Autumn reflection, somatic practice & nature connection
Connecting with the energy of Autumn through reflection, ritual and intention
Today I wanted to share some Autumn reflections as we wind our way through one of my favourite seasons. As well as some thoughts about the Autumn and how this can be reflected in our own inner cycles and seasons, I’m sharing a short somatic practice below for you to explore. If you’d like to explore the themes of Autumn Equinox more deeply, with journal prompts and a curated playlist, check out my post An Autumn Equinox playlist, with journal-prompts
If you’re new here I’m Laura, a counsellor, nature therapist, somatic therapist, meditation teacher and space holder. My work is centerd around gently guiding people back into relationship with themselves, with their bodies, and with the wider natural world. My offerings weave together counselling psychology, embodiment, nature connection and ritual to support deeper alignment with our inner and outer cycles.
Autumn is a time of transition, both seen and felt. In the natural world, it's the season of release, of letting go. Trees shed their leaves, plants return to the earth, and animals begin to prepare for the colder, quieter months ahead. We can also reflect about how we respond to this shift. What does it look like to slow down, reflect, and prepare for the inward journey of winter? Autumn reminds us that endings are necessary, and that release is part of the cycle.
As I sit and write this, there are signs of this change creeping in. This year, those changes seem to be in contrast to the warm breeze that’s been a regular feature since late Spring. Mornings are chillier, the leaves on the Chestnut tree outside my window have started their shift from their lush green to a tapestry of oranges and browns. Mornings are misty and cool, there’s that familiar smell of damp earth in the air but the afternoons still feel like summer. It’s been a strange year in nature with the defined edges of the seasons blurring into each other.
Autumn Equinox: a moment of perfect balance between light and dark
We’re approaching Autumn Equinox, a moment of perfect balance between light and dark, and when we pass that point we begin the slow descent into the darker half of the year. This is a beuatiful time for autumn reflection. In October we will mark Samhain, the end and the beginning of the Celtic year. Samhain is a potent threshold, a liminal space when the veil between worlds is said to be thinnest and where we’re invited to listen deeply to what’s stirring beneath the surface.
As I write this, my autumn reflection is that I am feeling this seasonal transition more fully this year. I usually love the high energy of summer but this year I found myself struggling to connect with it. I believe wholeheartedly in the power of ritual, ceremony and connecting with external cycles but that has to be balanced with exploring the cycles and rythems of our own lives. If we think of Autumn not just as an external maker but also an inner state, how can we slow down, listen, feel and to honour the ebb and flow inside of us?
This is something I’m exploring in all aspects of my work. Many of my therapy clients are exploring liminal spaces, transitions and how they might navigate the cold, dark winter months. And in my upcoming Rooted Self Connection Sessions we’ll be deep diving into this Autumn energy and reflecting about how we can somatically connect with our own inner cycles and seasons as well as the shifting seasons around us.
It’s a beautiful time to turn inward, to tend to the quieter parts of ourselves, and to identify what is ready to be composted. While exploring autumn, can you notice if you’re feeling the pull to reflect, to rest, or to recalibrate? Can you let the falling leaves remind you that there is beauty in release? Can you let the shorter days encourage you to rest more deeply?
Autumn reflection: the element of water, the ebb and the flow
Autumn energy, in many nature-based traditions, is associated with the element of water, an ever-shifting, ever-responsive force that moves with both power and softness. Symbolically water represents emotion, intuition, adaptability and the subtle art of flowing with, rather than against, the natural currents of life.
This Autumn, my connection to the element of water has been an interesting one. As many of you will know, I live on a boat and an exceptionally dry summer has meant that my little narrowboat home is currently grounded. The rains we’ve had in recent weeks have felt tropical but ponds, lakes and reservoirs are low and I wonder how this impacts our connection to being in flow. When water is present but not abundant are we able to connect with slower movement rather than allowing ourselves to stagnate?
