SACRED SEASONS: Living in Alignment with Autumn
Living seasonally brings more harmony.
When we consider the season we’re in and intentionally align with the current season, then we are able to fully reap the benefits of that time and better prepare ourselves for the season ahead.
Contrary to popular opinion… November is not Christmastime yet. Sorry my Christmas lovers! I’m with you. And while you may want to put up your Christmas decorations the minute Halloween is over, let me encourage you to continue living in alignment with Autumn as you deck the halls.
We are still in the midst of autumn here in the northern hemisphere. The season won’t shift into Winter until the 21st of December. I invite you to join me in savoring this sacred season.
Autumn is a time of drying up and dying off. It is a time to release. Nature reminds us of this. Autumn is a time to harvest, to share, and to feast in community. This harvesting and sharing and feasting, refers not only to food, but also to energy, abundance, and love. Autumn is a time to be grateful for our bounties and to make good use of all we’ve been given. It is not a time to waste, but to utilize, preserve and prepare. Autumn is a time to make space and clean and clear out our physical spaces. This is the time to prepare for the winter ahead, and begin to turn inward and tend to your needs and the needs of your close circle.
Associations of Autumn in TCM
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, there are associations with each season. These associations point to ways we can support ourselves and embrace the season we’re in. Through seasonal alignment, we invite more harmony into our lives.
Organs. The Yin meridian of autumn is the lungs. The yang meridian of autumn is the large intestine. The skin is also associated with autumn, as is the nose. These are all organs of elimination… organs that assist us in letting go and releasing the things we don’t need. After the release, there is space for what we do need and what will benefit our system. After the exhale, comes the inhale.
The element of Autumn is metal. Metal is precious. It’s a vital resource and it’s often of high worth. Worthiness is a theme of this season. We must get to know our inner worth and live in ways that show we understand our worth. True self love is not about ego or conceit, it’s about healthy self respect. May we behave in ways that demonstrate the respect we have for ourselves. And if we don’t have it, may we intentionally begin to develop it. Metal also brings up the idea of alchemy. This autumn season supports us in alchemizing our pain into bliss. When we face what is and we take personal responsibility for our lives, we can alchemize anything.
The emotion of autumn is grief. Healthy grief requires letting go. It requires cleansing and release. We need to find healthy ways to channel and release grief, because pent up unexpressed grief is one of the most corrosive things to our joy. Grief and joy are two sides of one coin. In order to deeply feel joy we need to be able to hold, express, and transmute deep grief. Don’t avoid your grief this autumn. Go into it head on. Confront it, feel it, find new ways to release it, and watch its hold on your heart begin to weaken.
The color of autumn is white. This comes as no surprise since in many Asian cultures, white is the color associated with death.
The foods recommended for autumn are pungent and warming foods like ginger, garlic, onion, chiles, cardamom, etc. Focus on seasonal foods according to where you are, likely apples and pears, squash, cabbage, mushrooms, and more.
Seasonal Tools for Autumn
This season, consider supporting your body, mind and spirit with some simple yet profound practices.
Meditation. Silent or guided. In the quiet, we hear answers. When we feel inner peace, we spread peace.
Breath practices of your choice. I won’t go too specific here, but will share another post on various breath practices. Since autumn is associated with the lungs, breathwork is a beautiful way to support your respiratory system, not to mention your entire mood! Breath is powerful. Conscious breath brings us to the present moment. Take a deep breath with me now… In through the nose (if you’re able) aaaand out through the nose. Long and slow. And another. Biiiig inhale… and biiiig exhale… letting go. Taking just a few minutes per day to focus on your breath does wonders for your mental and emotional state. Try it!
Nature walks. And by “nature” I mean walk outside. It doesn’t matter if it’s in a forest or in your neighborhood, or around the block on your work break. Just walk outside, look at your surroundings and notice your steps and your breaths. Our system needs movement. We do a lot of sitting (while working, driving, eating etc.) and our lymph system needs us to move in order for the fluids to flow. Give yourself the gentle gift of walking, and notice how a simple walk (10-30+) minutes can shift your whole day.
Neti pot. Neti pot is one of the yogic cleansing practices (the kriyas) and it’s the process of flushing your nasal passages with warm salt water using a neti pot. If you’re unfamiliar with the practice I recommend you do your research and work with a practitioner before trying this method. (Reach out to me if you’d like.) If you’re familiar with jala neti (using water to cleanse the nasal passage), then autumn is a great time to support your respiratory system using this technique.
Cleanse your space! Since autumn is a time of clearing and releasing, let’s also do the same in our home and our vehicle. Make space and clear out stagnation. Give away items that aren’t being used.
Reflections for Autumn
Whether you write responses in a journal, or simply consider these ideas, spend some time in reflection this season. Ask yourself some or all of these questions…
What am I grieving? And how can i support myself through grief instead of avoiding the emotion?
What is rotten and dying within me? Am I ready to release these things/situations? If I’m not ready now, how can I take steps in that direction?
In autumn we reap what we have sown. What are you reaping now and what actions and behaviors do your current harvest point to? Where have you grown and where would you like to make adjustments going forward?
What gifts within myself are being left unharvested? What potential am I letting wither on the vine? How can I begin to better utilize my gifts?
What beautiful bounties of the previous summer season am I most grateful for? Hold on to that gratitude for this season and the season ahead.
What am I preparing for in the coming season and how can I support myself this Autumn? (Maybe with some of the tools suggested above.)
Thanks for reading about living in alignment with autumn! Reach out to me with questions or to chat more about these topics! Happy autumn!