Redefining autumn
In the yoga world, we often talk about autumn or fall being a time to let go. The metaphor of trees letting go of their leaves is a nice one. And the season sure can be one to release what you don’t need or want or what is no longer “working for you.” But to me, the idea of keeping what’s of true value is more interesting. It requires discernment, intuition, refinement, and an astute practice of holding on to something lightly instead of clinging desperately.
Fall is the season right after the harvest. There’s a lingering abundance, we’ve satisfyingly reaped what we sowed in the spring or winter. The yang of summer gently transmutes into the yin of the next season: the evenings and nights become longer than the days and afternoons; the night air and breezes become cool; and we see animals gathering - holding onto - what they’ll need to survive until the next growing season. And in fact, even those trees that so poetically let go of the beautiful leaves that no longer serve them, are hanging on to something more internal: they send nutrients deep into their roots to get them through their leafless stage. Nature understands and quite successfully practices this keeping what is valuable and even turning something less valuable into something valuable.
How can we, then, do the same? What inspiration and education can we receive from nature during this time of year?
Fall is the season in which we, too, can draw inward and hold onto what is precious in our lives. This might include attending to critical relationships, revisiting or brushing up on a talent or beloved hobby that we’ve neglected for a while, sharpening a skill or pursuing more education, or even returning to practices that bring us closer to ourselves, our inner landscape, and or True Nature. Things like journaling or meditation, solo walking or hiking in nature without earbuds or other distractions, and returning to intentional activities like preparing meals or creating art can help get us there. These activities can remind us what we love to do and how we love to be. They can start communication between our external humanity and our internal divinity.
Fall is the natural time to converse with your soul/spirit/true self. It’s a fitting season to call into play your valuable traits and talents. These characteristics don’t need to be those obvious gifts like high intelligence or being “good” at baking or knitting or excelling at running a business. If you aren’t sure what your “precious metal” assets are, ask someone who knows you well. One of my favorite group exercises is to write a word or phrase that you would use to describe a specific person to someone who doesn’t know them yet. That word or phrase is illuminating and can help us understand how others see us, how someone else defines our unique value in their lives, and how our soul shines through to make itself known to others.
Even as the school year ramps up, holiday commitments start filling your calendar in the next few months, and you feel the urge to hit the ground running every single day, remember what is most valuable in your life. Attend to that everyday in small ways. Journal. Walk. Prepare and eat nutritious foods. Hug and be hugged. Play a game. Snuggle a companion animal. Fill your refrigerator. Call or text someone you love to tell them the specific ways in which they add value to your life. Let your soul shine through in something you do each day - big or small.