Just as the acorn contains the mighty oak tree, the self has everything it needs to fulfill its destiny. When the inner conditions are right, it naturally emerges.” Derek Ryhall
I don’t know if you’ve noticed yet, but, this past week, as I’ve been settling my children off to sleep, I’ve seen the evening light gently tickle the tops of the curtains as it fades away ever earlier.
The muted dark slowly taking its place.
It’s a hallmark of a returning.
I know for many, this is an unwelcome moment; the promise of darker evenings and cooler temperatures drawing nearer.
But, for me, I relish the change.
For as long as I can remember, I’ve always loved the equinoxes.
Perhaps it’s because I am a Spring Equinox baby, so maybe there’s something about these states of transition that suit me?
When it comes to Autumn, I can wholeheartedly relate to the words of Mary Ann Evans (a.k.a. George Eliot):
“Delicious Autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”
Yes! Except I’d probably alternate Autumn and Spring, ad infinitum.
But, no matter how we may feel about the approaching change, Autumn is a season with so much to offer us in terms of our Yoga practice.
First and foremost, I think, is reflecting on the idea of this being the time of the first harvest. The fruit on the trees has been ripening now since mid-July and throughout August. As well as that, we can see the many nuts, berries and other fruits and vegetables that will soon be ready to harvest.
Quite literally, there is so much offered to us by the natural world.
Hopefully, you can draw comparisons with the offerings in your own life: the blessings that have been given to you throughout the summer, with some still yet to ripen.
Potentially, we can relate this even more personally to our own selves; to our hopes and dreams and goals — whatever they may be — and see which of these have come to fruition, and which ones require a little more time and nurturance.
Ultimately, it’s this; the approaching season’s sense of gently turning inward, that I love most.
The Summer is wonderful. But I find it quite tiring, and so I am only too happy to begin to slow down and gather myself.
I love how the writer Jilly Shipway sums it up:
“The energy of the Earth is moving from: fire to water; yang to yin; outer to inner, sun to moon, and if we can flow with this change of energy, and gradually shift from outward pursuits to a more inward focus of contemplation, then it can be a wonderful way of keeping our life in balance.”
One of things I plan to do this autumn is to make it back over to Brownsea Island, near to where I live, on the U.K’s south coast, to (hopefully) catch sight of the Red Squirrels gathering and preparing for Winter.
The image of the squirrel is perfect for this time of year, for so many reasons, and, I think, it works rather beautifully with Malasana.
Also known as Garland pose or the yoga squat, this asana is an amazing hip opener.
Please warm-up for this pose properly (click on the above link for directions on how to enter this asana) and listen to your body. Those of us with any injuries or strains in or around the hips should avoid without the direction of a qualified teacher.
I find Malasana powerfully grounding.
There’s something so basic and pure about this posture, and provided you’re not forcing your heels down flat or aiming for it to look a certain way, it’s entirely accessible. There is even a chair version.
If on your feet, use a rolled up blanket or a folded over yoga mat, or indeed a thin block or a wedge, to support your heels. Then you should be able to find that sense of grounding.
This month in my practice, while I am in Malasana, I will be focusing on the imagery of the gathering squirrels.
Like them, contemplating the acorns of plenty that are all around me, and the goals, hopes and dreams that I had envisaged for this year.
Figuratively speaking: some acorns I may choose to open and eat, enjoying them in the present moment, and others I may decide to bury. To savour another time.
These are the ones that aren’t quite ready and they may need a little more from me.
Who knows, one day, they may even grow into mighty oaks?
On the flip side, there may be some acorns, after consideration, that I will decide to discard altogether.
Allowing them to go back to the abundant earth.
Accepting that, perhaps, those things were never right for me in the first place, and I will let them go.
By embracing the lessons from the natural world, and choosing to not resist the changes, and to accept what we cannot change, we may be able to perceive the end of summer as the perfect time to be curious about ourselves and who we are (which is surely what Yoga is all about), and use this to take a look at our place within the world that surrounds us - in relation to others - and then, from this level of understanding, give ourselves whatever it is we need.
In Yoga, this self-study is known as Sadhana. And, to me, it’s one of the most beautiful and powerful aspects of the practice.
So, here’s to gently easing into the incoming season of transition.
May we all feel grounded and supported to better understand ourselves and appreciate all that we have and all that we are.
And may we have trust that by doing so, it will all work out.
Please find below your Gather journal pages and this month’s playlist.
I hope it inspires you to slow down the pace and turn-in a little more.
Thank you for being here, and as always, please feel free to share this offering with anyone who you think would like to receive it.
Not only are you potentially helping others, but you’d be supporting me and my work too.
Anyway, until next time, when the theme for October will be Magic, I hope you have fun gathering your acorns!
With kindness,
Louisa x
