In autumn, the world changes before our eyes. The background blur of green is magically interrupted by hues of sunset and ocher. We can no longer walk through the sameness of our days without the reminder of the transient nature of the things we love. The earth demands our full attention, asking us to find the parts of us aching to be alive - and the parts of us that are ready to be turned over to the pyre.
Anytime we want to remember the truth, all we need is to look around. Turn our gaze to the ruthless eloquence of the natural world, and witness how everything in existence both lives and lets go in the same motion of welcoming. In autumn, the earth shows us just how soul-shakingly precious the act of letting go can be. As the sun lowers in the sky, the life force of the green coloring our landscape buries itself in roots. Fruits burst open to feed the earth. Seeds are carried away on the rapture of wind. Each leaf, having lived its life in reverence to the light, becomes ablaze and in a singular burst of ecstasy, falls in grace. Autumn holds the paradox of a hidden wholeness. A time when opposites co-create in mysterious unity at the heart of reality. We are given permission to simultaneously love every part of a well-seasoned soul, and to let go of everything that is ready to decompose - making space inside ourselves for newness to be born. In autumn we prepare for a deep reunion of the soul accompanying the stillness of the soft banks of winter to come. Allow in this sweet, beautiful melancholy. Let every day end like a cello on its last note. And relish this season of wisdom and release. Because, when we can let go, we can rest and embrace the unbelievable joy of what comes next.
The Transition to Autumn
Autumn is a time of transition. In the movement from the great abundance of summer to the place where the leaves begin to fall and seeds ripen, we find ourselves in a sort of rare preciousness of simplicity. We find access to what is underneath. In Chinese Medicine, Autumn resonates with the energy of Metal. We find our own selves stripped down from the incredible abundance and juiciness and richness of Earth, into what becomes the clarity of Metal.
Metal is the place where we find our values, the things that are most important to us to preserve from the vitality of summer. What are the things we've learned? What has become apparent to us that we want to take deeper into the colder months ahead? This Metal energy empowers us to make clear decisions. The wisdom of the season teaches us to prepare carefully and to reconnect with the intuitive, receptive, and yielding aspects of ourselves to balance out the more vigorous and vibrant energy that permeates the summer season. Follow the guidance of the season by seizing the moment to reap your harvest. Take only the best of what your garden has to offer. Rekindle your daily practice. Separate wheat from chaff. With its enchanted leaves and crisp winds, Autumn invites us to shift our attention inward and restore balance within ourselves. Join us as we prepare for the rooting, resting, and quietude that the world of winter brings.
How to prepare...
The season of autumn harbors a certain emptiness that can leave us feeling exposed and a little raw, but it is also filled with possibility—a time when we, too, can strip down to a quiet essence of being and savor the simplicity. Here are a few simple ways to prepare yourself for the transition.
Slow Down
As the days darken, we are naturally inclined to crave more time for rest to give us the strength we need to navigate the colder, deeper months of the year. Now is a time to begin slowing down and bringing your awareness to hearth and home. Incorporating a sense of warmth, grounding, stability, and focus into your movement practice will have a profoundly calming effect and can work wonders this time of year. Breath practices should be deep and fluid to support the season.
Build Strong Roots
Your roots are your routine. And now more than ever your routine will help keep you grounded. The human system depends on a consistent rhythm to stay balanced. Sticking to regular bedtimes, waking times, exercise and meal times does wonders for health on a regular basis, especially during autumn.
Care + Nourish
Abhyanga is a self-massage you can do at home, preferably using a thicker oil like sesame, in the autumn. Calm your nervous system, awaken your tissues, and ground your energy by massaging your skin with warm, organic oil followed with a warm, relaxing shower. Self massage is warm, loving, and nourishing, inside and out, and vital for all seasons of the year.
