September: the season of new stationery and fresh energy activation for the final months of the year...
I really love the transition into crisp, bright mornings and the feeling of calm and grounding returning to Cornwall after the busy summer holidays.
September feels like there's space for me again - I restart any daily practices that might have slipped, and I feel inspired with my writing, all whilst still enjoying the warm weather and long light evenings.
Although the change may not happen overnight, we can invite a steady transition to the ways we live and work this month.
'Back To School' Feeling
Even though it's been years since I was formally tied in with the academic calendar, I still get that refreshed back-to-school feeling in the Autumn. Despite the fact that I really didn't like secondary school, I do have gorgeous memories of stationery shopping and having clean, fresh books ready for the start of something new.
During September, I feel a sense of eager anticipation about the rest of the year to come. Though the second half of Winter can be challenging, the first weeks of Autumn would have been associated with abundance and plentifulness for those historically living in sync with the seasons. Think of Harvest Festivals, and the North American celebration of Thanksgiving. It's when the build-up of Spring and the busy energy of Summer all come to fruition.
Restoring Balance and Shifting Attention Inwards
This year the Autumn Equinox falls on the 22nd September, the day when the hours of light and dark are closest to being in perfect balance. Spiritual practices associated with this time of year will frequently follow a theme of self-reflection and the restoration of personal balance.
After the 'sun' orientated, extroverted energies of July and August, now is a time to welcome the guidance of the moon for slowing down and looking inwards. In practical terms, it's a good time to slow the pace and make promises and plans for the next few months. We still have over a quarter of the year left, and I like to lean into structure to make the most of it (in contrast to my 'on the fly' attitude during the Summer!)
Slowing, Grounding and Learning
On a physical level, I know I need to slow down and rest at this time. I planned a very quiet last few days of August because I want to be able to step into September with fresh energy rather than feeling depleted. If I have free time, I'll sit and do nothing with my feet on dewy grass, or stand with my toes in the sea, looking out at the horizon.
Although it's good to maintain some active movement across all the seasons, many of us will have a tendency to spend more time in stillness over the Autumn and Winter. Creative and thoughtful projects might replace the time we spent sea swimming, walking, running or training. September can be the beginning of a new incubation, working on things which might not fully bloom until next year.
Declaring Intention
Although the essence of these seasonal behaviours changes are tangible in the air, they often don't actually happen unless we approach them with intention. It would be easy to storm on through without adjusting our pace, because many of our modern systems don't fluctuate through the year like most living things do.
I love gathering groups together to acknowledge the changing seasons, as well as spending time in reflection by myself as a personal practice. This might be sitting with a big piece of paper and a set of coloured pens, freewriting diary pages, or making a vision board.
Autumn Journaling Prompts:
Just a few short prompts for you to spend some time with if you wish to this September:
What are you 'harvesting' now , following growth or work you did earlier in the year?
How can you tend and nurture yourself during the darker months?
Which parts of yourself might you be ready to shed, to free up space?
What still needs time to transition?
Enjoy your writing, and your season of reward and reflection!
Emily x