annitempora

ANNI TEMPORA

PRIMAVERA

Early spring has a delicate scent – of cherry blossom, primrose, daffodils and crocus – an olfactory promise of what is soon to come. To see the early spring flowers gradually appear in the ground, after months of darkness and cold is to be reminded of the metamorphosis that defines nature’s very being, and of how the changing of seasons is an endless cycle. At times, we become frustrated and attempt to rush things, but in vain, as things have a tendency to happen when and where they are supposed to, neither sooner nor later. As Ecclesiastes 3:1–8, says,

“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build.”

In this biblical perspective of the cycle of life, describing the universal plan for when and how things are interconnected, spring is the time to plant and to build. This is when we sow what we later will harvest. To respect the seasons and not rush things is to remain grounded in the flow of life. Not everything needs to happens at once, nor should it.

¨There is a youthfulness associated with spring that is not present in any other season of the year. The air is fresher and the light has a peculiar sense of brightness.’

The lightness of spring is impossible to ignore. Even in the midst of winter, the sky will start to appear slightly brighter, and the sun will remain up for just a few moments longer than the day before. Several times, spring will appear to have come, only to be washed away by yet another snow storm. But one day, the flowers will not disappear in snow but instead grow stronger, stretching their bodies up towards the sky. The black-and-white mise en scène will be replaced by technicolour. But spring is not yet summer. There is a youthfulness associated with spring that is not present in any other season of the year. The air is fresher and the light has a peculiar sense of brightness. All colours are subtler and there is a curiosity and sense of novelty in the transient atmosphere – lasting only a few, precious months in-between winter and summer. For many, spring is a time for impatience, longing for lazy summer days to finally arrive, but for others, spring holds its own unique qualities. As stoic philosopher Seneca has reminded us, that to fear the approaching darkness of the night is to lose sight of the qualities of the day, and to fear the coming dawn is to not enjoy the night. All times and all places have their own value, evident for those who make an effort to be present, but if we constantly think of the next step, we lose sight of where we already are in the moment.

¨Spring is when life returns, awakening that which seemed dead and breathing new energy into the world.¨

To experience spring is to feel the body being rejuvenated, tightening the bow before shooting the arrow of summer. Edna St Vincent Millay once noted, in one of her most famous poems that the coming of spring makes it, “apparent that there is no death”. What she meant was that with the return of life after the death of winter, the cycle of life becomes visible. Another way to think of it is to imagine a deep, green forest, untouched by human hand for centuries. Among the vibrant, green trees, there are dead ones, uprooted by strong winds or sudden tempests they have fallen to the ground. They appear dead, but upon closer inspection, they are in fact full of life, giving nourishment to microorganisms and insects as they in this way become part of the next cycle in an ever-continuing flow. Spring is when life returns, awakening that which seemed dead and breathing new energy into the world. Even in the darkness of winter, there is a hidden seed, that one day will drive the force of spring into bloom. We need to accept the impermanence of nature in all forms, including our own, and to not fear but to cherish this change, as it is the very foundation for our very existence. The opposite of death is not life, but birth and therefore, spring is the mirror reflection of fall.

In regards to fashion, winter wool will be replaced with cotton and dark colours with pastels. Skirts become shorter and sensible shoes are put away, usually in favour of sandals. Cities open up once again after months of quiet and rest, restaurants place their tables and chairs on the sidewalks, while florists offer large bouquets of yellow mimosa, only fully alive for a day or two before withering away, in themselves a symbol of spring’s ephemeral qualities. It is a time of expectations, hopes and dreams. For many, it also marks a symbolic threshold in life, as spring is usually the last semester of school or university before graduation, and thus the last season of youth before entering adulthood. This is also what makes spring so bittersweet, soon replaced with the intense summer sun.

'¨As March turns into April, in anticipation of May, the colours gradually grow in intensity, like a symphony where more and more instruments will start joining in.¨

There is not just one singular spring but several. The early spring is so subtle that not everyone even notices its arrival. During those first few weeks, the nights turn to a light pink and the trees carry an almost transparent shade of green in their leaves. As March turns into April, in anticipation of May, the colours gradually grow in intensity, like a symphony where more and more instruments will start joining in. Towards the end of the concert, when May is about to become June, spring is in its most powerful state, its warm winds opening windows and doors, making people leave their jackets and coats at home as they spend more and more time outside. In just a few days, summer will make spring obsolete, but for now, the crescendo of the season is to not only be enjoyed but celebrated.

To listen to

Vivaldi – Spring

Donna Summer – Spring Affair

To read

Joan Didion – The Year of Magical Thinking

E. M. Forster – A Room with a View

To watch

Charles Walters: Easter Parade (1948)

Erich Rohmer: A Tale of Springtime (1990)

AUTUMNI

Nature’s first green is gold,

Her hardest hue to hold.

