The Time of Cold Dew 寒露

1.

According to the ancient calendar, the time of cold dew (寒露) is a season of disappearing light and lengthening nights. When temperatures begin to drop and cold dew forms on the grass like glistening diamonds.

Geese can be seen returning to visit. And chrysanthemums begin to glow.

It is also a time of transformations.

2.

Autumn.... it is the most beautiful time of year. A time for lingering under blankets reading books. And a time for eating--when food tastes best after the harvest. It is also a time for looking at art. Or for making art...

食欲の秋（Shokuyoku no Aki） Autumn’s the time great tasting food and being hungry!
読書の秋（Dokusho no Aki”） Autumn’s the time of reading books
芸術の秋（”Geijutsu no Aki”）Autumn’s the time of making or looking at art

I always think of the Danish word hygge, referring to the comfort, pleasure, and warmth of doing simple, soothing things in a cozy atmosphere or the feeling of friendship.

We don’t really have a proper autumn in southern California until November, but I do love reading and doing my sashiko embroidery around now. I am currently re-teaching myself how to make a patchwork quilt— and also re-reading Moby Dick.

I preordered this lovely book about the Celtic seasons and seasonality called Slow Seasons by Rosie Steer. Today it arrived, at last. Turning to October, the author talks about her need to go easy on herself during this time of year. She liked to bake and read; to savor the autumn colors. I know some people grow depressed in autumn, as the colors fade away from the landscape and the nights grow longer. I am a big fan of the book Wintering: The Power of Rest and Retreat in Difficult Times, by Katherine May.

Both May and Steer talk about the sadness of the season and feeling numb as people are hurtling through life around them.

I have a friend who finds the season exhilarating— as the days finally cool off and she awaits the leaves changing color. She always says that she wants to leap through the O of October. For better or worse, October does seem like a time of transformations and for a need to attain balance in things.

• (和)　和やかな心であること (Nagoyakana kokoro de aru koto, To have a calm and friendly mentality)

The Japanese word nagomi —meaning harmony or balance, comfort and togetherness— is hard to translate and not tied to a season. But I’ve always thought October was a good time to try and settle into life. To slow down. I start making hot pot in late October, and put candles back on the table to enjoy the candlelight. I don’t bake or make stews yet, but maybe someday? I do love warm sake and buying pumpkins and gourds!

And for me, if summer is a singing cuckoo, then autumn is a rail—or a quail? I love birding during fall migration!

3.

In April, I wrote about the season when Moles Turn into Quail【田鼠化して鶉となる】 でんそかしてうずらとなる

I said: Imagine a world where the seasons bring times when one thing magically transforms into another. Like fish in the sea turning into swallows or rainbows becoming dragons. One of the reasons I love Liza Dalby’s book East Wind Melts the Ice so much is that she intentionally chooses to focus on the ancient Chinese version of the 72 micro-seasons, instead of the localized Japanese version, compiled much later in the Edo period.

The Time of Cold Dew started around October 8 and is is divided into three micro-seasons of about five days each: 1) geese arriving, 2) sparrows turn into clams, and 3) chrysanthemums become tinged in yellow.

Sparrows turn into clams?

雀入大水為蛤（すずめたいすいにいりこはまぐりとなる）

Derived from an ancient Chinese belief that, around this time of year, sparrows change into clams when they get into water. Many people suggest that the pattern of the sparrow wings and the pattern of the shells are somehow similar, but really—not unlike when moles turn into quails, I think it is a reminder that a lot of things are changing in the natural world and if we don’t attend to it, we will miss it.

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My friend Greg shared this review of Florentyna Leow’s latest book, “How Kyoto Breaks Your Heart”—which looks beautiful. Copied this from the review:

In the most traditional form of 茶道, the idea of 和敬清寂 (wakei seijaku, lit. harmony, respect, purity and tranquility) comes up a lot:

• (和)　和やかな心であること (Nagoyakana kokoro de aru koto, To have a calm and friendly mentality)

• (敬)　お互いに敬い合うこと (Otagai ni uyamai au koto, To respect each other)

• (清)　清らかであること (Kiyoraka de aru koto, To be clear and honest)

• (寂)　動じない心を持つこと (Dōjinai kokoro o motsu koto, To have an unwavering heart)