I often reflect that I can move between extremes; rushing forward with great momentum or coming to a full stop. That balance between action and stillness, between doing and being, is something I’m still learning how to navigate. As someone who has both ADHD and Autism this is part of my rhythm. I can sprint with intensity, overflowing with ideas and energy, and then suddenly hit a wall, needing deep rest and time to reset. Water reminds me that there’s another way. A gentle, consistent flow. Not a flood, not a drought, just enough movement to feel connected, nourished, and alive.
I’ve been sitting with the idea that sustainable movement doesn't have to mean constant productivity or momentum. It can mean aligned action; small, intentional steps that keep us flowing without overwhelming our nervous systems. It can mean honouring the pauses, the eddies, the quiet pools, without getting stuck in them. It can mean recognising when we need to release something in order to continue moving, just like rivers do when they overflow their banks.
I’m learning to soften into that. To not rush the process. To not judge myself for needing stillness. And to not be afraid of letting go when the current calls for it.
So, if you’re feeling a little stuck, or a little swept away, maybe you could pause and ask: What would it feel like to be in flow right now? Not in a tidal wave of doing, and not in a stagnant pool of overwhelm, but in a gentle current steady, supported, and true to your own pace.
Embodiment journeys to connect with the energy of Autumn
Ritual is a beautiful way of intentionally connecting with both the energy of the season and the deeper parts of yourself. It offers a sacred pause and an invitation to step outside the busyness of everyday life and drop into presence. Whether it’s something simple and personal, or something shared in community, ritual helps us mark time, honour transitions, and tend to the inner shifts that often mirror what’s happening in the natural world.
With autumn being a season of thresholds, it invites us to slow down, reflect, and gently release what no longer serve us. If you’re moving through a transition, feeling the need for a reset, or simply wanting to connect more deeply with the season, you might want to explore the following rituals. If you’re looking for free resources to support your ritual practice, check out this post on embracing rituals.
This practice is from my Sacred Somatic Journeys series. The series invites you to reclaim your connection to ritual and the natural world, with no travel or screen required. Each journey invites you home to your body, to the rhythm of the seasons, to the archetypal stories woven within. This is an Embodied Nature practice, from the Autumn’s journeys.
If you’d like to explore an archetypal practice, exploring the myth of Persephone and her connection to Autumn, do check out my Sacred Somatic Journeys. You can also receive two free practices to try, you when you sign up to my newsletter here .
As the seasons turn and the world begins to quiet, The Sitting Place in Autumn Sacred Somatic Journey invites you to return to stillness and connect with the deeper rhythm of the earth. This gentle, embodied practice guides you to settle into a chosen place, perhaps a nook by the window or a familiar spot beneath open sky, and to attune to the shifting energies of autumn.
Rather than a traditional meditation, this 25-minute audio-guided somatic experience invites you into mindful presence through body awareness and sensory attunement. As the trees release their leaves and the earth receives them in rest, you’ll explore themes of grounding, balance, and release, preparing your body and spirit for the descent into the darker, quieter months.
Through this seasonal practice, you’ll deepen your relationship with the natural world and the wisdom it mirrors within you. By pausing, listening, and allowing yourself to simply be, you open to a sense of belonging in the wider web of life, attuned to the subtle shifts of both nature and self.
Themes in this journey: nature connection, connection through the senses, connection through the body, autumn, balance, renewal
Your practice includes:
MP3 audio of the guided somatic journey
PDF companion featuring the full script, reflection prompts, and a simple setup checklist
Perfect for those drawn to somatic mindfulness, seasonal ritual, and embodied connection, The Sitting Place in Autumn offers a grounded, heart-centered way to meet the turning of the year.
I’d love to hear your reflections if you try any of these Autumn rituals. To deepen your connection to nature, check out my post Resources for self guided Nature therapy. Thank you for being here, exploring autumn reflection with me. I hope this post has supported you to reconnect with this beautiful season and tap into some autumn intentions.
If you’d like to explore your transitions or bespoke rituals to honour them, I offer one off 121 sessions in person or via zoom. I’m also available for ongoing counselling, in person or via zoom, nature therapy in person in Birmingham, and group nature ceremonies in Birmingham. Autumn blessings.
