Fall Festival of Courage
As we transition from the warmth of summer to the crisp days of autumn, we are invited to pause and reflect on the changes around us and within us. This season brings misty mornings, vibrant leaves, and a sense of preparation as we move toward the quieter, colder months of winter. In the Waldorf tradition, autumn marks the time of Michaelmas, a festival of courage and inner strength.
Michaelmas is celebrated in many Waldorf schools around the world as a Fall Festival of Courage. Named after the archangel Michael, a figure in many spiritual traditions, this festival embodies the qualities of strength, courage, and the will to do good deeds. Michaelmas encourages us to face our inner dragons—fear, doubt, and apathy—with the gifts of courage, strength, and love. It is a time to rekindle our inner light and prepare ourselves for the challenges ahead.
This year, at Seattle Waldorf School, our Michaelmas celebration will be enriched by our connection to place and the natural world around us. We draw inspiration from the cycle of the salmon, a powerful symbol of courage, perseverance, and renewal in our local ecosystem. Just as the salmon bravely navigate the waters to return home, we too are called to find our way back to our true selves, our community, and our spiritual roots.
Honoring the Cycle of the Salmon: A Place-Based Connection
In honoring the cycle of the salmon during our Michaelmas festival, we acknowledge the deep relationship between the natural world and our human journey. The salmon’s life cycle—from its journey downstream to the ocean and back upstream to its birthplace—mirrors our own cycles of growth, challenge, and renewal. This journey requires courage, strength, and a deep connection to one’s origins and community.
By celebrating Michaelmas with this focus, we align ourselves with the rhythm of nature and recognize the spiritual wisdom embedded in our local environment. We are reminded that courage is not a single act but a continuous cycle of facing our fears, learning from our challenges, and returning to our community with renewed strength and purpose.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, in her beautiful work Braiding Sweetgrass, reminds us:
“Ceremony focuses attention so that attention becomes intention. If you stand together and profess a thing before your community, it holds you accountable. Ceremonies transcend the boundaries of the individual and resonate beyond the human realm. These acts of reverence are powerfully pragmatic. They are ceremonies that magnify life.”
With this in mind, our Michaelmas festival will not only honor the courage to face our personal and communal challenges but also deepen our connection to the natural world and each other.
–Dru Smith-Crain, Grade School Director
