Seasons of Change

We will be known forever by the tracks we leave.

– Mary T. Lathrap

Across my culture’s stories, a prominent figure is Coyote. Coyote is often considered a trickster, but he shows up to help the people around him, doing his best to share wisdom and guide people along their paths. It’s an interesting approach – ”tricking” people into learning a lesson. According to the Cheyenne, Coyote shows us how to navigate the challenges of life with cleverness and adaptability, and reminds us to embrace change and find opportunities even in difficult situations.

So many of us work our entire lives to afford to live, and then forget to actually live. Experience your life; don’t just work it away. Let’s take a page out of Coyote’s book and experiment with some new hobbies. Grab some reeds and weave a basket or try your hand at using a bow – maybe you’ll find some life in the practice of these skills. As the Hopi say, “Wisdom comes only when you stop looking for it and start living the life … intended for you.”

Speaking of Coyote, take a look at Dana Benner’s “Wild Canids of North America” and bridge the gap between story and science. Go a step further in pondering our relationships with animals in “Domestication of Animals in Neolithic Age,” and with a guide on whether keeping goats might be profitable for you.

Autumn has always been a time of change (arguably, Coyote’s season) – the world around us starts to change colors, children shift from the carefree days of summer to the structured days of school, critters big and small begin preparations for winter, and, for many of us, it’s the time of harvest. Enjoy those staples you’ve worked so hard to grow and forage in new ways – make some of the onion and squash recipes; try one of my personal favorite dishes, succotash, and bake those kiddos the tasty apple dessert; and explore the world of traditional foods. Perhaps you’d like a nice place to sit and enjoy a cup of coffee (or tea, I’m not judging) with those tasty treats; learn how to build your own pergola and plant something you love to climb it for a lovely shady area in which to enjoy your drink.