Autumn is a season for letting go and accepting the impermanence of things.
Happy harvest season!
Here, in London where I live, autumn has arrived with beauty and warm colours. Thinking about autumn can bring about pleasurable thoughts such as delicious pies, warm drinks and cosy clothes.
Autumn is the time of harvest. The harvest is associated with abundance, prosperity and wealth. It's also when leaves fall from the trees. But the season’s symbolic meaning is more profound than we think. Autumn represents a time for transformations not only environmental but also personal. Ancient cultures, astrology and science associate autumn to human life. It's an opportunity for us to reflect, become aware of what we want to harvest from our life, and to decide to say goodbye to thoughts and beliefs that no longer serve us.
Personally, the 3 most valuable meanings of autumn are:
1. Acceptance of change
"The only constant is change." - Heraclitus
Autumn reminds us that our minds, bodies and our surroundings are always evolving. The so-called impermanence of life shows us how important it is to embrace the present. By doing so, we can enjoy what we have before it's gone.
2. Letting go
The falling of the leaves illustrates the beauty of letting go. We can apply this concept to our inner egos and patterns that no longer serve us to be who we aspire to be. Most of us hold on to stories from the past - an unpleasant conversation with a loved one, a failed expectation or a painful memory. Holding on to those thoughts and feelings can prevent us from having joy in the present. Letting go doesn’t mean we have to pretend those difficult events never happened. Instead of holding yourself back with old memories, practice living in the present.
3. Gratitude
Many of us have a hard time celebrating our growth and accomplishments. We think we don’t deserve it, or the “harvest” isn’t ready because it's just not perfect enough yet. Sound familiar? How can we grow and evolve in life if we are not reaping the benefits of our hard work? How can we be content if we’re not grateful for that we have now? In order to harvest and enjoy all of our efforts, we might need to change our mindset and acknowledge and celebrate all that we have accomplished so far.
Over the next few weeks, I invite you to pause and reflect on your life. Think about what you want to celebrate and what you are ready to let go of.
How can you practice?
One favourite ritual of mine is to take 15 minutes to sit quietly in thoughtfulness and open my mind and my senses to the intelligence of nature around me. In this time spent in thoughtfulness, I acknowledge my personal growth cycle and ask for harmony and balance in my life. I honour and thank all that I have in my life and shift my consciousness from one of lack to one of prosperity and gratitude.
With my clients we work on this and other many strategies to support them in this process. If you would like more information, feel free to contact me and I will be excited to help you through this journey.