How to Descend into Autumn
Autumn is officially here. It's the most soulful of all the seasons and the perfect time to bring out cozy sweaters, warm fragrances and comforting drinks. However, from a spiritual perspective, the start of fall can be a little tough to navigate. The seasons go from being very vibrant and energetic to an immediate slow down with darker, heavier energies. Fortunately, every season has something beautiful to share and with the right mindset and the tips in this post, you’ll sail right into thick of autumn with ease.
Just a reminder that a spiritual practice isn’t just the rituals and healing properties of herbs and oils. Everything is energy and what you do in the day to day often has a much deeper meaning than any one ritual or spell. Much of the things on this list are related to the everyday, are practical but also thought provoking. As with all posts, take your time. You don’t have to do everything from this post or anything if you don’t want to. Also, you have plenty of time this season to work through things one at a time. I should suggest devoting two weeks to each individual thing on the list until winter begins.
Embracing the Darkness
The first day of fall marks the shift between light and dark. From this point on until the spring equinox, there will be longer nights and shorter days, forcing us to embrace the natural darkness of life. We’ve been conditioned to believe darkness is a bad thing. That anything that is not light and pure is scary and even labeled demonic in extreme cases. Darkness is no less pure than light, it's just different. Light has its own challenges just as darkness has its own beauty and gifts but you have to take the time to get to know it before you can decide whether it's good or bad.
Make an intentional choice to embrace darkness as you begin your descent into the autumn season. Seek out the darkest or darker versions of yourself and the things you usually gravitate towards. You can do this with any part of your life and not just in the spiritual sense. The point of this exercise is to find the beauty in dark things. Darkness in autumn conjures up images of spooky things and shadows but it doesn’t have to be that. You don’t have to work with “dark” energies in the traditional mystical sense if you don’t want to. Embracing darkness isn’t so much about facing a fear rather, it's about opening your mind and allowing yourself to find value in something you would normally avoid. Here are a few suggestions to get you started:
Get Dark and Heavy.
Switch out lighter fabrics for heavier, darker fabrics. Everything from clothing to sheets, pillows, curtains, blankets and even dish towels can be changed out for darker tones. If you normally buy something in lighter tones, try on the darkest color available and see how you look and feel in it. And if you’re feeling bold and committed, consider color drenching a room in a very dark tone. I did this recently with a deep green. I was afraid it would be too dark but it's absolutely gorgeous and now my favorite room of the house. I affectionately call it a pine tree now and the dark tone feels really cozy and like a supportive cocoon.
Wear Deep Tones.
Wear deep toned makeup, nail polish and dark, moody fragrances to inspire a dark confidence. I find a lot of people feel it difficult to pull off a deep shade of lipstick or to wear a really dark woodsy perfume. I believe you can pull off anything as long as you feel confident and comfortable. If you own it, others will pick up on that and you'll be surprised how many people admire your courage and authenticity.
Work at midnight.
Stay up late and do your normal daily activities at nighttime. The world is much more peaceful at night when most people are sleeping. This is a wonderful time to have some quiet for yourself and to get some things done, especially if you’re working on a creative project. You may also consider reading, cooking, doing yoga, cleaning or having a self-care night when you can really be still and hear your own spirit.
Eat Dark Foods.
Incorporate dark color foods into your autumn diet. Not only is it visually appealing, but darker foods tend to be richer in flavor and texture. Many black or dark tones foods offer the much coveted umami flavor and can enhance an otherwise bland or somewhat traditional dish. Try things like dark chocolate (such as 85% or higher), blackberries, purple figs, black olives, wood ear mushrooms, prunes, lacinato kale, black grapes, black sesame seeds, molasses, black garlic, black rice, and balsamic vinegar.
Dark Offerings.
If you do want to work with darker energies in the mystical sense, consider working with darker deities such as Hecate, Persephone, Hades, Inanna, Aradia, and Papa Legba. Working with a deity is just like working with an archetype. They represent qualities that you can strive for and traits you might need to work on healing. You can ‘call’ on them to teach you how to work with dark energies in a way that is comfortable and encouraging. I have two dark goddess offering recipes, available in the member portal.
