I learned something new: I did not know what Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur signified until this past week. I read that they are connected by “Ten Days of Awe” filled with intense self-examination, repentance, and prayer; in this context, “awe” traditionally meant “fear.” I understood “awe” with a different emphasis – awe is to be struck, shaken by some sight, event, action that captivates us…stops us. As Jeff says, awe is that pure awareness that is out of time, fully capturing our attention where there’s only attention without separation from that which captures us.
We are altered and I wondered, can we find less dramatic but still inspiring moments in each day?
And then that evening, I saw the Harvest Moon rise – a supermoon. Here, rising over the mountains behind the Inn, the moon inspired awe. We are about to be treated to a series of ‘Super Moons’ continuing into the New year. They appear huge, rising behind the forested mountain, each mega-moon a trigger for awe.
And, personally, I experienced awe when invited to be a featured poet at the Mendocino Art Center this October 25th. One of the poems I will read – “Moon Musing” – was written in response to my fascination with the moon.
Moon Musing
You asked what the moon is to me
I said fullness, completion.
Did not mention light in the darkness
Which it is, of course.
Or muse for sonatas, poems, nursery rhymes
(Lovers gazing at, cows jumping over)
Or puller of tides, disturber of equilibriums,
Cause for howling.
Did not mention that it teaches of cycles
Of faith, of return
Inspires dreams, explorations
That the moon pulls us to look up, beyond
To gaze into the wonder of it all
The vastness of it all.
No matter where we stand our eyes see that same moon
No matter what we are going through
What heaviness our hearts carry
That milky, round eye
Witnesses with compassion.
Guests tell us that they are struck, captivated by this Corner of Mendocino. We know what they mean – we, too, find ourselves in awe in a forest at the edge of the Pacific.
Coming up later in October is the “Harvest Festival” – what we call the Mushroom Celebration. And we have seen chanterelles even on the bank above our parking lot. The mushroom season is earlier than it has been in recent years. And we begin celebrating at the Ravens on October 24th, 2025 with special Medicinal Mushroom Breakfasts, special dinner entrees, and our award winning mushroom bisque.
And our Sea Palm Strudel is back….as an appetizer, making it more accessible still served with our Ume Plum -Raspberry and Wasabi Sauces.
Wishing you awe-inspiring moments,
~ Joan and Jeff Stanford