What Your Womb Knows About Autumn That Your Calendar Doesn't
Light by Annatina Franaszek
Have you stood outside underneath a canopy of golden and amber leaves with the radiance of sunlight sparkling through? Have you paused for a moment on the earth and deepened your breath to the crisp, dry autumn air? How does it feel to walk upon the leaves that gave you shade and shelter this summer? What is transforming within you? Has it been hard to release, or are you fully ready to shed back to the earth in gentle surrender?
The Wisdom of Gathering and Releasing
Autumn is a time for both gathering and releasing. As we align with the natural current drawing us inward, we collect all that we've gathered and begin to sort. What will come with me as I journey to the deep and dark incubatory rest of winter? What beliefs and dreams will be the candle that lights my way? What gifts have I received from the growth of my spirit that I will integrate deeper, weaving them into the marrow of my bones so that they shall never be lost again? As I walk upon the earth, my footsteps become the beat of a steady drum rhythm, and so she knows her child's presence. All of the abundance is at the altar of my body and spirit.
The Season of Autumn in Your Body
The season of autumn lives in your womb as the luteal phase - the phase just after ovulation and before menstruation. It is also the season of a woman's life when she enters perimenopause. Even those of you who have had hysterectomies and are menopausal or post-menopausal are still cycling with each moon - this energy never goes away. It simply becomes refined and polished.
As we draw closer to the cross-quarter point of Samhain (Halloween), the midpoint between the Autumn Equinox and the Winter Solstice, we begin to drop deeper into our roots: our ancestors, our bones, our sinew (tendons and muscles), the deep fertile earth where little light shines throughout the rest of the year. Imagine if you will, this being the beginning of a new year - many earth-based traditions see it so—as this is the time to plant the seeds for the year ahead. We give light and nourishment to these seeds from our roots so that once spring comes, we have nutrient-dense seedlings that sprout. The ones you've kept loved and nourished all winter long have also kept you loved and nourished.
Practices to Support Your Autumn Transition
Weave these practices into your moon cycle autumn (luteal phase) and life cycle autumn (perimenopause):
Accept the invitation to slow down.
Bring yourself outdoors as the sun rises and sets—drink in the golden hour. This supports the health of our pineal gland, led by light cycles and which produces melatonin. We are getting the signal from Nature to slow through the light.
Create an autumn altar.
Bring yourself outdoors as the sun rises and sets—drink in the golden hour. This supports the health of our pineal gland, led by light cycles and which produces melatonin. We are getting the signal from Nature to slow through the light.
Eat and drink warmth.
Eat warm foods, drink warm beverages, gather warming spices. Everyone's body constitution is different; however, when it is cold outside and the light is fading, our bodies need to put more effort into keeping us warm. Bringing warmth into our bodies through what we eat and drink helps nourish our blood and lymph—it keeps everything moving and the fire in our bellies stoked. Root vegetables bring us minerals from the earth and help us stay connected with her throughout the winter.
Keep warm relations.
Bring those who tend to the fire of your heart and spirit close by in the winter. Think: who would you love to have in your bear den with you this winter?
Keep a dream journal.
Because we sleep more during the winter and move into deeper and slower rest states, we become open to more dreamtime. Keep one by your bed, and why not a pocket journal as you go about your days to track your insights, awarenesses, glimpses of how you envision your life becoming—or even better, noticing all the miracles that you live within in this very moment.
Know yourself and trust your rhythm.
We are about to head into the biggest and fastest party and festivity time of the year. Choose your gatherings with the wisdom of your body, not with FOMO, pressure, or guilt.
Trust This Season
This is preparation time, and it doesn't have to be challenging. You don't have to wear your busy like a badge of honor. You can trust this season and your body to move you through it with grace and ease.
Support for Your Journey Through Autumn
Now is a beautiful time to set yourself up with regular support as you navigate this transitional season:
Bodywork & Healing Sessions
Nurture your body with therapeutic touch that honors the wisdom held in your tissues. Release what no longer serves you and integrate the gifts of your growth into your physical being. Listen to what your body is sharing with you amidst the busyness.
Mentorship & Guidance
Receive support in listening to your body's rhythm, understanding your cycles, and moving through life transitions with clarity and confidence. Learn to trust the wisdom of your womb and the seasons within you.
Sauna Sessions
Embrace the warmth and deep rest of infrared sauna therapy. Support your body's natural detoxification, warm your bones, and create space for introspection and renewal during the darker months.
Each of these offerings helps you align with the natural rhythms of autumn - both in the earth and in your body - so you can move through this season with grace, ease, and deep nourishment.
Ready to honor your autumn season? Let’s walk this transition together.
xo Christine Jude
