The Spiritual Meaning of Autumn
What’s Happening in Nature
In autumn, nature slows down growth. Plants and all life reach completion and we harvest the bounty in our gardens. The days grow steadily darker. Trees lose their leaves and focus their energy inward, growing deeper and stronger roots to prepare for the eventual growth of Spring.
What’s Happening Spiritually
Gratitude for the Harvest
It’s a time to look back on the first half of the year and give thanks for all the growth opportunities including the connections, adventures, lessons, and achievements that took place. There’s a sense of completion to the outer growth phase.
Slow Down and Rest
You have full permission to aim lower and aim slower now. Nature is in a natural slow down. This is often when the common cold happens to bring us inward if we haven’t been listening to this change in pace.
Release
With the sense of completion is a joyful release of those things. There’s also the release of what isn’t working anymore. We welcome simplicity and space. We focus on what’s essential to us at this time.
Mystery and Magic
As we approach Halloween and darker nights, there’s a tangible feeling of the mystical and mysterious. It’s a time of shadow work—the parts of us “in the dark” that we don’t normally see—which are simply aspects of ourselves where our needs haven’t been met.
The Cycle of Death Before Rebirth
Life naturally completes itself. We accept death as part of life’s process. We remember and celebrate our ancestors on All Saints Day.
Deepening Roots
We focus our energy inward on our roots, strengthening our foundation for Spring growth. Where are we out of balance? It’s now that we discover what aspects of our lives need to be strengthened before we grow again so that it happens from a sustainable and authentic place. We can only grow in relation to our foundation.
"The taller the tree, the deeper the roots."
-Mashona Dhliwayo
