What’s the Importance of Autumn?
What’s the importance of autumn and why does this season matter so much in our lives? In this article, I’m going to talk about this in more detail, and I will share 3 golden nuggets to help you improve your life straightaway:
- Stay rooted in your purpose
- Nourish with seasonal foods, spices and medicinal herbs
- Practice relaxation techniques
Autumn represents the preservation of life and its basic necessities. During this time, animals prepare for the winter by storing food and creating cosy hibernation spaces. Traditionally, farmers worked on their harvest by collecting a reserve of crops.
As the days continue to grow shorter, after the autumn equinox, the days become even shorter and the nights grow longer. The air is getting cooler and there’s a bite in the air; it’s now time to wrap ourselves in cosy scarfs and warm woollies (as my mum used to say, a term for jumpers and sweaters).
The leaves are gently falling, and I love the colours of the leaves; golden, burnt orange and browns. The trees are growing bare and all life begins to decline and turn inward.
Its harvest season and we are in this time until December. It’s a time to embrace nature – you see, there is no nature and us. We are part of nature, we belong in the web of life, but we have forgotten this truth, particularly in our modern way of living.
“The autumn equinox marks the turning inwards, the beginning of darkness, a time of contemplation and rest”
Are you living a grounded life?
Within the Pura Vida Your Life Compass – The Navigation Tool for the Modern World, the focus on autumn is the season for us to slow down and move into stillness. It’s a time for grounding and stabilising, of nourishment and warmth.
Autumn is the perfect time to go inward and do the inner work, which is the very core of who you are. When you commit to inner work, you are turning your pain into power, like a true alchemist, and you’re positively influencing others and the world at large.
Your inner self consists of your hidden feelings, memories, thoughts, beliefs, prejudices, wounds, shadows, and other mental and emotional conditions that influence your ability to transform and feel ‘Whole’ at a core level. By doing inner work, you’ll be able to move past fears, limitations, addictions, depressions, loneliness, and the feelings of unwholeness that tend to plague human beings.
The important fundamentals in the autumn season for living a happier and fulfilled life are:
- Spiritual Work
- Good Health & Wellbeing
- Life Changes and Transformation
We must also develop an approach of open mindedness, courage and stillness. And encompass our Spiritual, Emotional and Psychological bodies to ensure we are using our innate resources available to us and be in flow; this will make the autumn transition so much easier and will help us to achieve greater outcomes.
Are you living a healthy life?
It can sometimes feel as if there isn’t enough time for ourselves. But this is when we need to be especially mindful about making self-care rituals our top priority.
Prepare for the colder months and keep your mental and physical health in check by focussing on the following:
- Start taking a Vitamin D supplement. We get most of our Vitamin D from the sun and our intake decreases when the weather is colder, since we spend most of our time inside during the autumn and winter seasons. If you find you are not getting outside much, a Vitamin D supplement can boost your mood and immune system.
- Boost your immune system.You can do this by drinking plenty of water, washing your hands often to prevent sickness, and eating nutritious foods. It’s as simple as that.
- Be active.It can be easy to just sit around all the time, but it’s important to get in some movement throughout the day. Raking leaves or shovelling snow also counts.
“Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle”
Golden Nuggets
During the seasonal transition into autumn, becoming grounded with seasonal foods and practices is vital to prepare our minds and bodies for the colder months ahead.
- Stay rooted in your purpose. As the temperatures drop and the plants lose foliage, their energy returns to the root. People, like plants, can thrive during the autumn months by focusing on our root purpose. It’s a time to step back and think about what truly brings value to our life, express gratitude for your blessings, and consider setting some intentions for what you need. That way, once spring comes along, we are ready to blossom.
Top Tip
Take some time to reflect by sitting in a quiet space; consider – What makes me different? How can I serve others? How will I make a difference? Write down whatever comes to mind.
2. Nourish with seasonal foods, spices and medicinal herbs.This is the time to warm our bodies with immune supporting broths and soups, and grounding vegetables like roasted squash, root vegetables and sautéed, dark leafy greens. Some seasonal plant allies, like turmeric and ginger, may already be in your kitchen in the form of ground spices or teas.
Top Tip
Plan your menu for the week and look for recipes that contain seasonal vegetables and fruits; they are usually cheaper when they’re in season. And batch cook, so you have plenty of meals ready for another time.
3. Practice relaxation techniques.After busy springs and summers, our bodies are naturally slowing down. With less activity and more hours spent indoors, learning to manage stress helps us avoid cabin fever by going within to find peace and purpose. Make a habit of bringing calm, soothing energy to your day, such as running a hot herbal bath, practicing meditation, or brewing a relaxing cup of herbal tea.
Top Tip
Find the best relaxation technique for you, have fun experimenting with deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, or tuning into an audio. It’s important to remember that there’s no single relaxation technique that works for everyone. We’re all different. The right technique is the one that resonates with you, fits your lifestyle, and is able to focus your mind to elicit the relaxation response.
So, let’s summarise those golden nuggets again:
- Stay rooted in your purpose
- Nourish with seasonal foods, spices and medicinal herbs
- Practice relaxation techniques
‘Tis the season to reflect and take care of yourself. I hope these Golden Nuggets help you maintain wellness so you can fully enjoy the full beauty of autumn.
If you have found this useful, then please share this with anyone you know who would also benefit to help them along their journey in life.
Thank you for joining me and I look forward to seeing you again next week for Pura Vida Your Life Happenings for insight, inspiration and more golden nuggets to help you live a happier and fulfilled life.
Pura Vida Your Life – it all starts with you 🧡💙💛
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