POEM: “The beauty of autumn” (by Alice)

Classical music for autumn (audio)

OCTOBER – the harvest month

OCTOBER (the 10^th month of the year in Gregorian calendar) is the time when leaves begin to change colors and a crispness fills the morning air, arriving as a herald of seasonal transformation. This is a unique month, bridging the mysteries of autumn with the anticipation of winter holidays. Across many cultures, geographies and lifestyles, October serves as a canvas for introspection, festivity and creativity. I think that one of the most defining features of October is the vivid transformation of the entire nature. 

This month, many trees shed their summer greens for a palette of amber, crimson, gold and ochre, creating landscapes that inspire photographers, painters and casual observers alike. The seasonal change brings not just visual beauty, but also a shift in energy: days grow shorter, sunlight softens, and the air carries both warmth and the subtle promise of winter. For many, this natural transition prompts reflection on personal rhythms. 

Autumnal jazz music (audio)

The falling leaves signify letting go (of habits, thoughts or attachments that no longer serve us) while the cooling air encourages warmth in human connections, home and heart.

Lots of outdoor activities take on a poetic quality; hikes in wooded trails become some sort of meditation in motion, where each rustling leaf and fluttering bird evokes mindfulness, and a deeper appreciation of life’s impermanence. Outdoor enthusiasts revel in October’s temperate conditions, ideal for hiking, camping and scouting seasonal events. A curated October hiking or photography challenge allow one to capture fleeting glimpses of fall foliage while engaging in movement that invigorates body and mind. Pumpkin patches, corn mazes and local harvest festivals combine community connection with playful engagement, offering both nostalgia and novelty.

We all know that October signals also the arrival of comfort food season. The first chills in the air prompt cravings for hearty soups, stews, baked casseroles and warm beverages. Pumpkin, a quintessential symbol of fall, dominates the culinary scene; from pumpkin pies to lattes infused with warming spices, this versatile vegetable encourages experimentation and tradition alike. Fall cocktails, mulled wines and caramelized treats reflect not just nourishment, but celebration. October also presents an opportunity to embrace seasonal cooking as a ritual of care, both for ourselves and for our loved ones. Sharing meals, swapping recipes and exploring local farmers’ markets cultivate community while honoring the bounty of the harvest season.

On the other hand, October’s cooler temperatures inspire a wardrobe transformation. Cozy sweaters, layered outfits, scarves and boots dominate, combining functionality with fashion. This is the season to experiment with textures (such as wool, corduroy and felt) while embracing warm earthy hues, such as: rust, mustard, burgundy and forest green. It has been observed that personal expressions during this month extends beyond clothing. Autumnal makeup palettes favor rich oranges, deep reds and natural browns. Seasonal haircare, protecting against dryness induced by cooler air, becomes essential. 
October encourages mindfulness in appearance, blending self-expression with practicality.

Furthermore, October is a tapestry of cultural celebrations, with each event offering opportunities for reflection and creativity.

In Canada, October’s earlier weeks are marked by Thanksgiving celebrations, emphasizing gratitude, communal meals and acknowledgment of seasonal abundance. Across the globe, October hosts local fairs, literary events and thematic celebrations that range from the whimsical to the reflective.

Additionally, October encourages the creation of intimate and nurturing environments. Homes benefit from seasonal décor of pumpkins, candles, autumn wreaths, and warm textiles transform living spaces into havens of comfort. Outdoor spaces can also embrace coziness via fire pits, layered seating areas and ambient lighting. Gardening enthusiasts use this month for planting bulbs, mulching and preparing for the next growing season, turning outdoor spaces into live essays in patience and care. From a practical stand point, seasonal home activities also intersect with decluttering and organization. A fall clean-up ritual prepares for winter, creating a sense of order and calm refinement…integrating mindful practices into home life enhances the comfort and mental well-being associated with a season of reflection.

Without any doubt, October signifies a turning point of the year, offering a window for reflection and goal recalibration. With the final quarter approaching, individuals often assess accomplishments, realign priorities and adjust ambitions. Journaling prompts, mental health awareness initiatives, and personal storytelling support introspection and resilience. Aside of that, National recognition, such as Mental Health Awareness Month in certain countries, emphasizes self-care, reducing stigma and fostering dialogue. Combining outdoor exploration, cozy rituals and creative expression provides holistic support for psychological well-being.

Beyond its visual and social charm, October resonates on emotional and psychological levels. It embodies paradoxical qualities: the energy of harvest mixed with reflective withdrawal, the warmth of companionship juxtaposed with crisp, solitary walks. This duality invites contemplation on life’s cycles: growth and decay, light and darkness, celebration and introspection. In practice, October can be understood as a month of balance: balancing productivity with leisure; engagement with solitude; nostalgia with anticipation. Recognizing these patterns fosters intentional living, while enhancing self-awareness and mindfulness.

