I love Autumn – it is a great time to be in nature. There are so many colours to see. You can see the leaves changing colour day by day. It’s a really easy time to be mindful.
Simply fully open your senses as you walk.
Notice the colours and textures.
Feel the cooler temperatures on your face.
Listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the trees.
Listen to the crunch of the fallen leaves.
Smell the earthy smell after the rain.
It’s a really good time to ground yourself too. Maybe you have a favourite tree. Go and stand next to it and connect with it’s energy. Or sit against it and close your eyes and just be for a while.
“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.” – Elizabeth Lawrence
If it’s not too cold, try walking barefoot on the grass or at the beach. Wrap up warm and sit outside for a while, tuning in to what you can see, hear and smell. To connect with our sense of taste why not cook some warming soup or a hearty stew.
You could collect some fallen leaves and bring them home to remind you to connect to mother nature. Make an Autumnal display and put it somewhere prominent in your home. This is especially good if you live in the city.
“Autumn… the year’s last, loveliest smile.” – William Cullen Bryant
I hope you enjoy grounding yourself and being mindful this Autumn.
The Autumn Equinox this year happened on Sunday 23rd September at 2.54am (BST). This is of course in the Northern hemisphere. In the Southern hemisphere it was the Spring (or vernal) equinox. So it means that it’s officially Autumn now. Autumn is a time of transition, where the leaves change colour and fall. The days become equal with the night and the temperature starts to drop. It is a good time of year to see if you need to make any changes in your life too.
Autumn Retreat
Autumn is one of my favourite times of the year and I was due to attend a Woodland Mindfulness retreat, but thanks to the storm it got cancelled. I was very disappointed as I had been looking forward to it for ages. However, I glad I wasn’t in a tent when the rain and wind were lashing against my windows over the weekend! I did some tapping to help myself deal with the disappointment and decided I didn’t just want it to be an ‘ordinary’ weekend, so I had a home retreat instead.
I went for a long walk on the Friday and was mindful of the gorgeous Autumn colours. I listened to the wind, the birds and insects as they went about their business. As I walked, I also tuned in to the felt senses of my body. Feeling my feet hitting the ground, the muscles of my legs moving and the beating of my heart. I brought mindful awareness to my thoughts and emotions as they arose. When I got home I spent time writing in my journal and doing some mindful colouring in. I did several meditations throughout the day and pampered myself a bit.
Yoga Nidra Day
On the Saturday I went to a Yoga day celebrating the Autumn equinox. We did some gentle yoga and a couple of yoga nidra sessions. Yoga nidra means sleep – a very relaxing type of meditation. We laid on our mats, with blankets under our heads, bolsters under our knees and wrapped ourselves in several warm blankets. Once we were warm and snuggly our lovely teacher Fiona led us on a journey through our body and into a deep state of relaxation. We dined on delicious vegan food and in the afternoon we braved the wind and rain and foraged for leaves, berries and plants to make a beautiful Mandala. I loved doing that and the finished Mandala looked gorgeous.
Autumn Self-care
The day was very nurturing and insightful – just what I needed. It reminded me of the importance of self-care. This is a topic very dear to my heart and one I talk about a lot to my clients.
We cannot keep on keeping on without taking care of ourselves. Nature is starting to slow down, so I encourage you to take some time out and look after you this Autumn. Spend some time thinking about what changes you need to make in your life:
Do you need to slow down too?
Do you need to take care of yourself more?
Do you need to let go of something?
I would be happy to help you on your self-care journey. Do get in touch if you would like some help.
Yay! It’s Autumn. One of my favourite times of year. It’s also the perfect time of year to be more mindful. I will share with you some tips on how to be more mindful at this time of year…
Mindful in Nature
Nature is putting on a spectacular show for us right now. So, time to tune in, slow down and appreciate the beauty around us.
Notice the amazing colours of the leaves as they transform. From yellow to orange to red to burgundy. The colours in Autumn are just incredible. I love to notice the transformation of certain trees that I see every day. One minute the leaves are all green and the next they are yellow or orange.
You can also walk mindfully amongst the fallen leaves. Remember when you were a kid and you used to walk through the leaves, kicking them up. Why not do that now? Listen to the rustle of the leaves, watch the colours and textures as they fall. Feel the crisp air on your skin and the wind blowing your hair.
Candle Meditation
Autumn is the start of the days getting shorter and the nights getting longer. I love to light candles in the evening and this is a great way to do a little mindful meditation.
