How I'm Celebrating Autumn
And welcoming the new season with open arms
As the first autumn breeze tangled my hair it awakened something in me, as it seems to every year. Autumn breathes a warm, restful, and reflective kind of creativity into me. This year, I’m feeling inspired to use the dark, cold seasons to learn about the flora and fauna that will be sprouting outside my front door come spring, to make simmer pots, and to collect fallen pinecones and sticks for decor inside my home. I feel so deeply connected to the seasons in the fall and winter—perhaps because their impact on my lifestyle are undeniable and to some extent we must surrender to the seasons.
This autumn is unique, in a way, in that I’m newly pregnant meaning that next year I’ll be moving into fall with an infant and a 2.5 year old. While next year things will feel brand new, this year feels quite settled and familiar. My daughter and I are in a good rhythm and I can take advantage of that by leaning into certain autumn rituals that may not be as available to me next year. Here’s what I have in mind:
Enjoying a cup of warm tea, and understanding the ingredients. I’d like to learn to choose my tea intentionally depending on how I feel and what I need. I’d love to someday have my own tea garden but that’s a project for another year. I do have plenty of dried mint leaves and mint happens to be one of my favorite teas.
Boiling simmer pots on the stove—for the lovely smell, cozy vibes and maybe for the different uses and meanings of the various ingredients that make up a simmer pot. Cardamom for courage? Toss it in!
As the world outside freezes over, I’d love to use that time to really take care of my home. I’ve been feeling as though my home isn’t treated as the sacred space I feel it is. My home provides so much for us and our 5 years has brought life (and messes) into all the different corners. I want to repay this space by taking really good care of it. Not letting projects go unfinished, keeping my kitchen well cleaned and organized (it provides so much for us, after all), and continuing to purge what no longer serves our family while holding onto the things that are meaningful, beloved or useful to us.
Bringing nature indoors as a means to decorate my home for the season without simply buying more and more. Here’s what’s at the top of my crafting list.
Learning more about rewilding and understanding my place in the natural world with the help of the Wild Academy’s Rewilding Yearbook that I have on pre-order.
I have plans to purchase Mountain States Medicinal Plants to build my (very limited) knowledge on the benefits and uses of the plants that grow right outside my front door.
Getting back into the habit of tracking what I observe in the natural world around me. I used to have a little booklet where I’d record rain and snow totals, notable natural events and even bird sightings. I’ve since lost that book, so I’d like to start a new record of what’s going on in our little 9 acre world.
Creation over consumption—it’s as simple as that. I want to create more and consume less. And if there’s something I’d like to consume, I want to think about if there’s a way I can create it instead. That could be crocheting myself new socks or a sweater, making my own herbal tea, or crafting my own decor from materials I’ve foraged outside.
Lastly, coming back to reflection. I’ve gotten out of the habit of journaling regularly and there are so many wonderful journaling prompts inspired by autumnal themes. One that’s on my mind is to consider what you’re shedding this season and how you’d like to evolve come the next growing season. This feels particularly relevant to me as I’m currently growing my next baby who, if all goes well, will be joining us in the spring.
How are you celebrating the autumn equinox? I’d love to hear all about it below 🍂