Intention: To honor and acknowledge the coming autumnal equinox, and learn how to sink into rhythm with the season.
The last of the flowers I planted this summer are exiting full bloom. They are now entering the next life cycle phase, nourishing the soil below.
The autumnal equinox falls on Sunday this year, and I am ready.
My heart, my skin, my bones—they love the heat of summer, and the sweet sunshine will be missed. The ‘big gray’ is about to begin here in the Pacific Northwest. The cooler weather brings overcast clouds and that invisible drizzle. But it also comes with an impressive show of nature as the dense forests and trees of all kinds begin to shed their beautiful leaves in a dizzying rainbow of warm-hues.
In four-season climates, the transition from summer to fall is both raw and refreshing. Maybe it’s because we spent our youth anticipating the start of summer, and then just a few short months later we’re back in the classroom. For some, that transition is filled with a burst of excitement—all that new energy and potential. For others, the end of summer brings nostalgia for memories made just weeks ago.
One of the things I’ve been practicing as I get older is attuning to the seasons. Melting into the shifting air and embracing the earth’s natural rhythms. It’s more than pumpkin-spiced lattes, y’all, but I’m not suggesting you deny yourself a little sweet treat if that’s your thing.
No, I want to talk about the fleeting autumn season and remind ourselves of the magic that happens in the natural world around us—and how we can honor it. And if you’re not into that, you can shimmy your way out of a crop top and into a cardigan instead. And so, here is the unofficial guide to getting into the rhythm of the season.
Cycles on Cycles on Cycles
No matter where you live, there is still an energetic component to fall, even if you’re not quite hitting sweater weather yet. These seasonal cycles are represented in many ways.
Harvest Season
Autumn is the ultimate season of harvest—whether it’s literal crops or the metaphorical fruits of our labor. Farmers collect the last of their crops before winter sets in, but for the rest of us, fall is a time to pause and ask: what have I been cultivating this year?
It’s a season for reflection, celebration, and preparation, thinking not just about what we’ve reaped but also what seeds we want to plant for the future. Fall invites us to take stock of life and recognize the abundance we’ve created.
Slowing Down, Syncing Up
Fall is to the calendar year what the luteal phase is to a woman’s cycle. The luteal phase comes after ovulation, which is considered the summer of the menstrual cycle. It’s followed by menstruation—deep winter. Spring brings surrender in the pre-follicular phase.
This season (and the luteal phase) is for winding down, preparing for rest. We move from the high-energy and sensual summer heat, into the calm, cozy hum of fall by a fire. We are being nudged to slow down, pull back, and recharge.
You don’t need a cycle to flow with this energy. Reflect on what no longer serves and shed a layer. (That wasn’t a uterus joke, but it could have been.)
Our Celestial Companion
As the days grow shorter, the moon becomes an ever-present reminder that time is moving forward. The lunar cycles of autumn—like the Harvest Moon, the Hunter’s Moon, and the New Moon—mirror the seasonal shift. The Harvest Moon in September is the closest moon to the autumnal equinox. It signals the time to gather, and October’s Hunter’s Moon follows it. October is a great hunting season, but it could also mean hunting for new hobbies or rituals to embrace throughout the winter.
November’s Beaver Moon is when we finish up projects, make our homes just a little bit cozier, and mentally prepare for the colder months. And each month, we, of course, have a New Moon, which calls for fresh starts.
Culturally, these lunar phases have been celebrated for centuries, marking transitions, honoring ancestors, and reflecting on the year. Fall’s moon cycles remind us that change is always on the horizon, guiding us to flow with nature’s rhythm.
Migration: The Great Bird Exodus
Look to the sky in fall, and you’ll see birds heading south in droves, migrating to warmer places. It’s one of nature’s grandest cycles, where thousands of birds travel thousands of miles. For humans, it’s a reminder to follow our own paths—to let go of what’s familiar, trust in the journey, and seek out new opportunities. Migration, like fall, is a transition into something new and unknown, with the promise of growth and renewal on the other side.
Hibernation Prep
We talked about slowing down, but what does that actually look like in our daily life? I like to make a fall altar filled with leaves and plant trimmings from the season. A seashell from the beach, pebbles, fallen apples. Things I find in and around where I live, which brings a little bit of the outside, inside.
I take the instinct to gather our resources and create cozy spaces, and I use it to merge a bit more nature into my home. Simmer pots are firing up, the crock pot is always on the countertop, and all of the sweaters and jackets start showing up on the coat rack.
The rhythm of fall and hibernation invites us to honor the need for rest and recuperation, creating a space where we can recharge and prepare for the future.
It’s the Time of the Season
As we celebrate the fall equinox this weekend, it’s the perfect reminder that nature operates in cycles, and so do we. The equinox is all about balance—day and night sharing the spotlight equally, like two kids on a seesaw perfectly level for a brief moment. It’s a cosmic signal that the warm, expansive energy of summer is winding down, and the cooler, more introspective vibe of fall is taking over.
For me, the equinox represents a pause, a moment to breathe before the hustle of the holiday season begins. It’s like the universe is giving us a gentle nudge, saying, “Hey, slow down for a second, look around, and appreciate what’s changing.”
In our lives, we often experience these ‘fall’ moments—times when we shed old habits, let go of what’s no longer serving us, and prepare for something new. Just like the trees shedding their leaves, we’re invited to do a little shedding of our own.
And isn’t that kind of exciting? This is the season of transformation, a time to reflect and adjust. So, what are you letting go of this fall?