Her early leaf’s a flower;

But only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf.

So Eden sank to grief,

So dawn goes down to day.

Nothing gold can stay.

Robert Frost

According to ancient Chinese philosophy, the universe is based in continuous movement, driven by two primal and complementary forces, yin and yang. The first book that outlined the phenomenon was Book of Changes, written during the era of the Zhou Dynasty (1100–771 BC). In the classic symbol depicting yin and yang, called Taijitu, yin is represented by the colour black (while yang is white). While yang is associated with connotations of the positive, bright and masculine, yin is aligned with the negative, dark and feminine. Both forces need one another in order to exist, and are to be thought of as two aspects of the same phenomenon. In this way, yang is not to be considered as better or more desirable than yin, or vice versa, they are simply two sides of the same coin.

“Life can be considered a series of lessons, and with each lesson we master, we grow as individuals and become more nuanced and mature.”

Yin and yang are not only philosophical concepts but also tools possible to implement in one’s daily life, in order to achieve a more harmonious lifestyle. As it is important to have both in one’s life to achieve balance, one must be careful not to let one force dominate the other. If you have a surplus of yang, you must add yin to your life. For example, if you have had a period of extroverted behaviour and strong growth, it is important to leave room for introspection and reflection. This is in stark contrast to popular Western belief systems, where characteristics are seen as part of an “identity”, rather than viewing the concept of “identity” itself as an ever-shifting and irregular process. According to the philosophy of yin and yang, a strong emphasis on a particular pattern of behaviour should warrant the subsequent behaviour of the opposite. If one has acted in a dominant manner in the past, it is best to now learn how to be subservient. If before, one has placed too much emphasis on masculine traits, it is time to shift focus and allow for more feminine energy. If previous actions were primarily extroverted, now is the time for introversion. In this way, one’s sense of identity should not be stable but rather marked by a variety of shifting experiences, in order to help further growth. One is never complete as a person, but always evolving and changing into something new. Never simply being, but constantly evolving. In other words, life can be considered a series of lessons, and with each lesson we master, we grow as individuals and become more nuanced and mature.

“The shift from summer to the first days of autumn is so gradual that at first it is not even noticeable.”

Yang is what awakens the seeds in the spring, and what allows the flowers, bushes and trees to be their most vibrant in the summer months. The shift from summer to the first days of autumn is so gradual that at first it is not even noticeable. The air becomes slightly crisper and there might be a chilled streak early in the mornings, but in the evenings, the weather is still warm and the sky is bright. Gradually, the signs of summer are replaced by the glow of fall. The trees turn golden and the mark is covered by leaves in shades of red, orange and yellow. What once grew – driven by the energetic force of yang – must slowly return to a place of tranquillity and peace. Yang is the force that awakens the flowers and the seeds in the spring, and what allows them to be their most vibrant in the summer, but in the autumn, yin takes over and when winter arrives, yin will be in its most dominant position.

Yin and yang are both necessary components in a balanced existence. When people reach the autumn of their lives, it is not uncommon to experience melancholy or even a sense of loss, as now the youthfulness of the yang period is forever gone. But what this perspective neglects is the realization that is that we have instead been given another gift: the force of yin. The introspection and solitude that yin provides is a necessary context for the many experiences that yang brought. The trees are just as beautiful in October as they were in June, but it is a different kind of beauty and it takes the eye a while to grow accustomed to the changes.

“Autumn is the time of harvest.”

Autumn is also the time of harvest. All what one has sowed in the yang-inspired spring will, once yin arrived, be reaped. This is the time when all of one’s hard work is rewarded, and as such, it is marked with contentment and gratitude. For the farmer, this is a physical fact and way to understand the passing of the seasons, but it is also true in a metaphorical sense – what we spent the spring of our lives planting and giving nourishment to, we will be rewarded for in the autumn of our existence. This is why the American tradition of Thanksgiving takes place in autumn, once begun as a way to give thanks for the harvest. To take stock, and to say a prayer of grace and thankfulness, is a way to mark this particular time. Many rituals begin with giving thanks for what one has already received – not until one has acknowledged all the gifts already present in one’s life, can one ask for more. This links seasons with another while also highlighting that the to move forward in life one has to recognise and give thanks for what happened in the past.

When it comes to travel, other kinds of destinations are popular in autumn than during summer. Deep forests, quiet landscapes, small towns or cities rich with restaurants and museums are now preferred. The autumn rain enhances the melancholy and solitude of the moment, as does the early sunsets and late mornings. Beginning in early autumn, when everyone has returned from the summer holidays, offices are busy and days filled with what can appear as endless meetings. For this reason, it is important to remember to take a break, spend time on one’s own and reconnect with nature.

