Unexpected Gifts of Autumn
Although I was born in early Spring, the crispness and slower pace of Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere has always been my favourite time of year. I’m drawn to the beauty of summer shedding its glory to give way for cooler days, slightly longer cosy nights, and nature’s preparation for a deeper winter sleep.
I find Autumn to be such a cathartic time after the heightened energy and activity of summer that demands so much of our attention, driven by warm rays of sunshine and our desire to be outside engaging with nature.
Autumn is a time that reminds me to take an emotional inventory of my life, to note the wisdom of Mother Nature at this time of year to slow down and be more contemplative. And patient. Autumn also inspires me to make sound choices about my own self-care and rejuvenating therapies.
As e.e. cummings told us “nothing beautiful ever hurries”. And nature is certainly our greatest teacher about that lesson. Nature never hurries either, and yet every season unfolds beautifully and exactly as we expect it to. If only we were more trusting about ourselves as we journey through life.
Every season is its own teacher of the life enrichment principles I teach at Worthy and Brave™. Nature understands that it is ‘enough’ just as it is. A tree does not need to be taller, wider, or fuller than another tree to be considered beautiful. A rose doesn’t need to have more petals than a sunflower to be considered just as lovely as its sunny partner in nature. A birch tree doesn’t shrink in disappointment because its trunk isn’t as wide or tall as an oak tree.
Nature understands that every creation is perfect, enough, worthy and beautiful however it grows and serves the earth. And that’s why nature is the ideal teacher for humans in proving that every one of us is here for a unique purpose, an important reason, an act of service.
The quieter pace of Autumn also comes with a sense of Divine timing for me. Every year as summer shows her signs of having completed a job well done, I feel an invitation to start slowing down, becoming more introspective, and listening more deeply to the wisdom that can be found in less eagerness to overfill our days.
Each of earth’s seasons represent a different energy and a different set of lessons for me.
AUTUMN represents a time when we can reflect on the process of reinventing who we are, growing closer and closer to our innate truth.
WINTER is a time that might feel like we are in the doldrums, especially in the Northern Hemisphere’s cold and dark months, but in fact we are going inward to become revitalised for the next cycle year of life.
In SPRING, we emerge from a cocoon, where we were nourished and become eager for new and fertile life.
And SUMMER is our season of vitality, a time when we launch our dreams and want to make the most of the inviting, longer days.
Right now, Autumn brings a worthwhile message for all of us … be patient, trust the process, listen to your intuition and accept your inner wisdom to always know how to ‘renew yourself and begin again’.
I want to encourage you to relish and embrace every season for the unique gifts it offers. As Autumn draws near, consider creating rituals that you enjoy:
1. Begin your day with grounding activities such as a few simple but powerful yoga stretches. Gentle movement is the best way to get energy flowing through your body. You can add a brief meditation to calmly welcome in the wisdom and perspectives needed to guide you through the day. Whether it’s a mindful meditation, a guided meditation or a walk-in-nature meditation, you can create a sanctuary of peace and bliss to take you above the noise in life.
2. Add some breathwork that heals your energy, especially long deep breaths of light into the belly and slow exhales up through your heart, your brain and out the crown of your head (add gold, blue, white or violet iridescent light to your breaths in and out) and repeat this several times for the amazing results of building circuitry. This is an excellent routine to complete before bedtime as well. If you love to journal, use a few minutes every morning and/or evening to acknowledge the blessings and gratitude in your life.
3. Walk through Nature. The inherent wisdom and beauty of nature is always all around us. Even if you live in a city, there will be a park, a stretch of trees, a row of flowers somewhere nearby. Just being in the presence of nature helps us to become unattached from our dramas and more fully present about what is important in life. In Autumn, the air is so crisp and cool, and it has such a freshness that is invigorating. Physical activity is a powerful tool for navigating stress and grounding yourself. You can engage in more aerobic exercise if you wish, but even a leisurely walk in nature will clear your mind and boost your mood.
4. Cultivate your sense of gratitude. Being thankful for what you ‘have’ as opposed to what you ‘lack’ – this keeps your focus on what is right in your life. I don’t journal every day, but I do keep a gratitude journal by my bedside and when I’m inspired, I write down things I’m thankful that the day brought me. This is a practice that will help you find peace amid the chaos, and it’s a method for finetuning those times when you feel powerless or hopeless about life.
5. Reach out and seek support, even if it’s just a chat or a quick catch up at a café. Though Autumn is a time of year when we begin to go more inward, it can be so therapeutic to share ideas, possibilities, disappointments, and joys with someone you trust. In doing so, you may well be giving them an emotional boost as well.
Committing to consistent, or even periodic rituals and practices, will serve as anchors in your body, helping you to stand strong and resilient like the mighty tree when circumstances around you might be turbulent or chaotic.
And remember, this is all an essential part of your journey in life. Every season comes around faithfully year after year. Just as nature requires ongoing effort to grow, nourish itself, and weather the storms, your healthy and healing routines will inspire you to become more consistently aware of the beauty and opportunity within you, and around you. And this means you will always be able to cultivate a sense of peace and resilience in the face of chaos while life prepares for the changes that each season brings.
This Autumn may your Soul’s light glow warmly within you, bright and beautiful, worthy and brave, restoring its vibrance while navigating every circumstance you might discover along the way.
With gratitude and grace,
