Slow Living Rituals and Rhythms for the Autumn Season

Rhythms and routines are often something we seek as we grow older, but they are beautiful ways to feel connected to nature, where we live, and experience daily life at any age.

Seasonal celebrations, traditions, rituals, and routines add thoughtful structure and direction to everyday life. They assist in making choices from the foods consumed to the decorations displayed in our homes and the experiences we welcome. Getting started with creating seasonal rhythms and routines is easy.

How to get started with creating seasonal routines and rhythms

Before a new season begins, find time to formulate the desired rhythms and routines for the months ahead. Locate a quiet space to contemplate what brings you joy and what you long to enjoy in the upcoming season. Write your thoughts in a journal, create a voice memo, or sit in meditation as you dream about the flow of your days. It is also a good time to audit existing and established daily practices, especially if any feel stale or out of sync.

The autumn season is uniquely positioned as the last hurrah of the warm summer months. When summer harvests demand to be processed, the dwindling daylight hours create a longing to prepare for the chilly months ahead. For these reasons, autumn can feel overwhelming and in conflict with the want to make our daily happenings comfortable and cozy. Creating a structure based on unique aspects of autumn is the perfect way to ease into the new season. Welcoming in the plants, celebrations, rituals, and routines of fall will steady your course and organize time naturally.

Autumn Rituals and Rhythms

Home

Decorate with Nature: Bring the outdoors in with marigolds, cosmos, sunflowers, and autumn-inspired plants like wheat stalks, corn husks, and acorns.
Embrace Cozy Touches: Line windowsills with pumpkins and gourds, create a fall wreath, and infuse your space with homemade cleaning supplies with citrus or cinnamon.
Create a Sensory Experience: Fill a bowl with nuts and a nutcracker, simmer potpourri with apples, lemons, oranges, anise, and cinnamon, and burn incense like palo santo or sage.
Indulge in Warm Beverages: Enjoy seasonal herbal teas like chai, cinnamon, and ginger.

Body

Nourish the Senses: Incorporate autumnal aromas like bergamot, nutmeg, cardamom, lemon, orange, cinnamon, and clove into your daily routine through diffusers or cooking.
Pamper Your Skin: Create a salt scrub with coconut oil, Epsom salts, and herbs like thyme, sage, rosemary, and citrus.
Create a Warm Glow: Light candles to create a cozy atmosphere, especially during the darker days.
Enjoy Healthy Snacks: Roast pumpkin seeds for a nutritious and seasonal treat.
Stay Warm and Comfortable: Wear cozy sweaters and woolen socks to adjust to the cooler weather.
Practice Grounding Meditation: In Ayurveda, autumn corresponds to the Vata energy. Practice grounding meditation by taking slow, deep breaths and focusing on the earth beneath you.
Nourish Your Body: Enjoy warm and hearty foods like stews, soups, and roasts.
Prepare for Winter Ailments: Create herbal remedies to support common winter illnesses.

Garden

Plant parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, chives, and mint in the garden to enjoy fresh herbs all season long.
Harvest the last of the summer produce by canning or drying it for winter storage.
At the end of autumn, plant a cover crop and put the garden to bed.
Or, leave the seed heads for the birds and some leaves on the ground for hibernating insects.

Soul

Connect with the Moon: Observe the Hunter’s Moon in October, a time traditionally associated with hunting and preparation for winter.
Honor Loved Ones: Create an altar for deceased loved ones on All Souls Day, including candles, incense, photos, and personal items. Write a wish for them and burn it in the candle.
Cultivate Learning: Create a new reading list or listen to seasonal playlists.

By incorporating these rituals and routines into your life, you can deepen your connection to autumn and create a more intentional and fulfilling experience.