The transitional period between seasons can have us all feeling a bit off. The cooler weather on my skin has my soul feeling a bit cold, with hot tea and warm baths being my safe haven through it all. But there’s something about the crisp air, bright colors, and cloudy days that deliver oddly pleasant and comforting feelings. I can’t help but think of this as a time of self-reflection and mystery.  

I discovered these feelings aren’t far off from what the season really signifies. The Autumn Equinox does indeed mark a time of mystery, reflection, comfort, and balance. During the equinox, the sun enters Libra, which is symbolized by a pair of balanced scales. There is an equal amount of hours during the day and night. All of which indicate that there is balance. Use this chance to ground yourself, connect with the Earth, and harmonize yourself with her balance.

The leaves are beginning to slowly change colors and fall gracefully off the tree tops. It is a time of both harvest and death, which sounds a bit eerie and mysterious, but in all reality, autumn reflects nature's cycle of life. Autumn paves way for new beginnings as it prepares us for the rebirth that occurs during the winter solstice.

As the year begins to slowly close, reflect on how you entered 2018. What were your accomplishments? Your small victories? What about your hardships? Allow yourself to reap what you have worked for--your personal harvest, so to speak. When winter solstice comes around, you will be born anew and this will soon become a part of you.

So while you’re cozied up, drinking hot tea, reading a book, or whatever it is you may do to get in the fall spirit, be mindful to live in the present moment. Take a chance to connect with nature and pay attention to its subtle changes. The changing of the seasons reminds us that nothing is stagnant, and as nature continues to change and adjust in its cycle of life, we are too.

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Human beings are for the most part creatures of habit and routine.  Society trains repetition into us by requiring school, studying, work as adults and in between all of these we all mostly lead lives that are quite cyclical in routine. Even outside cultural norms that require repetition, our bodies thrive with consistent and regular physical movement, as do our minds with a regular meditation practice.  It’s at least worth considering that training our minds and bodies with repetition, as these are proven and powerful tools, can be more deliberately utilized for improving our quality of life.

Since we’re mindlessly repeating everyday, why not mindfully repeat everyday?

There is power in repetition, but it is in your hands to ensure that this power be used in positive, healthy ways. Essentially, what we plant in our minds and nourish with repetition, emotion, and attention will one day become a reality. Think about any moments of anxiety you may have. Your mind is racing, constantly running through the same thoughts as if it is caught in an everlasting loop. This repetition can easily get out of hand, and really impact your mindset in the present moment. It doesn’t have to be this way. Negative habits and thought patterns can be overturned as easily as they began, it simply takes a routine of the mind. You must plant a desired seed (or thought) in your mind, water and nourish it until it sprouts and you are able to reap what you have worked for and paid so much mind to.

Mantras and Affirmations

Mantra meditation is, essentially, positive self-­hypnosis. They are words or sounds repeated to aid concentration in your meditation practice. What is it you want to focus on? What positive changes or energies would you like to open yourself up to? Traditionally, mantra meditation has been used for both prayers and affirmations. We purposely included mantras on the outside of every chakra oil because we believe in the powerful effect of focus, intention and repetition.

You may also choose to repeat affirmations which are more general and can be stated aloud at any time and tend to be complete sentences addressing something we wish to have as if we already have it in the present moment.

“My past is not reflective of my future”

“I am calm, happy, and content”

“My potential to succeed is limitless”

Do not forget that as your physical body takes time to adjust to routines and changes, so does your mind. You may decide to manifest future goals in your affirmations or mantras, or you may decide to confront your present self and your specific needs. Whatever your intentions may be, your words have an abundance of power, so utilize them, nourish them, and manifest them.

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