The Spiritual Art of Shedding: Embracing Release and Closure This Autumn

October is defined by a single, powerful act in nature: shedding. As the leaves turn brilliant colors and fall to the ground, they offer us a profound spiritual mirror for our own lives. This month calls us to participate in the spiritual practice of release.

1. The Power of Release and Letting Go

The decay of the leaves is not a tragedy; it’s a necessary process that fuels future growth.

Spiritually, this mirrors the need to release what no longer serves us. This might include:

• Old Habits: Draining routines or destructive patterns you’ve carried since spring.

• Limiting Beliefs: Narratives about yourself or your abilities that are holding you back.

• Finished Projects: The mental load of things that are truly complete but haven't been acknowledged as such.

  
  

The beautiful decay reminds us there is profound power in simply letting go. You are not losing; you are making space.

2. Completion and Closure

October historically aligns with the final harvests (like the Hunter's Moon), marking a time to bring affairs to order. Before the quiet introspection of winter sets in, this month encourages you to finish any lingering business from the summer.

Focus on finding a sense of completion and closure in small and large ways: finishing that book, paying off a small debt, or having that difficult but necessary conversation. By honoring these completions now, you ensure that the season of introspection that follows can be truly restorative, rather than fraught with unfinished business.

3. Mourning and Acceptance

The month naturally invites a meditative acceptance of change, loss, and the inevitable cycles of life. Emotionally, October is an appropriate and valuable time for grief work. It provides a container for us to acknowledge the losses, both physical and energetic, that have occurred over the past year. Accept the change, and trust that the rest period of winter is coming.