October is more than just a month…it is a seasonal manifesto, inviting us to blend festivity, reflection and creativity; it bridges the exuberance of early autumn with the introspection of impending winter, offering a safe space for personal growth, communal connection and aesthetic pleasures.

From the fiery foliage and cozy culinary delights to fashion inspiration, cultural celebrations and reflective practices, October engages the senses and the spirit in equal measure. Whether through journaling, outdoor adventures, creative expression, or simply savoring a pumpkin spice latte, embracing October fully allows us to harmonize with nature’s rhythms, honor our personal cycles and derive deep satisfaction from the seasonal present.

This October, I encourage you to consider pausing for a bit at each rustling leaf, lingering at every scented candle flame and savoring the warmth shared with friends and family; in doing so, you embrace not just a month, but a moment in the unfolding story of the year…a period enriched with transformation, gratitude and the ephemeral magic of autumn.

“October is the proof that change can be beautiful.”

September 22, 2025: Happy AUTUMN, dear friends!

As the Autumnal Equinox dawns on September 22, 2025, we are offered a rare and unequivocal moment of equilibrium – day and night in perfect balance, light and shadow mirrored with clarity. This is not merely a celestial event, but rather an invitation for deliberate reflection and conscious alignment within ourselves.

In the rhythm of the seasons, the Equinox reminds us that growth and release are intertwined. This is the perfect time of the year to take stock of the intellectual, emotional and practical labors you have invested since the year began. It is helpful to recognize both what you have successfully cultivated and what must now be relinquished to prepare for the months ahead. Our elders believed that there is profound wisdom in acknowledging the cycle of harvest: each achievement is paired with an opportunity to release excess and reclaim balance.

On the other hand, academically and experientially, this is a juncture to pause to identify areas where your commitments are disproportionate…perhaps personal aspirations have been subordinated to obligations, or routine has eclipsed creativity. It could be helpful to allow the equinox to guide a recalibration, to restore equilibrium among efforts, relationships and personal growth, keeping in mind that intention and awareness are the instruments through which renewal manifests.

Let this Autumn Equinox be a deliberate threshold. As celestial forces equalize light and darkness, align your actions with inner harmony. Harvest what is beneficial, release what no longer serves and step consciously into the emerging season with measured resolve. In this balance lies both clarity and the quiet power to advance meaningfully, honoring the cycles of nature as well as the cycles of your own life.

"And all at once, summer collapsed into autumn." (Oscar Wilde)

 “Autumn Song” – Tchaikovsky (video clip)  

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“Şi totuşi, vine toamna…” (video clip)

Pe 22 septembrie are loc echinocțiul de toamnă; este fenomenul care marchează prima zi din noul anotimp în emisfera nordică și mai este cunoscut sub denumirea de toamna astronomică. După echinocțiul de toamnă 2025, nopțile devin treptat mai lungi decât zilele în emisfera nordică. Soarele răsare din ce în ce mai târziu și apune mai devreme, aducând cu el temperaturi mai scăzute și pregătirea naturii pentru sezonul rece. Acest fenomen este asociat și cu schimbări în ritmul biologic al oamenilor: mai multă nevoie de odihnă, o adaptare la lumină redusă și o predispoziție către introspecție și echilibru interior. În agricultură, echinocțiul de toamnă a fost dintotdeauna un reper important, marcând sfârșitul sezonului de recoltă și începutul pregătirilor pentru iarnă.                    Vă doresc o toamnă minunată!        

● Short scientific briefing on AUTUMNAL EQUINOX:

The Autumnal Equinox is an astronomical event, nearly noticed by everyone, marking the arrival of fall in Northern Hemisphere. During the equinox, the night & day have almost the same length (12 hours) throughout the world. The word "equinox" derives from Latin, meaning “equal night". The equinox happens when the equator passes the centre of the sun. This is when the North & South Poles of the Earth are not tilted towards or away from the sun, as at other times, but are aligned so as to give, theoretically, the same amount of daylight in both of the Earth's hemispheres.

● My previous greetings on the same theme: AUTUMNAL EQUINOX – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018

September 21, 2025: INTERNATIONAL PEACE Day

Today (September 21, 2025) on International Peace Day 2025, we are reminded that peace is not merely the absence of conflict but the deliberate cultivation of understanding, empathy and justice in our shared human endeavor. The theme for this year is “Act Now for a Peaceful World”, emphasizing the fact that everyone in society has a role to play. This day is devoted to building upon the principles of peace, both inside and worldwide. True peace begins within each of us, in the quiet moments of reflection, in the courage to listen to those whom we may not yet understand, and in the commitment to act with compassion even when such action demands resilience. Let us recognize that our global challenges (such as social inequality, environmental stress and cultural divisions) cannot be solved through force or indifference, but only through cooperation guided by mutual respect and dignity. In scholarship as in society, knowledge flourishes most in the light of open dialogue and communities thrive most when differences are met with patience rather than hostility.

