Connecting with the energy and spirituality of Autumn through ritual and intention

Hello friend and thanks for being here. Today I wanted to share some reflections as we move through Autumn. Autumn is a season of transition where we’re invited to slow down, reflect and make preparations for the cold, dark months of winter. It is a time to honour the shifting elements, to connect with gratitude and to shed what no longer serves us. It’s a season of endings and we can observe this in the natural world.

As I write this I can see evidence of nature’s endings all around me. The leaves of the Chestnut tree that I can see out of my window are transitioning from green to vibrant orange, mornings are foggy and crisp and night creeps in a little earlier every day. We’ve just moved past the Autumn Equinox, where night and day were briefly in balance and in a few weeks it will be Samhain, the end and the beginning of the Celtic year. The wheel of the year is always turning.

My own experience of the current season feels more grounded this year than it has in the past. I am finding myself in a transitionary period at the moment and I feel a strong pull to complete tasks that are associated with that transition, before we step into winter. Just like the trees, there are things that I need to shed and let go of, to create space for new things to come in. This is also true for a lot of my therapy clients at the moment. So many of the people I’m working with are exploring liminal spaces, transitions and how they might navigate the cold, dark winter months. And in the ritual and nature based work I do, there’s a lot of exploration around how we can somatically connect with our own inner cycles and seasons as well as the shifting seasons around us.

The element of water in Autumn: the ebb and the flow

Autumn is associated with the element of water, symbolising emotion, intuition, and the ebb and flow of life. There has been so much rain already this Autumn and living on the canal, in my little boat home, means that water is never far away. As the rains fall and the rivers swell, we can think about our inner waters. How easy is it for us to go with the flow? Or do we tend to try to swim against the tide?

As well as the power of water that we see in rivers and tides, water can teach us about stillness and the stagnation that can happen when we don’t balance stillness with aligned action that allows us to move forward. That balance isn’t always something I’m good at. I’m often rushing forward at great speed or stopping completely. As someone with ADHD, that’s kind of part of the package but I am always grateful to be reminded that a gentle flow can be more sustainable and supportive for my energy. That’s probably enough water metaphors now!

A simple ritual for connecting with the energy of water in Autumn

Ritual is a beautiful way of intentionally connecting with the energy of a season and yourself. Ritual can be a beautiful way of anchoring (ok just one more water metaphor) yourself. This is also something I’ve been exploring a lot with clients and I’ve had a few really beautiful one off, 121 sessions with clients recently where we’ve looked at how ritual can support them to explore transitions and rites of passage. This gentle ritual connects with the energy of Autumn, the element of water and also the element of fire to symbolise transformation.

What you’ll need:

A small bowl of water or a river or stream
A candle (to represent fire and transformation)
A few fallen leaves, conkers or other objects from nature
A quiet outdoor space or sacred indoor space

Instructions:

Open your sacred space: place your bowl of water in front of you, or on your alter if you have one. If you’re outside, have your bowl of water and leaves to hand or ensure that you’re within an easy distance of your water source. Take a few deep breaths, feeling yourself grounded and present. If you have a spiritual practice already you can open the space in what ever way feels right for you. If you don’t have a practice already, you can simply light your candle with the intention that you’re carving out a sacred space for your ritual
Connect to the elements somatically: we often look outside of ourselves to connect with the elements but each element is within or with us. For Earth you can take a moment to feel the solidity of the ground under your feet. For Air you can take a breath and breath our slowly and with intention. For fire you can connect with the heat of your body, by rubbing your hands together. For water you can lick your lips and connect with the sensation.
Reflect on release: hold a leaf in your hand, thinking about something in your life that you are ready to let go of.
Immerse in water: gently place the leaf in the water, watching it float. As you do, say “As the leaves fall and nature sheds in preperation for winter, I release [name the thing you are letting go of].” Imagine, think or feel energy of release flowing through you, as the water begins to absorb the essence of what you’re shedding. You can repeat this as many times as you would like.
Offer your gratitude: thank the element of water for its cleansing and transformative powers. As you watch the leaf floating in the water, reflect on how water teaches you to ebb, flow and to navigate transitions
Complete the ritual: When you feel ready, blow out the candle and pour the water back onto the earth, symbolising the return of what no longer serves you to be transformed by nature. End by offering grattitude to the Earth for transmuting what no longer serves you.

I’d love to hear your reflections if you try this simple ritual. Autumn is a season of deep transformation, guided by the element of water. Through its festivals of Mabon and Samhain, we are reminded of the balance between light and dark, life and death, and the power of release. 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 and nature therapy in person of via zoom. You can get in touch here. Autumn blessings.