I pay attention to the signals of the seasons. I use when the leaves fall off the trees to nourish the ground as a marker for the Vata season. After a magnificent celebration of color, leaves die to detach and drift to the earth. I have lived in New England all my life, and this ritual of the trees is part of our culture. I grew up picking then waxing maple leaves and saving them, holding onto the beautiful colors
Markers help me stay attuned with the flow of the seasons, and the change of the leaves from green to yellow, scarlet, and vermilion is one I hold dear. The shift of color is in your face and is an undeniable change. They tell me to get ready for the dry coolness of the Vata season. The way the leaves transition is a beautiful expression of the force of dissolution in nature.
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Scientific Reasons Leaves Fall
Practically leaves are grown by deciduous trees to make fuel for the tree using photosynthesis. Chlorophyll, the chemical engine of photosynthesis, is energy-intensive to produce. It gives leaves a fantastic green color. When the days shorten, there is not enough energy to justify making chlorophyll. This drop of chlorophyll concentration allows the other phytochemicals in the leaves to create new hues in gold and red.
A second reason the leaves fall is that they are spent and would not last for another year. All spring and summer leaves are a food source for insects, fungus, and raw material for the forest population. They are subject to wear and tear from the weather as well. If you collect leaves as I used to, you see many damaged specimens for each perfect one.
Finally, Broad flat leaves can’t take the cold. Most deciduous leaves are thin and have a big surface area relative to their thickness. When the water in the leaves freezes, the ice crystals break the structure and kill the leaves. The tree has the sense to let go of what it cannot keep.
The Role Leaves Have For The Tree
All the reasons above make sense, but I was at a lecture with my husband when we heard a different reason. In the Gaia model, the tree chooses to grow the leaves to celebrate life. They then donate the leaves to nourish the earth each year. The colors are a revel before the donation.
The tree does a selfless service for the whole by taking water and light and creating humus. Trees also get root protection and deep nutrition from the compost. Trees perform selfless service (Seva) and self-care in each yearly cycle as part of the Vata season.
The Vata time of year may not be your time for selfless service; for some, it is a vital time to slow down and indulge in self-care. But give it some thought this fall, is can you give in a way that helps you and the whole?
Ayurselfcare’s purpose is to educate on the benefits of Ayurveda. This article is not a substitute for professional medical care, treatment, or advice. All the material here is for learning purposes only. Always share strategy and work with your health care team.
