Falling Inward ~ 5 Ways to Harness Autumn Healing
Photo by Joanna Kosinska
For many years I dreaded the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. It began, for me, with a life crisis that took place during the autumn several decades ago. For years afterward I would feel the sharp shift in the air as the colors of the trees began to change and drop from their branches. The mornings stung with briskness, the days became desperately shorter, and nights became dark and threatening.
At the first sign of fall, and it’s uncomfortable association, I would try to distract myself in every unproductive and unhealthy way imaginable. Through my ineffective coping efforts, my disdain for autumn grew exponentially. That distinct time of the year no longer represented merely the initial traumatic period in my life, but compounded to include my self-harming behaviors and their consequences, complete with shame, blame, disgust, and overall self-loathing.
Safe to say, no amount of pumpkin spice lattes or “fireside” scented candles could put me in a better headspace when it came to the fall.
1) Take time for transition
In Chinese medicine the autumn is associated with grief and sadness. The life cycle of plants and trees begin to come to an end during this time of year, reminding us of the impermanence of life. Transitions can help us to shift our perspective and reconnect us to what we value most in life.
2) Find where to let go
The changing colors of the leaves symbolize this transition. Change can naturally evoke a sense of wonder and excitement or a sense of fear and uncertainty. Leaves fall from their branches, inviting us to think about where we might let go and what we can release in our own lives. This process of change, impermanence, and letting go may be accompanied by loss and even mourning.
3) Move into hibernation
As the temperatures drop, and the vibrant hues of scarlet, rust, and gold begin to diminish outside, we are called to move indoors. Bears and other animals enter hibernation, nestling themselves in the safety of their caves and ground forts to conserve their energy and resources. Likewise, trees and plants, roots and bulbs, continue to live dormant under the earth. This energy conserving, dormant stage is essential for regrowth, come spring.
Similarly, this invitation to hibernate—to retreat inward—offers us the opportunity to reassess, shed what’s no longer needed, conserve our energy, redistribute our resources, to heal, and prepare for our next stage of growth.
4) Explore your shadow
This inward shift is conducive to inner reflection and introspection. This can be a time to explore our subconscious patterns, recognize our “shadow” side (in Jungian terms), and deepen our understanding of ourselves. The physical hibernation and conservation of our physiological resources, allow us to shift our energy toward emotional discovery, healing, and restoration.
Some of us resist the process of going within, because it may entail a quiet solitude in order to hear what lies beneath the surface. What deep whisper or dark shadow lurks behind our social mask—the public persona we don, the side of us we show to the world? Away from the busy-ness of daily life’s commitments and obligations, who are we?
This season beckons to us to turn inward, to explore less obvious or dominant parts of ourselves, to accept and investigate our shadow side.
According to Carl Jung, “Everyone carries a shadow, and the less it is embodied in the individual’s conscious life, the blacker and denser it is.”
Unless we acknowledge our “shadow,” the part of ourselves represented by more “negative” qualities like greed, jealousy, rage, fear, addiction, etc., the more likely our shadow will influence us, dictating our behaviors and our relationships. Jung warns us, “What you resist persists.”
This shadow side is what I was faced with every fall, as the sensory reminders of the season haunted me from years before, further magnifying my autumnal turmoil. Finally, I realized that until I allowed myself to stop running from my shadow, any sense of peace would elude me.
5) Create safety and comfort
Acknowledging and exploring our shadow side requires that we feel safe enough to do so. Identifying ways to establish a sense of security and comfort is critical. For each of us, this may look different. What makes you feel safe, protected and comforted? Can you create an inviting environment? Can you anchor into the support of someone you trust?