Feeling Fall

By Kirstin Lindquist

It happens gradually, of course, but one day a couple of weeks ago, I suddenly "felt Fall". It seems to happen over night - the angle of the sun changes, air flowing through my open window at night is cooler, in the late afternoon the trees are drenched in that rich golden light that seems to come from underneath.

It makes sense - the Autumnal Equinox is next Monday, September 22. My body has been taking note of the subtle changes over the past weeks, even if it takes my brain a while to catch up.

Fall Equinox marks the transition from days that are longer than the nights to nights that are longer than the days. Many people feel a sense of mourning with the passage of summer. From a Chinese Medicine perspective, the Fall is in fact associated with letting go, with grief and loss, with shedding that which is not serving us currently. So, it is not surprising there can be a bit of melancholy associated with this seasonal shift.

In times past, people went to bed earlier and slept longer in the darker months by necessity. We can of course carry on per usual with the benefits of “modern conveniences" like electricity. But our bodies are noting the changes, and there are simple things we can do to facilitate the recalibration.

• Gradually shift your bedtime/wake up time to get more sleep - even 15 minutes makes a difference.

• Sit outside a few minutes each day.

• Change your workouts toward more inward and yin activities.

• Visit your local farmer’s market and relish the bounty of late summer harvest.

• Take stock of your “harvest” for this year; your veggie garden, your work, your creative projects, etc.

It doesn’t take much to tap into the ancient rhythms of humans living in alignment with the natural world. Your body will thank you.

PS Fall is time to curl up with a good book! Join The Hopeful Book Club on September 21 at Energy Matters to discuss The Serviceberry, (affiliate link) exploring what living in harmony with nature can offer us all.