Changing Seasons

A week after back-to-school night at my daughter’s school, our Indian summer ended abruptly. Clouds filled the sky. No raindrops fell, but it turned cool enough to convince me that, yes, summer is over. I’ll admit I didn’t want it to end. I love the long days of sunlight, the warmth, and fresh produce. I’m going to miss my hammock and lounging by the pool reading. I’m also going to miss meditating, practicing yoga, and journal writing in the back yard. I’m going to miss lying on my back and staring up at our eucalyptus tree. I’m going to miss hummingbirds and blue jays, and the smell of honeysuckle and damp earth after my husband has watered the yard.

Yesterday I moved all my spiritual practice paraphernalia indoors: my yoga mat, blankets, bolster, and blocks; my journal, pens, timer, earplugs, sacred stones, and gratitude beads; my lap desk and my moonstone egg. At first I felt sad; I didn’t want to move my practice indoors, didn’t want to leave nature.

But as I rearranged furniture, cleaned house, recreated altars, lit candles and incense, and set my butt down on my meditation cushion, I not only felt better, but joyous! I set up three places for spiritual practice: in my bedroom, living room, and  office. The office space is small, but rather than cramped, it felt cozy. Indoors has advantages, which started me thinking about things I enjoy about this time of year, the greatest of which is that delicious back-to-school feeling of hunkering down even deeper into my work—which I love!

Here are some tips for transitioning into fall. Enjoy!
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1. Take time for yourself—especially if you have kids who have gone back to school.
2. Take advantage of nesting opportunities; make yourself cozy at home.
3. If you’ve got a fireplace, use it.
4. Savor a cup of hot tea.
5. Read a good book.
6. Soak in a tub of hot water. Use bath salts. Add lavender oil for relaxation, or eucalyptus oil for rejuvenation.
7. Put on a sweater and take a walk. Collect fallen leaves.
8. Make homemade soups. If you’re eating raw, break out the ginger, garlic, and cayenne pepper, which create heat and prevent colds.
9. Go to sleep earlier.
10. Wash your bedding and add another blanket to your bed.
11. Wake up early and meditate for fifteen minutes. Light a candle. Say a prayer. Give thanks for your many blessings.
12. Make fresh apple juice. Combine it with celery and the above-mentioned ginger, lemon, garlic and cayenne.
13. Host a dinner party.
14. Call a friend.
15. As we get closer to Halloween, pay homage to your loved ones who have passed on. Build an altar. Display their photos. Offer them your gratitude for having paved the way for you to have the life you do.
16. Take a class or workshop, and keep learning and growing, whether you’re in a class or not. I recently heard that at school we learn lessons and are then tested whereas in life we are tested, and then (hopefully) learn our lessons.
17. Try something new or do something differently from how you’ve done it before. This morning I practiced affirmations while standing in front of a mirror. I haven’t done that in a long time. But here’s the cool thing: I started practicing creative movement while stating the affirmations. Welcoming them into my body made them easier not only to absorb, but to feel, viscerally. I’m thinking about experimenting with this in my BodyTalk Creative Writing and Movement class, which I’m excited about offering this fall. My students are among my best teachers and I’m looking forward to the many lessons ahead.
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Goodbye summer; hello autumn!