Embodying Fall in Preparation for Renewal

Fall is a bit of a contradiction both in nature and in our bodies. The weather is invigorating, the colors inspiring, yet the culmination of it is an invitation and a lesson in letting go.

The heat of summer has passed and the high energy from long summer days is gone. There is a freshness in the air as temperatures cool and although we are energized by the beauty of fall colors  and low angled light, this energy is more mellow as innately we know, there is renewal and restoration on the horizon.

Nature begins to shed itself of that which is unnecessary. It reduces it’s requirements for the non-essential to journey inward and so must we.

How can we, as conscious yet busy beings, join in this cycle of nature and begin dropping the non-essential in our own lives? How can we begin to purify and cleanse ourselves of the excesses in our bodies and in our lives?

Below you will find a few tips to help you do just that! 

Practice in sequential order will be most beneficial.

1) Begin to think about that which is unnecessary. What of your busy-ness can you live without? Can you drop some of your current commitments? Are there activities you’re engaged in that you’ve long outgrown? What is it to honor this growth and change within you? What would it feel like to let go of all that is non-essential?

Nature does it every year and so can you! Use the meditation below to help.

2) Meditation on Falling Leaves – visualize yourself as your favorite deciduous tree (maybe it’s a Maple? or a Birch? or an Elm?). Having drunk up all the nourishment and sunlight from summer, having had your fill and then some, visualize the excesses in your life and slowly begin to let them go. One leaf, and then the next. Let the chronic need for always  wanting “more” subside. Let the need to be “in control” relax. Too much activity, too much food, too much judgement, too much worry – let it all go. Allow yourself to sense and feel the purging. Another leaf and yet another. Continue this until your tree is bare. There is nothing to fear, you will not perish, but you will feel closer to who you really are! Feel the gentle sense of relief that comes from not trying to hold on. Let nature be your guide. You’re in good company!

3) Exfoliate – after your meditation, take a shower or a bath and using your favorite exfoliant, scrub all the excesses from your body. Remove the dead skin, cleanse the pours and visualize a total purification from the inside out. Make your own exfoliant using coconut oil, sea salt and your favorite essential oil.

4) Dietary Cleanse – this is a great time of year to do a dietary cleanse! Our bodies need a break from season to season and easing into the hearty dishes of late Fall and Winter is always a good idea. There are many cleanses out there on the market and online but it could be as simple as eliminating sugars, alcohol, caffeine and high fats for a short period of time. Two weeks is a good goal because it’s long enough for your body to actually reap the benefits and for your to notice the change. While cleansing: focus on eating whole foods, grains and fresh vegetables slightly steamed or sautéed for optimal nutrition. Use lots of ginger and garlic for detoxing and lots of lemon for balancing your ph.

“We cling to our own point of view, as though everything depended on it. Yet our opinions have no permanence; like autumn and winter, they gradually pass away.”  ——-Chuang Tzu

Enjoy and be well. Cheers to your optimal health!