Tlell, like all the communities on Haida Gwaii, is hunkering down for winter.
Harvest feasts were enjoyed, some still calling it “Thanksgiving” — more in the spirit of giving thanks in a general sense, and less of a pilgrim-y sense.
We do have much to be grateful for.
The rains have been nourishing the Haida Gwaii rainforest we are a part of. The harvests were bountiful and, I can attest, tasty.
My own harvest, if one could call it that, included a good amount of (unintentional) baby carrots.
Spacing seems to have been an issue there. The carrots never went through the right of passage that would allow them to drop the “baby” qualifier. Still, they’re tasty. My harvest also included a prolific amount of parsley that I reduced to a couple jars of pesto (I’m pretty proud of that effort).
There was some mint, enough for a few mojitos, and stinging nettles that I never planted but one day simply began to grow under my deck.
I’m forever grateful for those. Whenever I pick them, I talk to them gently and thank them. It may seem silly, but if I don’t, I lose just a little bit of extra focus, and then they sting me!
I offer tobacco as well. And this year, I was gifted a traditional tobacco plant that grew very happily.
I’ve harvested the seeds and hope to grow more next year.
What better way to show gratitude than with homegrown tobacco? It’s like appreciation cultivated by yourself.
Fall is a time of introspection and taking stock.
There is a lot of current research into living life more in tune with the seasons — all the seasons, not just the weather ones.
Our energy cycles through the days and through the months, as well as the years.Living in alignment with these energetic fluctuations, each with their own needs and purposes, allows us to live a life that flows more fruitfully.
Our energy is affected by our overall health and hormones. Women get the added fun of a monthly “seasonal” rollercoaster, and it’s said men’s energetic cycle is closer to the 24 hours we find in the day.
Over the span of our lifetime, our hormones have a range and flow that changes like mega-seasons.
The metaphorical “fall time” in a woman’s hormonal journey more closely resembles the dramatic raging storms we get here on Haida Gwaii — ones that trigger a “secure loose objects” warning from Weather Canada.
The male journey is more like autumn in the desert. It might bring a little more rain, but really you just need to put on an extra sweater.
Regardless of the intensity, knowing and following your energetic flow will make your life easier.
Our capitalist society demands a steady output, monotonous and dependable. But we don’t work like that.
Knowing what we will be better positioned to accomplish at certain times and when will increase our output and rewards. Just give it a think!
Janet Rigg is a counsellor on Haida Gwaii. For more, visit jrcounsellingservices.ca.