Release Counselling: Autumn is here

A minute ago it was June. Now the weather is September. The crops are high, about to be cut, bright, golden. The days are still warm, the air in the shadows sharper. The nights are sooner, chillier, the light a little less each time.

 

Autumn, Ali Smith

Autumn equinox was 23 September at 1.04am, when the sun passed directly in front of the Equator, meaning we all have 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. For us in the Northern Hemisphere, it means our days will gradually get shorter until we reach winter equinox in December; for those in the Southern Hemisphere, it was their spring equinox and means their days will gradually get longer.

In London, the sun rose at seven on the autumn equinox, and the light did seem different – a golden tint that wasn’t there on summer mornings a month before.

What does autumn look like to you? We often associate it with the fiery tones of changing leaves (maybe a legacy of art classes in the first term at school). I also think of pink flowers – nerines, dahlias, pink snowberries (you’ve probably seen white snowberries growing in hedges).

What does autumn smell or taste like for you? Is it wet pavements, the smoky fog of fireworks and bonfires, the warm, sweet scent of apples or spiced hot drinks, a comforting bowl of soup or plate of hot toast?

What does autumn sound or feel like? Crunchy leaves underfoot, the wind howling and rain drumming, the kettle boiling. A fluffy jumper or blanket, thick socks with boots, your favourite hoodie or jeans.

There’s a golden hour in the evenings when the sun is low and bathes everything in a warm light. This could be a nice way to end the day, especially if it’s been difficult. A gentle walk or just sitting outside for a moment.

Going outdoors for a few minutes can sometimes help soothe us if we’re feeling lonely, tired, or low. For some people, it can be helpful to go outside for a moment soon after waking, as it teaches our body it’s daytime. It can feel harder to make ourselves do this when it’s rainy or windy, but even standing by an open window for a minute might get our day off to a slightly brighter start.

We still have a few months to go before the end of the year. Is there anything you’d like to do? It doesn’t have to be big or elaborate, but could you plan a micromovement towards it? I often find it helps me to tell someone out loud what I plan to do and when I think I can reasonably achieve it by – an accountability buddy, who can give me a friendly reminder.

There’s a tree at Kew Gardens which is in danger of dying, but has been painstakingly propped up. The grass across London became faded and dry during the heatwave, but a few days of rain has brought it back to life. Sometimes if we’re struggling, it can feel hard to imagine how we’ll be able to stand up and flourish again.

Talking to someone – an emotional accountability buddy, perhaps – can help us. Allowing someone else to hold the hope for us until we can hold it for ourselves.