It is harvest season. What does that mean for people like me who don’t work the land, who don’t hunt or forage for sustenance, who don’t use our hands to reap and collect the fruits of our year-long labours?
I notice that the fall is always more frantic and busy than I would wish, and some part of me has thought this meant it was out of balance with the way things should be. I’m questioning that belief today. Actual, physical harvest is hard work; it is urgent and necessary for survival. It cannot wait until you are feeling well-rested or the weather is pleasant. On our farm harvest activities take priority over all other plans and schedules, because the crops need to come in and they need to come in now.
So maybe it’s a normal energetic reality to feel a sense of urgency at this time of year. Maybe collecting the fruits of your labours, even if only metaphorically, is just…a lot. Also, at this time of year it is necessary to think ahead to the coming seasons and make plans. Farmers need to be considering what they will plant next year and preparing the land and purchasing seed accordingly. Musicians like me need to be applying for festivals and grants, booking shows several months out, making budgets, all while ramping up to holiday season - which can be the busiest performance time of the year.
For the rest of this year I am going to try to embrace and accept the intense busy-ness that is part of the fall, instead of blaming it on capitalism. There is a lot I am very happy to blame on capitalism, but maybe on this concept I can allow that perhaps a heavy harvest-season workload is just the reality of survival.
xo
Shannon
Upcoming Shows - all Shannon and Jakeb shows unless otherwise noted
Sun Nov 5, 2-5pm - Rolling Grape Winery
So looking forward to this weekend’s show! No tickets needed but you should call ahead to book a table, as space is limited.
Sun Nov 12 - In Search of Lost Trees (Northumberland Learning Connection) supporting David Newland - tickets
Thurs Dec 7 - Dickens Walk and Wassail - more info TBA
Featured Song - Roadmap
My husband requested this song make it’s way into our show setlist and I had to admit I have never played it live. I think Jakeb and I will take a crack at it sometime soon, and for now I thought I’d share it here. This song is about my beautiful late mother-in-law, the pain of losing someone so central to your family and life, and the desire to keep the best parts of them alive through your own actions.
Listen here.
Thanks for the update. I do enjoy hearing about what and how you are doing. XO
A great and thoughtful post!