The Beauty of Fog
Incense smoke, fog, mist… we look at these things in stunning photos with awe but in real life, they can feel scary and disoriented. Like darkness, they can be beautiful and evolutionary with the right perspective. Descending into autumn means hazy days are ahead of you. Fall is a transitional period and you might find that mirrored in your own life.
Fog is the perfect symbol of autumn as it encourages a lack of clarity, not to frustrate you but to encourage you to slow down and proceed with caution. After an intense summer of movement and action, the earth grants you permission and perhaps forces you to take your time rather than reacting from a hurried place.
Allow the beauty of fog to fill your spirit. If fog is typical to your area, spend some time directly in a foggy or misty morning or night. Allow the energy of it to completely envelope your senses and breath in the lack of clarity. You are energetically training yourself to normalize haze and to know that it's perfectly ok to not have the answers sometimes. This practice also teaches you to have patience and to wait for the fog to clear before making any decisions.
If fog is not available to you, try one of the following things:
Light incense smoke and sit in meditation while you breathe in the smoke deeply. Watch the smoke dance and change its shape, only focusing on its movements. If you catch your mind wandering, simply repeat the word “stillness” until your thoughts drift away. You may need to do this several times which is perfectly fine. Just repeat the word “Stillness” and continue watching as the smoke plays in front of you.
You can also spend extra time in a very hot shower. Make sure all windows and doors are closed to keep in as much steam as possible. Sit on the bottom of your shower and allow the steam to envelop your senses. If you wish, periodically add 1-2 drops of essential oil to the shower floor. Some excellent choices are clary sage, jasmine, pine, rosemary and spruce.
Or you can visualize smoke or fog in meditation. Close your eyes and bring to mind a hazy image. I personally love the image of the pacific northwest with fog flowing over giant redwoods. I also love the image of a dark forest floor on a foggy morning but choose the image you like most. I’ve provided a few photos that you can download and print to use as a visual reference if you like. Whatever your visual, imagine the fog or haze or mist filling your mind. When you catch yourself feeling panicked or confused because of a lack of clarity, take a deep inhale and a big exhale. Continue to breathe deeply until any strong feelings retreat. It may take some practice but with time, you will learn to find ease and peace in the confusion.
Seeking Self-support
Autumn can usher in some intense feelings so it's important to make self-care a priority in the coming months but especially in the first days of fall. Ask yourself what you need to feel fully supported right now and don’t assume support has to come from others or that it has to mean eliminating someone from your life. Instead, challenge yourself to find ways to self-support and take control of your own nourishment.
If you feel as though you need more love, contemplate how you can create more self-love. If you are in need of more respect, consider how you may be lacking self-respect. If others are not showing up in your life the way you’d like, consider how you might be enabling them to continue poor behavior, again, that doesn’t mean you have to cut them out but you may need to be less accepting of certain things. If you need more rest, see if you can determine what is preventing you from achieving this goal. Turning inward, a very autumnal concept, isn’t just about having deeper intuition or doing shadow work. It also means taking responsibility for the things that are within your control. It means being the shepherd of your own growth, healing and comfort.
Additionally, self-support and self-care can manifest in many different areas of your life and it isn’t always going to be the romantic things you see online. Everyday mundane things like paying your bills on time, organizing your pantry, taking care of your clothes, making home repairs, and letting someone know they matter to you are all examples of self-support. Self-care is anything that contributes to your long-term well-being and oftentimes it’s the more basic things that have the most lasting impact.
Some other ways to self-support
Get organized
Create systems that make it easier to stay on top of things like bills, appointments and repairs. Write down your monthly bill due dates in your planner or schedule them at the beginning of the month to avoid late payments. Consider making a budget so you know exactly what you have to spend each month. The same thing with appointments. Make it a point to keep a calendar of important dates so that you don’t miss them. And while you may not be able to tackle all repairs or maintenance right away, you can make a plan to chip them off one by one. It all starts with being clear about your responsibilities and scheduling in time to handle them. You can always adjust as needed.
