Autumn Musings from Maddie

A gentle invitation to slow down, listen in and follow Nature's rhythm

I love walking the Island countryside in every season, but there is something particularly magical about autumn. I passed a few days with a couple of friends I have known for literally decades and we were lucky enough to have a truly beautiful, gentle Indian Summer. Sitting under the trees in this garden, I could see the whispers of Autumn appearing.

Perhaps it is because the landscape seems to put on one last spectacular show before turning inward. The greens gradually give way to golds, russets, reds and amber, the mornings become crisp, and the leaves crunch beneath our feet.

There is a feeling of change everywhere.

And if we pause long enough to notice it, autumn can offer us a beautiful invitation:

Perhaps we too can begin to slow down.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine, autumn is associated with the Metal element and the Lung and Large Intestine energy systems. It is a season traditionally associated with letting go, taking in what nourishes us and releasing what we no longer need.

I rather like that idea.

Because how often do we continue carrying things simply because we have carried them for so long?

Old habits.Old expectations.Old worries.Things we think we should be doing.

Perhaps autumn is a good time to ask:

What am I ready to let go of?

And what do I want to keep?

The wisdom of slowing down

There is a wonderful sensory richness to this time of year.

The smell of damp earth.

The sound of leaves beneath your feet.

The cooler air on your face.

The soft light of an autumn afternoon.

The distant sound of birds preparing for migration.

As I write this, a flock of Canadian geese has just taken to the sky.

It reminds me of a time a few years ago, walking with Merlin and Mabel; both were usually delighted when the geese arrive at the lake where they swim. Fifty or more geese can be quietly gliding across the water when suddenly the dogs spot them.

Mabel simply turned her back and carried on paddling.

Merlin, on the other hand, got very macho, swims out to greet them… and then thinks better of it and makes a rather hasty doggie-paddling retreat!

It makes me smile every time.

And perhaps that is another little lesson from autumn:

Notice the small things.

They are often where the joy is hiding.

Autumn and the invitation to go within

As the natural world begins to retreat, we can give ourselves permission to do the same.

Not to withdraw from life—but to turn our attention inward.

This is not about becoming inactive or hiding away until spring. It is about recalibrating.

• Restoring.

• Nourishing.

• Reflecting.

• Listening.

Our modern lives encourage us to keep the accelerator pressed down all year round.

Nature doesn't do that.

Nature changes pace.

And perhaps our bodies know this too.

You may find yourself naturally wanting more warmth, more nourishing food, more sleep, quieter evenings and less rushing about.

Listen to those little messages.

They may simply be your body's way of saying:

"It's time to change gear."

A little autumn self-care

For me, autumn means the slow cooker comes out and soups start appearing on the menu.

It means warm jumpers, cosy blankets and the promise of a fire in the grate.

It means getting outside while there is still plenty of daylight—and then being quite happy to come home again!

But autumn self-care doesn't need to be complicated.

Perhaps this is the season to:

🍂 Eat more warming, nourishing seasonal foods.

🍂 Spend a little time outdoors every day. Especially effective if it's just after you get up - a few minutes of natural daylight at that time supports the circadian rhythm, balances cortisol levels and actually will help you sleep deeper at night.

🍂 Give yourself permission to rest without feeling guilty. This is a hard one for me, I'm great at noticing things 'to do'. This Autumn I'm factoring in more time to sit and read and I'll start up by Book Dragon reviews on the website.

🍂 Drink enough water, even though you may feel less thirsty than in summer.

🍂 Revisit a book, course or practice that has been waiting patiently for you.

🍂 Create some quiet time without a screen. I'm really going to try and stick to my intention of no screens at the weekend!

🍂 Notice what your body is asking for.

🍂 Let go of one thing that is no longer serving you.

And perhaps most importantly...

Stop occasionally and simply notice where you are.

• Look at the trees.

• Feel your feet on the ground.

• Take a slower breath.

• Listen to the birds.

• Let yourself be present.

For those of us in the Crone Zone ....

I think there is something particularly beautiful about autumn as we move through this part of our personal timeline.

We are surrounded by cultural messages that tell us to fight ageing—to stay young, look young and behave as though nothing has changed.

But Nature doesn't fight change.

She embraces it.

The autumn tree doesn't apologise because its leaves are changing colour.

It doesn't try to hold onto every leaf.

It releases what is ready to fall, it knows what and when to let go...

…and trusts that there is another season coming.

Perhaps there is wisdom in that for us too.

There are things we may no longer need to prove.

Things we may no longer need to chase.

And perhaps a little more space for simply being.

This doesn't mean giving up on vitality, curiosity, adventure or pleasure.

Quite the opposite.

It means becoming more discerning about where we put our precious energy.

What deserves your energy now?

That's an interesting autumn question.

So, what will you do differently this autumn?

Perhaps choose just one small thing.

• A change to your diet.

• A daily walk.

• Ten minutes of quiet.

• More time in nature.

• A little more sleep.

• A forgotten book brought back to the bedside table.

• A practice that makes you feel good.

• Or perhaps simply the decision to stop rushing quite so much.

You don't need to transform your life.

Sometimes one small adjustment is enough to begin a new rhythm.

So, as the leaves begin to fall, I invite you to take a moment to pause and ask yourself:

What is Nature inviting me to release?

What is she inviting me to nourish?

And what would it feel like to move into autumn at Nature's pace rather than my own?

Perhaps your body already knows the answer.

Listen closely.