Happy October friends.
About two weeks ago we welcomed fall. It is just my favorite time of year. The colors, the feel, the everything.
I love the idea of utilizing and elevating all of our senses to feel more in tune with the earth, seasons, and evoking specific feelings. I see that in our culture we often do this through taste and food. We get focused on what the seasons taste like ( i.e. Christmas means cookies and gingerbread, fall evokes pumpkin spice everything) , we can forget how much abundance we can draw from tapping into our other sensory delights.
I find that when I draw from all my senses to pull myself into the moment and feel more connected to the time of year, I am more fulfilled, calm, and peaceful. It is more than a feel good exercise, it has become my spiritual practice over the years.
I have also found in my own experience that when we fulfill all our senses on the natural plane, we tend not too overdo one area. For example, you will probably be less likely to overeat if you smell your food, set a beautiful + welcoming table, and connect with the people you are sharing your meal with. In other words, when you fill up via all your senses, you tend to not go overboard in one area to make up for another.
I love welcoming pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice cakes, and pumpkin pretty much anything you can imagine in Trader Joe’s. But how can we incorporate all of our senses to welcome + connect to the cozy season of fall? Here are a few ideas…
Touch: walk barefoot on fallen leaves, gather + feel natural elements in nature to decorate your home with, knit something cozy with soft yarn, replace your summer bedding with flannel counterparts, slip on your favorite warm socks
Taste: enjoy fresh apple cider, add a dash of cinnamon to your coffee or tea, enjoy food (the harvest) with friends + family, slow down and enjoy every. single. bite.
Sight: decorate your mantle with natural fall elements such as pumpkins + leaves + sticks, reorganize your closet with items that evoke warmth and coziness and place them at the forefront, make a fall vision board, read a heart warming + fun book (I’m a little late to the party but I am currently reading Harry Potter and I am loving the magic of the series in October)
Smell: Light a favorite candle, diffuse essential oils (here are some great ideas for blends), take a stroll around your neighborhood and notice the changes in your neighborhood’s fragrance, whip up a homemade mask with pumpkin (see recipe below) and enjoy the scent while you take care of your skin
Sound: Wake up early and simply listen to nature on the front porch, build a favorite fall playlist (here is one of mine), have tea with a friend and listen more than usual, go to the ocean, creek, or lake and enjoy the soothing sounds and crisp air
To me, creating and paying close attention to our engagement between ourselves and the seasons is such beautiful self-care. To take a step beyond the surface connection and dig deep about how you really enjoy connecting all your senses to fall will leave you feeling more inspired, fulfilled, and recharged. I promise.
Homemade Pumpkin Mask
I love this mask to help me wind down from a long day and connect to the elements of season through self-care. I will make one batch and store in the fridge for about a week or so in an airtight container and use multiple times.
1/3 cup pumpkin puree
pinch of cinnamon
1-2 teaspoons of honey
1 tablespoon of plain, whole fat yogurt
Mix together well and apply liberally to your face and décolleté. Sit. breathe. relax. Wash off after 15-20 minutes with warm water, followed by a splash of cold water.
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What are some of your favorite ways to connect to the fall season?