Autumnal Change: A Season to Turn Within

As we move into autumn the air grows cooler, the leaves take on a golden light, and time seems to slow down.  But this season isn't just about the changes in nature, autumn is a time for our own personal shifts as well.  Just as the trees release their leaves, this is a time for us to let go, reflect and make space for a quieter time of growth and new beginnings.

The weather outside has a way of reflecting the emotional weather within us. The scent of the first crisp breeze can stir feelings of nostalgia, and even melancholy. Instead of resisting these moods, autumn invites us to notice them -to sit with them- in the same way we might sit and watch the clouds moving across the sky.  Just as the earth transitions gracefully from the brightness of summer to the stillness of winter, we too can move through our own cycles with gentleness and acceptance.

There’s wisdom in the natural way trees shed their leaves. They don’t cling to what was, nor rush towards what’s coming. They surrender - fully, unapologetically - trusting the process of renewal. What might it feel like to do the same in our own lives? To release habits, expectations, or worries that no longer serve us, and allow space for rest and regeneration?

Autumn is an ideal time to ground ourselves through mindfulness. Rather than rushing indoors at the first chill, we can step outside and be present with what this season has to offer. Nature provides a sensory feast - a reminder that we can find joy and peace in the simplest moments if we pay attention.

Next time you are out why not try slowing down and noticing:

• The crisp bite of the morning air as you breathe in

• The rustle and crunch of fallen leaves underfoot

• The scent of damp earth on the breeze

• The golden colours of the leaves shifting from green to amber and sienna

• The quiet stillness as the sun sets a bit earlier each day

  
  

These simple acts can reset our nervous system and give a sense of calm.  Each one can serve as a grounding anchor, an invitation to tap into the natural world using each of our senses. The more we tune into these subtleties, the more we remember that we too are part of nature’s cycles.  Autumn, with all its beauty and impermanence, reminds us to savour the present moment before it slips away.

So, as the days get shorter, let's make a point to find the time to get outside, even briefly, as it can be just the thing to open our senses and help us let go of the old in order to make room for the new.