Thanksgiving, Fall, & Gratitude for Your Harvest

Imagine looking out the window at the first snowfall in October on the morning of Thanksgiving Monday, musing and ruminating on the way the year went, and what you're thankful for. 🍂

For me, I typically do this reflection through out the fall season as soon as equinox hits.

Admittedly, due to a combination of having indigenous friends who really advocate against celebrating the darker history of North American thanksgiving - and getting enough into my path as a pagan person who lives in alignment with the seasons and Sabbats to know that right at equinox just before thanksgiving, there’s Mabon, which literally is the harvest season celebration and feasting with loved ones, giving thanks for all that grew in the year.

So why am I writing this on thanksgiving anyway?

With so many people more aware of thanksgiving, it felt like a good time to talk about how despite the historical connotations thanksgiving has with Christopher Columbus and imperialism — we can’t ignore how there’s still this rich element of reflecting on the growth of the year so far, and celebrating what we’ve achieved while gathered around our loved ones.

This whole concept of harvest and thankfulness goes so beyond our ancestors being thankful for a bountiful harvest of crops.

So take a minute to think of your modern day life, and the things we take for granted, that our ancestors didn't have.

● A house, running water, bills paid

● A vehicle to get places, even if its public transit

● Insert your own here

Then consider - What are the things you worked towards throughout the year into spring and summer that grew in your life, that you're really grateful for?

This could be a new hobby that you’ve worked hard on, a move, new job, promotion, or even certain relationship thats now very bountiful and thriving in harvest season.

I invite you to sit with this as an active meditation, today and into the rest of the month & fall season 🎃🍂