Spiritual Meaning of Autumn: A Slow Living Perspective

As we near the middle of September, the beauty of Autumn unfolds here in the English countryside. It rains every day, and the forest carries a special smell: a mix of damp earth and wild mushrooms. The growth cycle is ending, and nature is retreating, drawing energy back to its roots.

It’s a beautiful and nostalgic time of year that holds deeper spiritual meaning. I strongly believe that following the rhythm of nature is the most natural way of living - something engraved in our DNA for thousands of years. A mere 260 years since the Industrial Revolution and 150 since the invention of the light bulb cannot erase the natural rhythms that guided us since the dawn of time, when the sun and seasons directed our lives.

Each season carries a different energy. In Winter we rest and regenerate. In Spring we open up to the world and sow seeds (both physical and metaphysical). In Summer we work, enjoy, and draw on the warmth and strength of the sun. Autumn is the time for closing the affairs of Spring and Summer - reflection, gratitude, and honouring our ancestors.

What Autumn Is Not About

Autumn is not about social media aesthetics or making everything orange. Of course, decorating your home for the season is a lovely way to express seasonal living, but don’t get lost in it. Every year we’re bombarded with long lists of DIYs, shows to watch, places to visit, must-have clothes, and recipes. Remember that what you see online is the work of many individuals - some of whom treat social media as a full-time job. Of course they have time for all the baking and crafts, but your day doesn’t get any longer during the BER months.

Slowing Down

Nature slows down in Autumn, as we move through September, October, and November. The landscape becomes more barren, brown, and grey, and the weather wetter and colder. This is the time for us to take inspiration and slow down our own race.

Choose wisely how you want to spend Autumn. Instead of adding to your to-do list, perhaps see what you can remove.

Releasing and Letting Go

Just as trees let go of their leaves, spiritually Autumn is the time for releasing things that weigh us down or have simply run their course in our lives. From bad habits and limiting beliefs to toxic relationships, take some time this season to reflect on what no longer serves you, and consider how best to free yourself from the burden.

Working with Shadows

This is important inner work. I may suggest or encourage it, but the work itself is yours to do.

Working with your shadows means facing your inner self - acknowledging and accepting the parts of you that are usually hidden. “Shadows” can symbolise emotions, memories, or traits we don’t want to confront. Instead of pushing away sadness, anger, or disappointment, allow yourself to feel and understand them. Once we let these feelings surface and sit with them, they become less frightening and uncomfortable.

Tender Self-Care

Self-care in Autumn is deeply inspired by nature. Just as trees let go of leaves and draw energy back to their roots, we too should cut off what drains us and instead nurture ourselves with practices that soothe and bring inner peace.

My favourite ways of Autumn self-care:

- Walks in nature
- Yin and restorative yoga
- Drinking herbal teas
- Reading instead of scrolling
- Early nights in bed
- Cooking with seasonal vegetables
- Writing down thoughts and inspiring quotes in my Writer’s Notebook

Seasonal Festivals

In Autumn, we celebrate two festivals on the Wheel of the Year - a nature-based calendar marking solar events (solstices, equinoxes) and cross-quarter days known as fire festivals, rooted in Celtic tradition.

Autumn Equinox – 22 September (Mabon)

The moment of perfect balance in nature, when day and night are equal, after which the light begins to wane. Mabon is the second of three harvest festivals and invites us to reflect and give thanks. Traditional celebrations include preparing a seasonal meal, expressing gratitude for the bounty of Mother Nature, and sitting by the fire to honour the waning light. To mark the Autumn Equinox, you might also enjoy our Mabon Candle, created to bring warmth and intention to your seasonal rituals.

Samhain – 31 October (also Halloween, All Hallow’s Eve)

A cross-quarter fire festival that is the root of our modern Halloween, Samhain is the 3rd and final of the harvest festivals. In folklore, on the night of 31st October, the veil between worlds is the thinnest and spirits are free to roam. I will leave it up to you what you choose to believe, but this is certainly a perfect time to honour our ancestors and give thanks for those who shaped us.

The end of the agricultural year marks our entry into the darkest season - light gives way to shadow, but with the knowledge and trust that new growth will come. Traditional celebrations include bonfires and candles (as it is a fire festival), harvest feasts, remembering ancestors, leaving a place at the table for departed loved ones, and (if you believe in it) divination. For this fire festival, our Samhain Candle is a beautiful way to honour the season, remember ancestors, and welcome the darker half of the year

A Few Closing Words

Autumn reminds us that life is not about constant growth, self-improvement, or chasing the new. The darker part of the year prompts us to slow down, close chapters, and do the unseen inner work that happens beneath the surface - to face the parts of ourselves we often hide.

The darker part of the year stands in direct opposition to the lighter, and together they create the balance needed in the cycle of life. Nothing can grow forever without cyclical rest and regeneration - and neither can we.

Use these months to shed the beliefs and habits that weigh you down and prevent you from embracing the depth of Winter rest ahead. Less scrolling, less alcohol, mindful meals, more walks in nature, quiet evenings at home, and listening to your own thoughts will nourish both body and soul - making this season truly meaningful.

Thank you for reading,
Adriana x