Watch the flickering flame for awhile and then close your eyes. Picture the candle in your minds eye. If you can’t “see” it then open your eyes slightly so that you can just physically see the flame. Then bring your attention to your breath, watch the full breath coming and going. Focus on the candle in your minds eye whilst breathing calmly and deeply. Finish off by offering up your gratitude for the candle, the light and warmth of the flame and anything else you are grateful for in your life.
Autumn Mindful Eating
With the colder weather our minds turn to comforting and warming food. Soups, stews and casseroles are perfect at this time of year. You can be more mindful whilst preparing your food – lots of peeling and chopping to do! Be more mindful as you eat too – savour the smell, look, texture and taste – especially of your first bite.
“Autumn is a second spring where every leaf is a flower”
Meditation doesn’t have to be static, sat still on a chair or a cushion. We can be more mindful doing everyday tasks such as the washing up, cooking or brushing our teeth. It’s about being more present in the present moment. This morning on my walk in the forest I decided to be more mindful. I kept the same pace as I usually would but I became more present with my surroundings. Autumn is an ideal time to do this because of the changing colour of the leaves. I love the Autumnal colours so I relished the idea of taking in more of their beauty.
I really listened to the sounds I could hear and just noticed the quality of the sound rather than labelling them (e.g. wind rustling in the trees, leaves crunching, birds singing etc). I took in the colours of the leaves and all the vibrant shades. I noticed the leaves that were still green and those that had started to change colour. I also observed the leaves that had fallen already and the shapes they made on the ground.
I noticed the sensations in my feet and legs as I took each step. I became aware of my breath and felt it moving in and out of my body. You can notice it at your nostrils, your chest or your abdomen depending on what you find easiest. You can even say to yourself – “breathing in” and “breathing out” to help you focus.
I felt the temperature of the air on my face and hands and felt the wind blowing my hair. Finally I felt a sense of gratitude for being alive and experiencing the healing power of nature.
Next time you walk anywhere, why not try making it a bit more on the mindful side? It doesn’t have to be in nature – it could just be a walk to the shop or from your bus stop home! Just give it a go and see what happens. 🙂
The temperature has dropped, the nights are drawing in and the leaves are falling. Autumn is definitely here! If you hate the season change you are not alone. Many people get affected by it. We want to carry on doing what we have all year, yet we don’t seem to have the same energy levels.
Many of us feel like hibernating as we don’t fancy going out in the cold, dark and often wet evenings. The days will seem even shorter when the clocks go back at the end of the month. At this time of year, some people suffer from SAD or Seasonal Affective Disorder. SAD symptoms include low energy levels, mood changes, depression, anxiety, loss of concentration, overeating and sleep problems.
We may start craving stodgy, comfort food and put on a bit of weight. One thing is for sure, our ancestors were much more in tune with the seasons than we are. Lets face it – they had to be. They didn’t have the resources and technology that we have that allow us to work into the night, lit by artificial lights etc.
So one of the things that you may want to try doing is to listen to what your body is trying to tell you. Slow down if you feel your energy levels are dropping. Wrap up warm and eat more soups and stews!
You can also try some tapping statements to help you adjust. Here are a sample of setup statements that you may want to try.
Even though I hate the clocks going back and I find the dark nights so depressing, I still deeply and completely accept myself anyway
Even though I don’t want to go out because it’s so dark and cold, I accept my feelings anyway
Even though I feel like hibernating when autumn starts, I love and accept myself
Even though my energy levels drop in the autumn and I get frustrated with myself, I deeply and completely accept myself anyway
Even though I feel so down because it gets dark so early and I really crave sunlight, I’m ok
Even though I don’t want to slow down but my energy levels force me to, what if I could listen to my body’s needs
Even though I can’t do all the things I want to in the autumn, I’m open to accepting that
Even though my body feels so sluggish in the autumn and winter, I’m open to accepting this
Even though I crave stodgy, comfort food, what if I ate what my body needed
Even though I put weight on at this time of year because I eat stodgy comfort food, I love and accept myself anyway
Even though I feel so lethargic and I don’t have the energy to do much, I accept my feelings anyway
Even though I have to change my lifestyle because of this seasonal change and I hate doing it, I accept my feelings about it
I hope these statements have inspired you to do some tapping and release these feelings about the onset of autumn!
Try to look at the positive things about this time of year – the beautiful fall colours, catching up on your projects (e.g. sorting out your photos, reading, painting), enjoying the foods you don’t fancy in the summer (soups, stews and pies) and enjoying a slower pace of life.