Back To School

Have you noticed the yellow buses, quieter neighborhoods, and bustling athletic fields? It’s that time of year. Kids are back to school.

Growing up, the first day of school was always the Wednesday after Labor Day. Of course, that holiday weekend signified the end of summer. While somewhat sad, I couldn’t wait to wear my “new school clothes” and see friends every day instead of at the pool or during arranged play dates. As much as I loved summer vacation, I also felt comfort in the routine school provided.

When I total my years as a student, add the time I taught at the elementary level, then factor in the period our kids attended Montessori/school/college, there have been forty-nine “back to school” seasons in my life. While no one in the Davis family begins school this year, I can’t shake this ingrained feeling. My brain believes summer is over and it’s time to get to work.

Of course, I know fall doesn’t officially begin until September 21^st. But I can’t deny the mental shift that automatically arrives when kids start showing up at bus stops. Just as I was once programmed to shop for backpacks and school supplies each August, I still have an urge for structure and productivity as Labor Day Weekend nears. It appears in my body … I crave routine, thirst for efficiency, and feel determined to get my life in order. It's as though an internal alarm goes off, signaling it’s time to organize, schedule, plan.

Interestingly, Virgo season coincides with “back to school.” Just as kids leave summer camps and long days at community pools, we, too, say goodbye to the four weeks in Leo, a period of shining radiantly, moving with confidence, and exploring our creativity. New energies have arrived! Virgo helps us refine habits, focus on health, and accomplish what we’ve ignored all summer. The academic calendar syncs beautifully with this astrological shift. Coincidence? I think not. There’s wisdom in the sky. And as the weather cools, leaves turn, and days shorten, we have less time to play outdoors. Nature nudges us to acknowledge the months ahead and what must be done.

These cyclical, repeating patterns lie beneath our experiences. Yes, each year gives us different challenges and blessings, but behind it all is a similar scenic backdrop to our individual “plays.” I believe this allows us an ounce of certainty in a very uncertain world, providing support, inspiration, and guidance to help us move forward, accomplish our goals, and realize our dreams. Just as Leo season encouraged us to shine our light, our weeks in Virgo remind us to buckle down and tend to what needs our attention.

And so, I’ll do my best to adapt to a busier schedule, remember to complete “my homework,” exercise, and cook nutritious meals. I’ll tackle those projects I’ve put in the bottom drawer, clean out my closets, and delve into boring, yet necessary tasks no one wants to do. Most importantly, I’ll trust the Virgo season is perfectly timed for me to listen to my soul, attuning to any whispers suggesting where my focus needs to be.

From what I’m hearing, I’m meant to return to the manuscript I began this spring. After completing a very rough first draft in early August, I put it down. After all, my older son was getting married. I had better things to do! And we were in Leo season. But now that it’s both “back to school” and Virgo holds the reins, it’s time to get to work on this book. I feel ready.

Trust the magic. Ground in the earth’s season for structure and look to the sky for inspiration. Both will lead you forward.