Preparing for Autumn

🍂🍁Simple Autumn Rituals to Boost Your Wellbeing during the "ber" months 🍁🍂

Welcome to A Simple Living Journal with Debbie Meredith

A very warm welcome to A Simple Living Journal. I am pleased you are here. Make yourself a drink and cosy up in your favourite chair.

My name is Debbie. I have been writing here on Substack since September 2023 sharing snippets of my life as I continue to explore what it means to live slowly and simply. If you are curious and want to learn more why not subscribe today?

I live in the heart of England, in a small village in the south of Leicestershire. I am wife to Anthony and cat mum to our seven year old black panther called Thomas. If you want to read more click HERE

Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go 🍂🍁

Hello my friend

Is it just me or are you excited that Autumn is nearly here too? I’m not a fan of Summer but I’ve done my best to embrace all that is good about the warm season. I wrote about it here -

Glimmers of Summer

When Autumn arrives I come into my own. I love it! Out come the cosy jumpers, the autumn decor, books and crafting supplies of course.

Astronomical Autumn is within touching distance as the Autumn Equinox on arrives September 22nd, exactly half way between the Summer and Winter Solstices, where day and night are equal in length.

Some say that Autumn begins on September 1st. If one follows meteorological Autumn then that would also be correct. Weather scientists divide the year into four exact seasons of three months each, making it easier to compare weather from one year to the next in terms of temperature, rainfall and sunshine.

There is also one other kind of Autumn known as False Autumn. This occurs when we’ve had a particularly hot dry summer, like the summer we’ve had this year. Trees can struggle during prolonged heat and no rainfall so in order to survive they shed their leaves early, cutting down on the water lost through them and conserving vital energy. You may have noticed smaller conkers lying on the ground earlier than expected from horse chestnut trees, before they are fully grown.

That said there is a definite change in energy now. Nature is starting to retreat inwards. Flowers are dying back and seed heads are forming. Hedgerows are full of berries. Leaves are transitioning to their rich colours of red and gold and the air is at last releasing its grip on the summer heat. We can breathe in the gentle coolness of Autumn’s breeze.

After the Autumn Equinox our daylight hours will lessen as darkness increases. I am so excited for this season. I’m an Autumn girl through and through. I love the dark hours of Autumn and Winter where I can cosy up indoors with a good book, a blanket and candle. I love the outdoors too, especially as the colours are changing and the opportunities to forage and capture photographs are great.

How are we going to embrace the delicious Autumn Season?

Here’s a few ideas for you to try.

Things to do this Autumn:

• Take a book or journal to a local café.

• Sit by a fire pit and toast marshmallows.

• Watch a scary movie.

• Visit a pumpkin patch.

• Go for a woodland walk and forage for pinecones and acorns to make an Autumn table.

• Do some baking - a pumpkin pie, an apple crumble, cinnamon rolls.

• Make a heart-warming meal - a chilli, a casserole, a seasonal soup.

• Do some Autumn crafting - make an Autumn wreath or garland, knit a pair of autumn themed socks, crochet a cosy blanket, create an autumn journal.

• Enjoy a hot chocolate with all the trimmings in your cosiest mug.

• Read an Autumn themed book.

Wellness tips for Autumn

• Create a cosy and calm atmosphere at home. Light candles and put fairy lights up.

• Declutter your schedule. At this time of year we have a tendency to start filling our calendars with seasonal events and social gatherings. Take a close look and remove what doesn’t align with your values, except of course priority things like doctor visits etc.

• Connect with nature. Take a walk in the woodlands, step outside into your garden or balcony, visit your local park.

• Create a gratitude journal.

• Slow down and breathe.

• Cosy up in a blanket, light a candle and watch a film.

Autumn Reading

The following are on my TBR pile this Autumn. Throughout this year I have read seasonally which I have found to be incredibly helpful in keeping up my reading habit.

• The Solstice Yearbook -

  Victoria Harrison
  .

• September - Rosamunde Pilcher.

• The Cinnamon Spice Inn - Harper Graham.

• A Dark and Secret Magic - Wallis Kinney.

• The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna.

• The Story Collector - Evie Woods.

• The Lamplighters Bookshop - Sophie Austin.

Let me know in the comments any other Autumn vibe books you are reading or planning to read this season. I’m always looking for recommendations.

Autumnal Viewing

• You’ve Got Mail - compulsory viewing every Autumn.

• Harry Potter series - again compulsory. We always try and finish them by Halloween.

We don’t tend to watch much actual TV, mostly our viewing is from our favourite YouTube channels. These two films we always make an exception for though.

I may have mentioned this one before but I highly recommend Darling Desi on YouTube for Autumnal fun. I love Desi. Her enthusiasm for all things seasonal is infectious. Great book recommendations too.

Here are two of her recent videos you might want to check out.

KICKING OFF AUTUMN (finally) 🍂 pumpkin spice chai, cozy book list, halloween costumes & more

Autumn Starter Pack 🍂 gilmore girls to gothic fall vibes // films, books & cozy rituals

Autumn Music

Apple Music has some wonderful Autumn themed playlists that are perfect background ambience if you are baking, enjoying a hot drink or getting creative. I use these when I’m writing too. Here are some of my favourites. You will probably find similar on Spotify.

• Autumn Acoustic - Nettwork Records.

• Pumpkin Spice Fall - Nettwork Records.

• Jazz Café - Coffee Shop Jazz.

Autumn Journal prompts

• Write down 10 things that you love about Autumn.

• In what ways can you invite more rest and comfort into your days as the nights draw in?

• What rituals, foods or routines help you feel nourished and grounded in Autumn?

• What changes have you noticed in your surroundings lately, colours, weather, wildlife etc?

• Like the trees letting go of their leaves, what is something you would like to gently release this season?

• Describe your ideal cosy Autumn day at home. What scents, sounds and textures surround you?

• What intentions or gentle goals do you want to carry with you through Autumn?

Whilst you are writing in your journal, here is a gorgeous YouTube video you may like running in the background.

Here’s the link if the video doesn’t play.

Cinnamon Girl & the Storm | Dark Autumn Thunder, Rain & Firelight Ambience

Please let me know in the comments if you have other ideas that will help our Autumn loving community.

Thank you for joining me as we head into Autumn. If you enjoyed this you may like the following -

Welcoming Autumn and a September Review

Simple Living Autumn Traditions

And my very first (trying not to cringe) newsletter published this very month two years ago.

The Joys of Autumn

I started my declutter series in March. A month by month gentle process of clearing our homes and minds. I would love you to join us on this journey of discovery in Slow and Gentle Decluttering

Decluttering has been instrumental to us in finding a simple and slower path. Maybe it can for you too. Make sure you are subscribed so that you receive the next in the series next Sunday. Are you ready for kitchens?

Decluttering has changed my life

Until next time.

Debbie xx

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