The Noble Pagan Forums - Turning of the Wheel

October is such a symbolic month in my opinion. It’s a time when summer draws to a subtle ending by the scent on a passing breeze. Color literally drips off the trees in the form of leaves, painting the ground with its death. The days become shorter though the air is still warm but the nights extended and more crisp; you can almost see your breath. Children have been in school for a short spell now and have probably managed a routine but there is a growing excitement of anticipation for the seasons to follow! But beyond this October marks a time of transition and more specifically a time of ending or death. Most people are exceptionally materialistic so when we generate the concept of death we first consider a physical state rather than a more metaphoric expression.

I feel as though life seems considerably less serious or important when you’re younger. Your world is limited to yourself and the drama of your social group which usually exists primarily through school and after school programs/hobbies. As I’ve grown I feel as though life has taken on a new meaning which holds a considerable amount of weight, depth and credible significance to it.

Throughout your lifetime you will experience phases that will last months or years—and through each phase we should hope for progression, experience and wisdom through that experience. I’m now in my early twenties with what appears to be the world as a cherry bowl in front of me. Though opportunity is vast (despite the depressive state our economy is in) it does not guarantee smooth transitions or easy success with each step you take on your journey. They say anything worth having doesn’t come easy which I say is true most of the time. I also say that which we wish not to have is not so easy to dispose of either. In my opinion no matter what, life is a challenge and with every challenge should come a lesson.

Failure is measurable. In my opinion you fail when you can learn nothing from your actions in life—whether they are positive or negative but most especially negative. This happens to be my greatest fear of all…failing.

The Wheel is in constant motion though it moves so slow we hardly see it till we’re near the beginning of the end. Whether or not I like it, the year is about through and I’ve so much left to do that I don’t wish to carry on into the New Year but it appears it must. I’ve learned so much this year despite less than favorable circumstances and although I still mourn for my losses I don’t believe I would change a thing which pains me to say.

So am I blazing a trail or walking a path? I’d like to think a little bit of both.
What have you learned from this year? How do you wish to close out this year and begin the next? Are you still on the same journey you began last October or a different one? What would you change, if you could, or would you not at all?

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