October is written in orange, scrawled loopily with a fat crayon. This much we know and I have the photos to prove it. But not the golden glow of Jack O’Lanterns grinning in the night but the warm rust of ochre warming my fingertips, a lasting stain and bright.
Millions of years ago, my part of the world, Provence, was just one long sad sea. When the continents leaned into one another, conspiratorially, limestone and sandstone built up over time, leaving us with the surprise of ochre.
Ochre has been mined for pigments since the dawn of humanity. It traces out the animals dancing across the caves of Lascaux, the Egyptians dabbed it tenderly across their lips and cheeks…
Such earth equalled wealth for those who mined it and such was the family practice along a certain stretch of the Luberon for over one hundred years. And while the natural has long been supplanted by the synthetic, the land here is still thriving.
It seems to me to be that now is a month of abundance, despite an/our American predilection for Thanksgiving in November. And the varying terrain along these former ochre mines is rife…with life.
So lets hear it for the shift and sway of earth giving us the goods over and over.
Let us use them wisely.
For we are indeed rich, when we take in all that we have. Around us and in who we are.
I know, I know how often I say that but right now, as we dive towards the winter sleep on this top of the planet while friends are awakening to spring below on the other, it bares repeating.
Listen to the scribble of the undertow.
What is in your heart during this month?
What are you hoping for that lies ahead?
It is October, a perfect time to do a bit of (gentle!) digging…
…is there anything just below the surface that is calling for attention?
…for while we all learn our lessons and endure our scars…
…all the more reason to welcome a whopping batch of joy when that is what life throws us, to roll around in it gleefully, creating moments to carry us through the months ahead…
For yes, our lives are inscribed indelibly in a lasting ochre. Let us try to write it well.
Today’s post is my October contribution to the “By Invitation Only” series. To see what the talented bloggers from the around the world have concocted for “Thoughts on October” please visit Splenderosa here.
Wishing you all a wonderful month ahead…
I shall tell you how wonderful this is in person… xv
My dear H,
You have spoken to my heart on so many levels with this. October is my favorite month of the year and orange is my favorite color. My spirit has been long asking me to do the bit of gentle digging you speak of and has now kicked up the request to almost audible! Your post is all I need to know that I know that I know that this October will bear a peculiar boon if I will still myself and listen.
My soul is knit with yours. Thank you for this.
xx
Oh, I am so not, Judith. Talking to myself here more than anything. I have been so moody lately. Missing out on the point…Gros bisous and scratchies to la belle K.
Oh my, your photos and writing just keep getting better and better. This post is universal, but somehow you have captured exactly what I need to do this fall as I try to move forward with my life.
You are so wise.
xxxJ
You have Fall there?! Yippee! Enjoy it, dear Marsha. And my ooh my, one of these days I hope to write something for the BIO group that is downright silly!!! 😉
Bisous to you too–looking forward to hearing more about your time in France this Summer!!
Thank you Simone, you too and welcome to BIO! This is only my third go with the blog party but it is a lovely group…
Heather, what a stunningly profound post you have given us today. It is beautiful. Both the thoughts, the writing and the photographs. To give up a little in this autumnal season so that the Earth is reborn in the spring. Just wonderful. Love from Houston…where we have Fall, an unusual experience for us.
Your October thoughts and images are beautifully interwoven – "smelling the roses" and "counting our blessings" are powerful tonics. Bisous
What a beautiful post, your photos are stunning.
Have a good day 🙂