, I felt like it’s time to reset and begin again. My son is excited about the new school year and feeling his change in energy, I’m getting back to focusing on my artwork. Over the years, I’ve developed a ritual that brings me peace no matter what is going on - a sacred place for reflection and prayer. In these moments, I’ve learned to listen for guidance and answers to my prayers. 

Creating a Calming Morning Ritual

“May I find balance today in all that I have to do and remain flexible with what gets accomplished. With each breath or sip of tea, I become more connected to my intention for the day.”

This is one of my prayers. My daily ritual years involves a warm cup of tea, a prayer or intention, and a quiet space to be present in the moment. While having tea, I enjoy burning some Japanese incense to create a calming mood. These elements make up my calming ritual: 

1. Tea
2. Incense 
3. Prayer or intention
4. Mindfulness
5. Attentive listening 

Kodo, The Art of Listening

Burning incense is an ancient practice used by many cultures for religious, spiritual, or cultural reasons. I grew up watching my grandmother burn incense to go with her prayers. Today, I use it to as part of my own ritual when beginning my day. I enjoy the fragrance of pomegranate when creating a sacred space for myself.

Kodo, “the way of the fragrance,” is not just absorbing the smell of incense; it’s about listening and listening intently. But what, you may ask, should we be listening to? It’s about opening up your heart and spirit with each breath, and being transported into another realm. It is in this moment that ideas or answers to questions we seek, appear. Many people focus on prayer and making requests, but they frequently overlook the importance of listening for answers.