Have you ever held a leaf in your hand and examined it closely? Especially if it’s an autumn leaf… the yellows, oranges, and reds announce the changing season so visibly…
Every autumn, I do this with both my students and my daughters. It’s a seasonal ritual for us.
First, take an autumn leaf in your hand. And simply start looking at it. Silently. Let your thoughts come and go, allow the leaf to remind you of other things, your thoughts weaving and wandering. Simply observe, without judging it as beautiful or ugly, without adding any interpretations to nature’s creation.
What colors do you see? Are there spots or color transitions on it? Does the leaf in your hand have veins? Maybe there’s a thick vein in the center with thinner ones branching out on the sides… or maybe it’s a leaf without veins. What about its shape? Is it oval? Round? Are the edges smooth or serrated?
Now, touch the leaf with your fingertips. Maybe you feel like caressing it. How does it feel? Rough? Or smooth? Perhaps one side is rough while the other is smooth. You won’t know until you touch it. What feelings does this touch evoke?
Do you want to smell the leaf? Even if you don’t know which tree it fell from, what does the scent remind you of? Take a guess! If you decided with just your nose rather than your thinking mind, what scent would it carry?
Could there be a sound deep within this leaf? Now, bring it to your ear. It’s time to listen to the sound of silence… maybe when it touches your ear or brushes against your hair, you hear a rustle, or maybe another sound. How does that feel?
Now, place the leaf gently between your palms. Let your palms come together, bringing the leaf in front of your chest. If you’d like, you can close your eyes. Let it be however you prefer. Between your hands, feel the red, orange, and yellow energies of autumn…
I wish us all a beautiful day, one where we try to stay mindful!