Create balance in your life by working with the energy of Autumn
Harvest festivals, bonfires, falling leaves, cooler, shorter and darker days. This is Autumn. Taking our cue from nature, this is a season of celebration, preparation and letting go. The bounty of harvest is celebrated and traditionally food has been preserved in readiness for winter. Animals too start to gather and store food supplies. Many plants shed their leaves and create seeds for new growth in spring.
Aligning our tasks, environment, diet, exercise and mind set with the seasons helps bring balance to our lives through the rhythm of the seasons and therefore helps prevent burn out. During Autumn we focus on reaping, that is, reflecting on our recent activities, celebrating the successes and letting go of things that no longer serve us. Our diet and exercise should focus on building resilience to prepare us for a healthy winter ahead.
Work and life projects
In Autumn life has finished it’s spring / summer growth spurt and everything is starting to turn inward. The cooler weather and shorter days make it an ideal time for reflection, self discovery and planning.
Things to do:
Make time for regular reflection. This can be done by: sitting comfortably in a pleasant environment and thinking; going for a walk; having a bath; writing in a journal; or talking to a partner or friend about things to keep doing, change or start anew. There are some great questions to ask yourself here.
Start a meditation practice. This may give you insights for new growth in Spring. Try the apps Headspace, Calm or Deepak Chopra and Oprah's 21 Day meditation experience.
Start a gratitude journal. The benefits are numerous. You can read about them here. For tips on keeping a gratitude journal, see here.
Start new hobbies / projects. Make time for activities that bring you joy. Many classes and workshops start in Autumn so now is a perfect time to enroll.
Your environment
Things to do:
Move things around. Start to make things more snug and cosy ready for cooler weather. Movement of items helps increase positive energy and decrease the negative,
Light candles. These represent fire and will add warm energy to your environment. Bees wax and soy candles are best for your health. I also have many fairy lights around the house to create warmth.
Add warm colours. Add some Autumn colours to your environment to warm it. You can do this with cushions, throws, flowers, table décor, towels etc.
Add metal. Though this might seem cold, it is the Feng Shui element for Autumn and thus it brings positive energy to your home. Add it via metal objects, oval shaped objects (this shape represents metal) and the colours of silver, grey and black. These contrast nicely with the oranges, reds, yellows and browns of warm Autumn colours.
Your diet
Things to do:
Eat warming seasonal foods. As the weather gets cooler, balance your body with warming foods to help prevent winter illness. Limit raw salads and cold drinks. Try eating more:
Root vegetables: sweet potato; carrots; squash; pumpkin
Whole grains: quinoa; brown rice; oats; millet
Legumes: beans; chickpeas; lentils; soybeans
Green vegetables: broccoli; spinach; kale; celery; rocket; artichokes
Fruit: pomegranates; apples; pears; citrus fruits
Fish: cod; haddock; sole; sea bass
Herbs: cinnamon; nutmeg; cardamom; turmeric; ginger; rosemary; thyme; basil; oregano; marjoram; dill
Drink herbal teas. The ritual of making tea aligns you to the slower pace of Autumn as well as being therapeutic. Sipping a warm cup pf tea is also a good way to incorporate regular reflective time into your schedule. Prepare your immune system for winter with immune supporting teas such as Elderberry, Echinacea, Elecampane and Oregano. As Autumn is a transitional season, adaptogenic herbs can be beneficial. Consult a herbalist to find the most appropriate one for you.
Take Vitamin D. D3 or cholecalciferol is best as it is the natural form of vitamin D that your body makes from sunlight. It’s essential during cooler weather when sun is often lacking because it helps with normal immune functioning.
Always check with a qualified health professional for contraindications to your current health and medications.
Exercise
Things to do:
Get some fresh Autumn air. Enjoy walking through leaves. Thirty minutes of walking daily can have a positive impact on your physical and mental health.
Keep socialising. As we move out of the extroverted, yang energy of summer and into the quieter yin energy of autumn and winter, it’s important to keep social for balance. Halloween and Fireworks events are fun seasonal activities. Now is also a great time to have friends and family over for a meal or drinks.
If you’d like any life or health coaching to help you focus your Autumn energy then please contact me for an appointment. Watch this space for tips on how to work with the other seasons as they emerge throughout the rest of this year.
