Hello Reader!
Comet sighting! Sanni’s text came through at 6:56 pm.
“Where?” I quickly texted back, frantically running outside.
She called and directed us to look toward Venus, filling us in on the background. Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS was now visible from Earth as it made its once-in-80,000-years journey around the sun.
I looked closely and could barely make out a faint streak coursing through the sky. Then, as I held the binoculars to my eyes, I gasped at the clear sight of Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (aka A3), tail and all, falling through the night sky. It was awe-inspiring—a once-in-a-lifetime event that felt perfectly timed to this season of transition.
As Comet A3 fell through the sky, passing by Earth, I couldn’t help but think of us not as a divided people but as a planetary whole. Earth is our home.
(True confession: I may have been influenced by watching the first episode of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds earlier in the week. The episode tells the story of the pre-warp planet Kiley, where internal conflicts threaten planetary destruction. Captain Pike offers Kiley a choice: they can continue their conflicts or unify their planetary home to accomplish something more extraordinary. It’s a message that resonates today as we face a critical juncture. Maybe we, too, can come together to build something better.)
This celestial event, paired with the wisdom of Fall, reminds me that turning inward, homeward, is an opportunity for reflection and growth—both individually and collectively.
The Art of Falling
Fall is a time of great transition. Leaves fall. The Earth turns inward. The season invites us to strip away the old, the outdated. In our lives, “fall” is often associated with loss or failure. We fall down, we fall apart. But what if we reframed “falling” as a form of awakening, a deep surrender into love and life?
Like the Fool in the tarot, who steps off the cliff with wide-eyed wonder, we can learn to trust the act of falling—falling into love, into change, and into the unknown.
Just today, before finalizing this newsletter, I was at our home climbing gym. My son-in-law, Alex, encouraged me to set the board at 30 degrees and go to the top. I usually work only on traverses. Despite being a climber, I still fear falling, particularly from heights. Alex pointed out that the setup, with its two feet of deep pads, was perfect for practicing falling. With his gentle encouragement and promise to spot me, I took a leap of faith. I climbed to the top of the 30-degree board for the first time, sent the project, and allowed myself to fall onto the pads below. Alex was there to spot me as promised. It reminded me that we can support each other in learning to embrace falling.
This reframing of falling echoes the themes I explore in Naked in the Now, where I talk about stripping away the layers we carry—societal expectations, self-judgments, and fear of failure. Fall invites us to practice this inner striptease, shedding the masks and accepting all parts of ourselves, our light and our shadow.
Integrating Our Light and Dark
As we move through this season, the falling leaves remind us of the beauty in release. Earth medicine teaches that Fall is the time for letting go and going inward—a season for truth-telling and shedding what no longer serves us. How can we embrace this process in our own lives? What stories, beliefs, or habits are ready to fall away as we move into this season of introspection?
In falling, we often discover new ways to love—ourselves, each other, and life itself. To fall in love is to let go of control, to surrender to the unplanned. It’s a process of allowing, of awe.
Celestial Events & Reflection
Speaking of awe, you may still be able to see Comet A3! And the skies are blessing us with another wonder this week! The Hunter Moon, the brightest Supermoon of 2024, will peak on Thursday morning, October 17, 2024. (A Supermoon occurs when the moon’s orbit is closest to. Earth at the same time the Moon is full.) The moon will appear full from Tuesday evening through Friday morning—don’t miss this brilliant opportunity to connect with the skies.
There’s something deeply comforting about watching these celestial events. They remind us that we are all part of something larger than ourselves.
Closing Practice
This week, I invite you to reflect on the role of Fall or falling in your life. What are you ready to shed? What stories, patterns, or fears no longer serve you? How can you fall more deeply into love—with yourself, your life, and others? Can you allow yourself to be in awe, to let go of control, and to trust in the process of falling?
For extra practice, notice how you “fall” asleep. What happens in that moment of letting go?
Good News/Events
- Naked in the Now makes its debut abroad at the Frankfurt Book Fair October 16 – 20
- Las Vegas Book Fest, October 19, 2024
- Speaking with Marni’s Memoir VI class (there’s still time to join, and there’s no prerequisite!) November 2, 2024
- Upcoming speaking event at the IMWA (TBD)
- Upcoming Fall into Writing Workshop! (Zoom Meetup – dates TBD)
🌟A Little Request!🌟
As we embrace this season of falling into love with life, I would be so grateful if you could take a moment to share your thoughts on Naked in the Now. Your reviews can help others discover the joy of being present and authentic. Like the leaves that gracefully fall, your words can spread inspiration far and wide!
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Comet Tsuchinshan-ATLAS (aka A3) – photo by Sanni Honnold |
Smiles,
https://marijkemccandless.com
Kirkus Reviews endorses Naked in the Now!
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