Autumn is a Gift: Finding Balance in Autumn Yin Energy

As the Autumn Equinox aligns the Earth around March 20th - 21st in the Southern Hemisphere, we enter a moment of perfect balance. The Sun comes up directly over the Equator, and day and night share equal lengths, balancing light and darkness. 

This period of transition is a gift, a time of equilibrium.  Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine views Autumn as a time to slow down after the active Summer months, offering us space to bring back a nourishing, grounding energy into our life.

Embracing Yin: A Time for Reflection

In the cycle of the seasons, Summer, characterized by its 'yang' energy of activity and growth, naturally gives way to the calming, grounding influence of Autumn's 'yin' energy. As the longer, busy days of summer slow down, we often find a longing emerging: to reconnect with grounding practices neglected during the season of expansion.

With the Earth drawing its energy inward, and nature's preparation for Winter, trees shed their leaves, animals prepare for hibernation. As part of nature, humans are also drawn to turning inward.  As the days get a little colder and the nights get longer and darker,  we spend more time inside, wear warmer clothes. We sleep a little longer, we prefer different foods. At this time, the seasonal energy is supporting us to draw back into ourself and focus our attention inward, fostering a sense of calm and introspection

Reflecting on Growth and Harvest

This time is an interesting opportunity to reflect on personal growth since the start of the Summer.  In Spring, Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine draw our awareness to creation, growth, renewal and new beginnings. Just as farmers plant seeds in Spring and harvest in Autumn, so we can see Autumn as a time for reviewing our activities and achievements since Spring.  A time of contemplating lessons learned, dreams achieved and creating an awareness of what no longer serves our higher self, what inhibits our evolution.

Letting Go to Make Space for New Growth

In the spirit of Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, Autumn is a time for transformation.  Just as trees shed leaves to make way for new growth, Autumn urges us to recognise and release old patterns, limiting beliefs, and stagnant energies. Through introspection and meaningful reflection, we can identify areas of imbalance, nurture inner calm, and embrace the lessons reflected within our Summer experiences. It's a powerful time.

This process of letting go creates fertile ground for the seeds of our winter dreams to take root, ensuring our continual growth and expansion, clearing space for future renewal and rejuvenation.

Guided by the rhythms of nature and the wisdom we all carry within, we can embrace the gifts that Autumn presents.

Namaskar

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