Embracing Autumn: Colours, inspiration and emotions of the Season

Change is afoot! I’m sure you’re feeling the deep shifts of these uncertain and intense times. Whether you follow the media or not, we are all part of the collective web, and we can all feel it being shaken. In our changing season, our world and our personal inner and outer worlds. Big transitions, big questions, big feelings, big actions! We are remembering, resisting, redirecting and rising. All while navigating through our own unique journeys. If it feels like a lot to hold, it's because it is!

As usual, I am looking to Mother Nature for guidance. Trees are my favourite guides, especially in Autumn. Did you know that the colours of Autumn leaves are held within the leaves all along? Green chlorophyll breaks down in Autumn to reveal yellow, orange, red and purple underneath. And brown arrives when the leaf is completely dried out. The tree knows when, how and why to let go. Trees honour what they need to do to preserve energy and nutrients in order to get through the winter. The leaves they release nourish the ground. In turbulent winds, trees don't waste precious resources clinging on to leaves that no longer serve them. They let them go. They trust the process needed for their own wellbeing which enables them to fulfil their purpose in our world.

We are in turbulent and crucial times. Each of us is needed in our rightful place, like a unique puzzle piece that fits perfectly into the big puzzle of the world. Right now, many of us are receiving a loud call to action. We are being asked to fill our vital role in our lives and in our world. So, I have some questions for you that I've been pondering lately:

• Do you feel that you are in the right place?

• Are you prioritising your own wellbeing, your peace and your purpose?

• What is something I need to let go of? This could be a story, belief, relationship, job, habit, physical possession... Trust whatever comes up for you.

• What is disturbing my peace, draining my resources and distracting me from my purpose?

• Do I know myself well enough to know when, how and why to let go?

• Do I trust myself?

• What can I do in order to preserve my energy and nourish myself more?

• What are my true colours (feelings or needs) right now?

Asking ourselves questions like these help us know ourselves. And when we know ourselves we can learn to love ourselves. And when we love ourselves we honour our worth and purpose. It is vital for each of us to find peace and stability within so that nothing and no-one can disturb us from our purpose. I want that for all of us, and for the world! It’s OK feel our feelings and to do what we need to do to find peace and stability. It’s OK to let our branches be shaken and surrender. It's OK to rest and prioritise our needs in order to fulfil our purpose and be well. Actually, it's necessary!

Feelings Cafe

This week, revealing my true colours looked like demonstrating "the unmasked way" with my three year old daughter, Lily. My colour? Grief. After hours of trying to be present with Lily in her little cafe, I reached capacity. Feeling distracted (haunted) by the harrowing events of the world. And navigating the struggles of my own life (which I'm very aware would feel like blessings to so many), I felt overcome with emotion.

Lily “Mummy, will you play with me?"

Me “I’m sorry darling, I need to rest”

Lily “Why?” 

Me “I'm tired…” (true, but not the full truth. And as children do, Lily held up a mirror up to me)

Lily "oh pleeeeaaaassseee Mummmmyyyy! Whhhyyyy?! You're not tired! Play with me pleeeeaaaase"

(Time to be honest. With her and myself.)

Me “I am tired... and… I’m sad”

Lily “Why are you sad?”

Me “Because sometimes life is hard. And I'm feeling how hard it is for other people too... It’s OK to feel sad.”

Lily “Aww Mummy. It’s OK to have big feelings?”

(Lily gave me a hug and a wooden Bakewell cake)

And then… tears. And a deep sigh. The kind of relief that only comes with full expression and unmasked sharing. Sitting with my child, and my inner child. Learning together how to feel big feelings, sit in discomfort and trust that we can and will get through it. It's OK.

Feelings are friends

I like to think of feelings as friends who deserve to be witnessed, heard and felt. In circle I often say "all feelings are welcome". They may not always feel like welcome guests, but I'm learning that they have the best intentions for us. Our feelings have important messages for us about our needs, values and environment. For example, a visit from anger may reveal that a boundary has been crossed. A visit from shame may reveal a fear of being unworthy or unloveable. Jealousy can show us what we really want for ourselves! It’s painful and scary. And it’s necessary and empowering.

The more we allow ourselves to sit in and with discomfort, the more we learn to trust our ability to navigate through it and improve our lives. It’s OK to fall apart. Life can feel so hard, and it does for so many of us. Especially now. And life feels even harder when we try to deny how hard it feels; when we try to hold on to leaves that would serve us better if we let them go; when we use up our valuable resources and end up with nothing left to sustain us through our winters.

I share this because I want you to know in your heart that whatever you are feeling is valid. I hope that you're able to find a way to welcome your feelings and receive the wisdom they hold. Your feelings are always welcome in our circles. And a good therapist or trained mental health professional can help you really understand them and work with them more deeply. I also invite you to think of the people in your life who welcome your feelings. And those who don't. Please be discerning over who you share your truth with.

Your feelings can help you connect more deeply with yourself, your truth, your loved ones, your needs and desires. You deserve to feel loved, respected and celebrated no matter how you're feeling. Our feelings are doorways into our inner worlds, revealing our true colours and imparting wisdom to guide us. Then we can find ourselves guided to the doorway of connection, purpose and love for ourselves, for others and for the world. When we allow our feelings to be felt they can help us transform into our most authentic selves. To be the person we came here to be, doing the things we came here to do. When we live authentically we become empowered and can find it easier to have compassion and love for ourselves. We can then find more compassion for others and ultimately find ourselves rooted in love. Imagine a world where every being is rooted in love! Imagine the ripple effect. This is my prayer and my reason for being. Holding space for women, supporting women and raising my daughter the way I do is how I'm answering my call to action. Together we can do what we could never do alone. It's time for us to return home to ourselves and share the gifts we were given. Everyone benefits when we honour ourselves this way. But first, let's feel.

With love, Lucy xxx