Today, let us reaffirm our duty not only to envision a peaceful world, but to enact it through our daily choices: in our conversations, our decisions and our shared pursuits. Every deliberate act of fairness, every acknowledgment of another’s humanity and every effort to bridge misunderstanding lights the path toward the collective harmony that this day calls upon us to honor. May this day strengthen our desire to embody peace, turning its abstract ideal into lived reality, and may we move forward with unwavering commitment to a world where justice, freedom and human dignity coexist with serenity!

"An eye for an eye will leave the entire world blind." (Mahatma Gandhi)  

● Historical background info:

“The International Day of Peace, also officially known as World Peace Day, is a United Nations-sanctioned holiday observed annually on 21 September.
It is dedicated to world peace, and specifically the absence of war and violence, such as might be occasioned by a temporary ceasefire in a combat zone for humanitarian aid access. The day was first celebrated in 1981 and is kept by many nations, political groups, military groups and people.” (Source: Encyclopedia)

● My previous acknowledgements on the same theme: PEACE Day – 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021

Alice’s Book Club – SUMMER session of 2025

~ featuring the famous Romanian poet, Mihai Eminescu, during "Eminescu year of 2025" ~

As the summer season gradually concludes, on Friday (September 19, 2025) I held the third edition of our book club at our Circle, this time focusing on the poetry of Mihai Eminescu, the renowned Romanian poet. Also, I would like to mention that following the recommendation of the Romanian Academy, year 2025 has been officially designated as the “Year of Mihai Eminescu” in order to commemorate the 175^th anniversary of the birth of Romania's national poet. 
This initiative seeks to emphasize Eminescu's life and contributions through a variety of cultural activities, fresh literary releases, academic studies and potentially new stamp collections, all working together to pay tribute to the genius who established the roots of Romanian national culture.

In light of the year 2025 being a particularly significant one from this perspective, I organized at my Circle 3 events (#1 – January 2025, #2 – June 15, 2025) and this one is the 3^rd – all of them meant to honor our esteemed poet. As you all know, our group has a yearly practice of honoring our national poet on his birthday (which falls in January) and we have never failed to do this over the last 7 (seven) years since our Circle came into existence. 

Once again, my most sincere appreciation to those friends who honored my invitation...your support is truly appreciated! Until we meet again, my best regards to all!

Alice

The most beautiful tribute we can pay to Mihai Eminescu is to read his work.

To further honor our national poet, here are some of my thoughts, written directly in Romanian language

To translate this into English or into any other language, please use the automated translator installed at the bottom of the page. Thank you!

Anul Mihai Eminescu – 2025: o reverberație a geniului românesc

Anul 2025 marchează o aniversare semnificativă: este oficial declarat Anul Mihai Eminescu, un omagiu adus poetului național, ale cărui versuri și gândire filosofică continuă să modeleze identitatea culturală a României. Acum, mai mult ca niciodată, trebuie să recitim, să reinterpretăm și să revalorificăm opera sa.

Eminescu nu este doar un simbol romantic al trecutului, ci o voce puternică și relevantă în prezent. Poezia sa oglindește esența umană, frământările intelectuale și căutarea unui ideal într-o lume aflată în continuă schimbare. Într-un secol al vitezei și al tehnologiei, Eminescu ne amintește de profunzimea gândului, de frumusețea limbajului și de necesitatea reflecției.

În Anul Eminescu, să ne propunem să citim și să discutăm despre creația sa cu un ochi nou, fără clișee, fără limite impuse de timp. Fie că este ”Luceafărul”, ”Scrisorile” sau meditațiile sale asupra destinului național, fiecare vers ascunde adevăruri universale.

Sărbătorim, dar și reflectăm: Ce mai înseamnă Eminescu pentru noi, astăzi? Cum putem păstra vie moștenirea sa, dincolo de simple festivități? 

Într-o lume dominată de zgomot și superficialitate, lectura lui Eminescu rămâne un act de rezistență intelectuală și emoțională.

Tu ce poezie eminesciană recitești anul acesta?

“Ce te legeni codrule” (poem de Mihai Eminescu – format audio)

”Luceafărul” (poemul integral al lui Mihai Eminescu; recită actorul Gheorghe Cozorici – format audio)

”Sara pe deal” (poem de Mihai Eminescu; interpretează corul Madrigal – format audio)
”Dintre sute de catarge” (poem de Mihai Eminescu; interpretează grupul Pro Musica – format audio)

”Și dacă…”  (poem de Mihai Eminescu; recită actorul George Vraca – format audio)