s the seasons turn, we begin in August to reap what we have figuratively sown earlier during the agricultural cycle of planting, growth, fruition, and decline. Now is a good time to reflect upon the last eight months of this year's calendar, and to observe your life's efforts. Ask yourself what projects have you nurtured into being? What goals have you met? What unexpected challenges were you able to surmount? Take the time now to contemplate the fruit of all your labors. As a symbol of your allegiance to the cycles of nature, eat a piece of ripe fruit or a fresh vegetable today, and be conscious of living in the moment and savoring every bite. When you are finished, take the seeds, pit, stem, or core, and return all of these to the earth. Consider starting a compost pile to symbolize your connection to the cycles of life, death, and rebirth. Embrace life's inevitable decline by returning the energies of today's food to the earth. This is at the core of this season's lessons: Nothing is wasted in nature.