\u00a0I think of the fall as the spiritual season.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beginning with our Unitarian Universalist Ingathering ceremony in September, we then pass through a series of holidays from many traditions focused on the most important qualities of spiritual growth and health.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Jewish High Holy days with rituals of forgiveness and reconnection with our best selves.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Blessing of the Animals in early October connecting us to the value of non-human life
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The group of holidays at the end of October and beginning of November focused on questions of life and death and our relationship to honored ancestors:\u00a0\u00a0Halloween, Samhain, Dia de Los Muertos, All Saints and All Souls days.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The secular holiday of Thanksgiving, lifting up the spiritual good of gratitude.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The December holidays, including Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanzaa, and the new year.
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There\u2019s more I could name, too, holidays that may or may not be meaningful to you in your personal spiritual calendar. \u00a0
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But now, in this cooling time of this year, this changing, quieting, darkening, contemplative time of year, may your spirit find blessing in every way it needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"