Fuel Your Body
I get it, eating well can be challenging when you eat out a lot or have too much on your plate. But a lot of issues such as poor sleep quality, low energy, brain fog and more can come directly from a poor diet. Even fast food places have better options and with a bit of intention and commitment to your well-being, you can choose foods that nourish your body and support your well-being. Choose fruits, vegetables and proteins whenever possible and if you absolutely can’t get enough fresh food, then consider a multi-vitamin to fill any deficiencies. Be sure to speak with your doctor first to avoid any drug interactions. And drink plenty of water. I used to be incredibly tired because I was very dehydrated. I started making a point to drink at least 100 oz of water a day and it's like my energy did a complete turnaround.
Little Luxuries
You may not be able to devote hours to self-care but you can make the everyday things a little more luxurious. Consider investing in high quality sheets and pajamas for a better sleep experience. Fill your home with enchanting fragrances even if it's from something like a scent plugin. While it's always better to use natural materials, ultimately, doing what’s practical for you needs to be the first priority. Seek out beauty products that smell and feel really good and offer a luxurious and sensual experience. Wear fabrics that feel good on your skin, purchase a special coffee for your morning routine or splurge on a special mug and so on. All of these things are still regular day to day things, made just a bit special with a little bit of intention. It may seem insignificant but each sacred choice you make brings a small smile to your heart and soul.
Living in the Grey
No one is ever just one thing and it's not fair for anyone to expect you to be the same version of yourself 24 hours a day. Autumn is the transitional season, the earth’s grey area if you will. I used to think I had to choose between creating witchy content and wellness content and I would beat myself up for not choosing one or the other. It's only recently that I’ve learned I can do both. It's complete and utter bullshit for someone to tell you to focus on one thing at a time. Humans aren’t wired that way. We have lots of things going on in our lives at any given moment so give yourself permission to exist in the in-between spaces as you make your transition to fall.
Know that you can be happy and sad at the same time.
You can let go of someone while still loving them.
You can love where you’re at and what you’re doing while also wanting to make changes.
You can thrive while still having lots of things to heal and work through.
You can have it all figured out in one area and be a complete mess in another.
There is one singular thing you have to be, end of. As you descend into fall, contemplate the ways in which you already live in the grey area. What are some ways you don’t fit neatly into just one box? How can these areas be your unique super strength rather than something you need to fix or improve?
Shadows of the Past
A common theme for autumn is the art of letting go but that’s so much easier said than done. And I find autumn tends to bring up a lot of shit from the past. All those old ghosts start nipping at your mind and heart and soul, bringing with it a bit of chaos and a lot of memories. Especially if you’re anything like me and you tend to dwell on old things for months or even years. I really struggle with letting things go when someone hurts me but in the past couple of years, I have found a couple of ways to heal and move on. I still dwell on things but now, I only dwell for a couple of days and sometimes just a few hours and then I let it go. If you are experiencing ghosts from your past, consider the following techniques to help you to release and be free.
Method #1
This visualization technique is great for moving on from hurt feelings. If a memory comes up about someone who hurt you, visualize surrounding them in a bubble and say the words “I forgive you.” You can forgive them for something specific or you can just say you forgive them, either way works. Imagine that bubble filling up with your forgiveness in the form of light or loving energy or stardust or whatever visual is most appealing to you. Then free them from the bubble and release the visual. You can do this as many times as you need to and trust me, you will have to do it several times. But you will notice that in time, less memories bubble up and you will start to feel lighter and more free.
Method #2
Use this method when you have hurt someone else and feel guilt or shame about it or when you have a memory about a mistake you’ve made and need cut yourself some slack. It's very similar to the first method. When a memory comes up about something you’ve done, envision a big bubble only this time, surround yourself with it and say the words “I forgive myself.” You can forgive yourself for something specific or forgive yourself in general. Imagine the bubble filling up with your forgiveness in the form of light or loving energy or stardust or whatever visual is most appealing to you. You can also do this in the moment when realizing you’re making a mistake in real time, it doesn’t have to be for memories only.
