Autum Sky

Autumn Sky

In classic Haiku as I studied in schools growing up in Japan, you’re supposed to contain one word that represent a season called, “kigo” (季語). It is often a name of flowers, fruits, or colors that may convey the seasonal concept. This sensitivity to the seasonal changes is one thing I hold close to my heart from the Japanese culture after 35 years of living in Southern California where people often say there’s no season. When I saw those clouds (based on Wiki they are called, “cirrocumulus”) in the sky, I got the feelings that I get around this time every year — a mixture of nostalgia and a tiny bit of panic that the holiday season is around the corner. I get to appreciate this time of changing seasons with all the feelings and thoughts that come up.

And names of the type of the clouds are also considered “seasonal word. And we will have the harvest moon this Saturday, which is also a “kigo,” so is “migrating birds”! I went to my favorite Haiku book and found this:

The vast sky

Like a piece of cloth

With migrating birds…

-Meido

I could have attempted my own little haiku, but I’m way too rusty with this literary skill. All this to say, being connected to the nature and its cycle is surely a part of mindfulness practice. I’m grateful to have had a upbringing that taught me to appreciate the nature as much as I do, and I bring it into my practice.