In any belief, way of thinking or living there are pillars; key areas that need to be addressed and considered. These pillars are the basis or foundation of a system or way of being that provides values to uphold. A solid foundation you can build upon. The foundation that supports you + lifts you up so you are able to focus on other goals and activities.

You could call these pillars your habits + rituals. The things you do and repeat on a regular basis… because what you repeat you become.

If you focus on poor habits and self care you get poor health + wellbeing where you struggle to maintain momentum and/or happiness.

In contrast when you focus on healthy habits + self care (in all the pillars), choices that you know improve your health + wellbeing, you thrive.

Today is the 21 September and marks Autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere or Mabon. The Celtic celebration of the first day of Autumn.

As a season autumn is the season of shedding + releasing what’s no longer serving us and the life we want to live, or bringing us joy.

Seasonally there are many themes that come up for autumn. If you wish to learn more I recently wrote about seasonal living through autumn.

For many years I struggled through autumn and winter, struggling with the turn in weather + darker days, especially the cold weather. It was only once I found the path of holistic health + living that I found things to appreciate and enjoy in every season. Even in the darkest days, there are little sparks of light + joy that you can find if you take the time to look.

If you are anything like me you may have been finding it tough to adjust to the change in season, the shorter days, reduction in sunlight, and colder, wetter weather?

Sometimes it can be hard to let go of the summer season and mentality, especially if you enjoy the heat and the feeling of expansion and growth Summer brings.

BUT sinking into the cosy vibes, slower and darker days of Autumn and Winter is important too!

The seasons are a cycle, one which repeats each and every year without fail, and, just like the ebb and flow of energy within each of these seasons [the expansion and growth of Spring/Summer, the contraction, withdrawal, and rest of Autumn/Winter] our minds, bodies, emotions, and needs also need to rest and withdraw sometimes.

Seasonal living is something I’ve been advocating a lot recently. It’s something I’ve first hand experience of; seeing how re establishing that natural and innate connection with nature improves both our physical, mental, emotional + spiritual health + wellbeing.

What is Seasonal Living?

Seasonal living is the art of aligning with and embracing the cycles of nature, rather than resisting them. In our modern world, we tend to celebrate “doing” and activity, and resist stillness, introspection, and rest.

Are you listening to your body? It’s a question that gets flung around a lot in the health and well-being industry. But what does it even mean? And why is it important?

Have you ever had a morning where you have woken up feeling sluggish, bloated, nauseous? or a day when you haven't drunk enough water and you end up with a headache and feel tired and irritable? These symptoms are your bodies way of trying to tell you something is wrong, in the same way that craving certain foods can often tell you what vitamins, minerals and nutrients your body is lacking.

We have forgotten how to listen to our bodies

We have forgotten how to listen to our bodies, and we have forgotten how to eat to nourish our body!

Have you ever stopped to think about what these signals of fatigue, restlessness and aches and pains actually mean? Or on the other side, the meaning of having extra energy, a skip in your step?