Hello, Autumn! I’m so glad you’re here.
Today marks the Autumn Equinox, and with it the first official day of fall.
Autumn seems to divide people. Those who love fall, really love fall. The early morning chill and greying skies bring a sense of joyful nostalgia. The newfound crispness in the morning air feels like permission to breathe more deeply.
The foliage that erupts in burnt orange and golden hues sparks a sense of delight. A sort of allowance seems to come as Summer fades away. The allowance to slow down, cozy up inside, and simply do less. For these people, autumn feels like a home-coming.
But the onset of fall can be challenging for others. A sense of dread might arise as the sun sinks a littler earlier each night, and the mornings grow darker and colder. The lack of Sunshine and fading warmth triggers sadness, gloom, and doom. Winter is approaching, and it feels like eternity until the liveliness of Summer will come again. For these people, autumn feels like a sort of death.
The beautiful thing is; Autumn is both.
This season is simultaneously a home-coming, and an energetic death. It’s a time to retreat inside, away from the extroverted energy of Summer, and come back home to ourself.
But Autumn also marks a significant winding down to the earth’s yearly cycle. Death is visible all around. The plants begin to fade away, shedding their external beauty to retreat back into the dark depths of the underground world.
We can look to nature during seasonal transitions to receive powerfully pertinent messages during this time. And Autumn teaches us the importance of cycles.
As the earth winds down, we too feel inspired to slow our own pace. As the trees shed their leaves, we’re shown the importance of letting go. As life ends, we’re asked to make peace with completion.
Mother Nature knows best. She does everything with perfect intention. If we were meant to stay in the outward energy of Summer all year round, the other seasons wouldn’t exist.
This Autumn, I invite you to celebrate endings and beginnings. Make space within to hold both joy and grief, knowing they can coexist at once.
And as the season transitions; sink into the slowness, look to the earth in admiration, and celebrate this period of change - both in the natural world, and within your internal world.
From my heart to yours, thank you for reading Hannah’s Haus. If you feel connected to my work, please let me know by tapping the heart to like the post, commenting with your thoughts below, and sharing this post with someone else who might enjoy it.
I love this so much. Fall is my favourite time of year for the home-coming and death parts. There is something extremely alchemical about fall.
Can’t wait for all the cozy cuddles with you ❤️