Embracing Autumn for Mind, Body & Soul

 

Do you really notice the changing season beyond the more obvious signs like changing weather, flowers and foods available to you? Many ancient cultures all over the world have their own special rituals for embracing the changing seasons. Solstices and Equinoxes are one example.

They mark the changing seasons and encourage celebration for what has passed and what is to come.

Autumn Equinox: 20 March 2024
Autumn signals the end of summer, ushering in cooler temperatures and preparing for winter. The Equinox brings a perfect balance of daylight and darkness, a day to acknowledge and celebrate the changing season.

As we transition from summer's social energy, autumn encourages withdrawal and self-care, aligning with ancient practices like Ayurveda. Ayurveda associate autumn with Space and Air elements. During this season, our bodies can be dry, causing flaky skin, hair shedding, insomnia, anxiety, and brain fog. Slowing down, keeping warm, and nourishing ourselves becomes essential.

In traditional Chinese medicine, the Metal element is associated with autumn and the two organs related to this are Lungs and Large Intestine. Lungs literally translate to the “breath of life” and “Large Intestine” means “letting go; physically and mentally”—fitting for a season when trees shed their leaves.

 

 

8 TIPS TO EMBRACE AUTUMN.... 
1. Say goodbye to raw, crunchy salads and cold food and hello to warm, nourishing, moisturising food (enter the slow cooker!)

2. Include more spices in your cooking (spices help the lungs to promote more Qi, or life force)

3. Go to bed 10 mins earlier in March, 15 mins in April, and 20 mins in May to honour the darkness and prioritise extra rest.

4. Go on a nature walk or forest bathe (as the Japanese love to do) and breathe in the fresh, pure air from the trees to help support lung health.

5. Breathwork helps the lungs and meditation helps slow the mind/body down encouraging “Homeostasis,” or ultimate balance.

6. Introduce more yin yoga into your exercise for gentle stretching. Autumn is a YIN season after all.

7. Keep the lungs/large intestine warm and covered (exposure to the cooling winds lowers immunity)

8. Just like the trees lose their leaves to make way for new growth in spring, we can use this metaphor to do some “autumn clearing” and identify the things that no longer serve us.

Ritual: On the Autumn Equinox, write down some habits you wish to let go of and burn them or tear them up as a symbol of letting go.