autumn equinox: a reflective pause
This year September 22nd marks the Equinox and the first day of Autumn, a turning point where day and night are nearly equal in length. Here in the Northern Hemisphere, we begin our movement into a new season and the darker half of the year.
As the hours of sunlight dwindle, autumn invites us to begin planning for more stillness and a slower pace. We see plants begin to shift from using their energy to bloom and create seeds, to drawing their energy inward and down into their root systems. We witness the last beautiful display of colors as deciduous trees let go of what they’ve been holding onto. Part of Autumn is honoring what’s come to life, softening into release, and preparing for the changing elements.
You often hear me writing and speaking about the earth and its cycles in symbolic ways. It’s always felt powerful for me to observe the wisdom of nature and see myself and the collective reflected back. There’s so much wisdom and wonder at our fingertips!
And so as we sit at the edge of Equniox, that liminal pause space where Summer transforms into Fall, it’s a great time to reflect on how we might rearrange our priorities, the way we use our energy, and the how we move through our days.
I’ve created some reflection prompts and simple practices that you may like to consider as we approach this Autumn Equinox.
Autumn Equinox Reflection Prompts:
What has bloomed or come to life for you this Summer? Are there any lessons, growth, creative expressions that you can honor and/or celebrate?
What feels worth carrying forward?
The falling leaves offer a beautiful reminder that we don't have to carry everything with us into the next season. There may be beliefs, patterns, expectations, or ways of moving through life that you've simply outgrown. What are you ready to let go of?
The trees don’t force letting go, they simply allow their leaves to fall when they’re ready. What would it feel like to trust that some things can fall away in their own time? Is there anywhere you’re gripping tightly? Is there anywhere you’re pushing too hard?
Suggested Practices:
As the outer world becomes quieter, Autumn invites us to turn our attention inward.
Take a walk and notice what is changing around you. Sit beneath a tree. Gather a few fallen leaves and witness their artistry. Make nourishing and grounding foods. Journal. Create a small seasonal altar.
You don't need an elaborate ritual, simply slowing down enough to notice the season can be ritual enough. We are part of nature, and the cycles of growth, harvest, release, and rest are happening within us. Any which way, this shift is happening and you can’t miss it, so enjoy the journey!
You are invited to join me at The Language of Flowers: An Autumn Equinox Mini Retreat for Plant Connection + Flower Essence Making where we can slow down and honor the pause together, take time to reflect and be present in nature, and learn how to use the subtle energy of plants as healing allies.
Seasonal shifts are also a wonderful time to schedule one on one CranioSacral Therapy or Clinical Hypnosis sessions where we can help your system shift into coherence, slow down enough to witness what’s ready to be released, reprogram old patterns in the mind and body, and connect with what matters to you in this season of your life.