“Changing one’s style is not simply about aesthetics, but part of a ritual that marks the annual transition from one season to another.”

For many, autumn is also a welcome break from the many social events of the summer. Holidays, parties and late evenings are now replaced with a more peaceful way of living. This is also marked in the changes in fashion that occur at this time of the year. Summer dresses and sandals are stored away, and instead, cashmere jumpers, long coats and wool pants are placed at the front of the wardrobe. Changing style is not simply about aesthetics, but part of a ritual that marks the annual transition from one season to another. It is symbolic for entering a new time, with new kinds of prerequisites and moods. This is not only an external shift but also a mental and emotional, which explains why autumn for many people is the preferred season of year.

To listen to

Vivaldi – Autumn

Nat King Cole – Autumn Leaves

Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong – Autumn in New York

To read

Ali Smith – Autumn

To watch

Joan Chen – Autumn in New York

To drink

Domaine de Kervéugen

One of the most classic of the Brittany ciders. Their Prestige Carpe Diem has been served at Palais Elysée since 1997.

Cidre AOP Cornouaille

The most famous of the ciders from Brittany, made from apples harvested in the autumn.

Poiré Domfront

Pear cider from Normandy.The PDO Poiré Domfront is the smallest Protected Designation of Origin in France.

INVERNO

I leant upon a coppice gate
            When Frost was spectre-gray,
And Winter’s dregs made desolate
             The weakening eye of day.
The tangled bine-stems scored the sky
             Like strings of broken lyres,
And all mankind that haunted nigh
             Had sought their household fires.

Thomas Hardy, “The Darkling Thrush”

Few look forward to the arrival of winter. Its long and dark nights, cold weather and seemingly lacklustre atmosphere stand in stark contrast to the dynamic and vibrant energy of summer. To many, winter represents a slightly underwhelming time of the year, a period to simply get through while awaiting the return of spring. This line of thinking is however a mistake: In nature, four seasons come and go, all with their own particular reason and purpose. Winter is a time for patience, tranquillity and rest. During winter, many animals and plants are dormant, and we should take a cue from them and slow down, look inwards and take stock of our lives.

¨Use this time to not only conserve but for recharging your strength, needed for the rebirth that is to follow.¨

Bright autumn skies turn into the solemn darkness of winter evenings, while the warm October breeze is replaced with the chills of the northern winds. The fur coats of animals change colours and become softer and more subdued, adjusting to the changing colours of the landscape around us. Use this time to not only conserve but for recharging your strength, needed for the rebirth that is to follow.

Through the garments we wear, winter can hold an almost literal sense of softness. The winter wardrobe is often defined by down jackets, wool pants and cashmere sweaters and scarves. Indoors, we use warm blankets and thick terry cotton robes. Winter is not so much about looking smart as it is about being comfortable and staying warm. Different kinds of tea, or even just a glass of heated tap water, creates a sense of warmth and heat stemming from within the body. Many prefer to stay at home during the winter months, resting in front of the fireplace, rather than socializing in busy restaurants and loud bars.

¨In all darkness there is a sliver of light. Also in the darkest winter months, there are celebrations and remembrance of the bright days that once were and that are soon to return.¨

In all darkness there is always sliver of light. Also in the darkest winter months, there are celebrations and remembrance of the bright days that once were and that are soon to return. At the winter solstice, the sun travels the shortest path through the sky. The day before is the shortest of the year, and the night is the longest. In other words, after winter solstice, the days will again become longer and the nights shorter, which signals that the seasons once more are beginning to change. For this reason, many celebrate winter solstice by spending it with family and friends, lighting bonfires and candles in the dark, as a symbol of the return of the light.

Aesthetically, there is something almost unreal to the poetic expression of winter. All sharp edges become covered in soft, white snow. Ice drops form around windows and roof beams. Light no longer only comes from the sun in the sky but is also reflected from the ground itself, as the bright snow shines in the dark. One can wake up in the morning and not recognize the landscape outside the window – the change from a melancholic autumn to a snow-covered, wonderous winter wonderland is as instant as it is dramatic. The fact that snow is water that has changed shape is strangely similar to how life goes through an almost endless series of transformations, while at the same time remaining the same. Snow can be still but also in motion; it is symbolic of purity and calm but also of coldness and the indifference of nature. It exists somewhere between water and ice, in this way demonstrating the versatility of water as one of the four elements. However, the gentleness inherent in snow can quickly turn into life-threatening blizzards, and the exquisite ice sculptures can become lethal projections as they fall to the ground. In a similar manner, the winter sea is so cold that it deadly to stay in it for too long, but many people still enjoy winter swimming; dipping briefly into the water before enjoying the life-giving warmth of the sauna.