Awakening to Something New
As the seasons turn, I find myself pausing to notice how nature mirrors our inner lives. Autumn, with its golden light and crisp edges, invites us to look both backward and forward. It’s a season of introspection—time to wander in the wilderness of our own hearts, to gather the harvest of what summer offered, and to ask ourselves: What am I ready to release? What am I ready to welcome in?
Walking among trees shedding their leaves, I feel the wisdom of letting go. The fruits of summer—projects completed, travel memories made, moments savored, lessons learned—become the nourishment that carries me forward. There is joy in acknowledging what has been, even as we soften into the mystery of what is coming next. This dance between reflection and anticipation is where awakening always begins.
This year’s autumn equinox amplifies that invitation. The equinox is a sacred threshold, a day of balance when light and dark stand in perfect harmony before the scales tip toward longer nights. It offers us a moment to pause in stillness, to feel both the fullness of what has been and the possibility of what is just arriving. In this balance, we find clarity: the chance to honor the old and open ourselves to the new.
In my own practice, yoga and meditation serve as the anchor points for this season of transition. On the mat, we breathe into the present moment, creating space to honor what has passed while opening to something new. Through stillness and movement, we practice trusting that even when we don’t know exactly what lies ahead, we are supported. The body becomes the teacher, showing us that grounding, balance, and openness are cultivated step by step, breath by breath.
Awakening to something new does not require grand gestures. It can be as simple as pausing for a mindful breath, walking barefoot through fallen leaves, or sitting quietly in meditation as the sun rises. These small practices remind us that change is not something to fear, but an invitation to expand.
Ways to Embody Awakening to Something New
Here are some gentle practices you might explore this month, especially as we move through the equinox:
🍂 Journaling Prompt: Ask yourself: Where in my life do I need more balance? What am I harvesting from this past season? What am I ready to release so I can welcome something new? Who do I need to forgive? Write freely and with curiosity.
🍂 Nature Walk: Take a slow walk outdoors at sunrise or sunset. Notice the balance of light and shadow around you. As you walk, imagine releasing what no longer serves you with every exhale, and receiving the new with every inhale.
🍂 Yoga Pose Practice: Ground yourself with balancing postures like Tree Pose (Vrksasana) or Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III). As you wobble and steady, reflect on the balance of light and dark in your own life.
🍂 Meditation: Visualize yourself standing at a doorway between two seasons. Behind you are the gifts of summer—the warmth, the growth, the experiences. Before you lies autumn’s mystery, with the longer days ahead, where darkness provides a fertile ground of creativity and new discoveries. With each breath, imagine stepping through the threshold, welcoming the new with an open heart.
🍂 Harvest Gratitude Ritual: Prepare a meal using seasonal foods—squash, apples, root vegetables. Before eating, pause to give thanks: for the abundance of the earth, for your own growth, and for the new season you are stepping into.
The shift into autumn is not only a turning point in nature, but a reminder that we, too, are always becoming. As we step into this season together, may we rejoice in what has been, release what is no longer ours to carry, and courageously open to the possibilities waiting to unfold. With yoga and meditation as our companions, may we awaken to something new—within ourselves, in our communities, and in the world.
With Love & Gratitude,
