“Autumn’s the mellow time.”
-William Allingham
We have rounded the corner on Summer, and the Fall season is fast approaching. According to Chinese medicine, Autumn is the season of grief. While Spring is the time for newness, Autumn is the time to prepare for hibernation. Spring and Summer give us external, carefree experiences, and in the Fall we move into “more serious and introspective energies” and activities. Chinese medicine links Autumn to the lungs, an energy of ‘letting go;’ thus Autumn is “a good time to be mindful to let go of anything we may be holding on to so we can make room for new experiences that will help us learn and grow.”*
The introspective and mindful character of Autumn is perhaps the mellowing of which Allingham speaks. With shorter days and cooler weather, we are drawn inwards (literally and figuratively) to quieter, more contemplative, and perhaps more solitary activities. This time of year feels slower, maybe sadder. We harvest what has grown since spring, and store seeds that promise future growth. We prepare ourselves for the long winter ahead, for our version of hibernation with warm food and drinks, books and blankets. We think of what we accomplished, share memories, and contemplate the future.
This “season of grief” is a time of thoughtful introspection and preparation. While we may feel sorrowful as we move into this next season, remember that this inward movement is restorative and important for our personal growth.
What can you release as this Autumnal equinox approaches? How can you prepare yourself for the growth to come? What seeds of life will you store for the winter?
*https://www.chinesemedicineliving.com/nutrition/seasons/fall/
A.N.Carroll 