As the days grow darker,

we turn our focus inward to delicious stillness and to sweet peace once again. In Finnish culture, there is a reverence for the morose, sad or dark that I feel we are missing out on in America. Perhaps the leaning into, rather than being afraid of darkness, the normalization of sadness and the acceptance of gloomy days as part of a happy life are why the Finns are considered the happiest people in the world. 

These seasons of darkness give us an opportunity to revel in the bold beauty found in bare branches and grey skies. This is when we get to light a candle, wrap up in a blanket, cook big pots of stew and linger over tea. This is how we build the inner strength and resilience the Finns call Sisu.

Autumn, being a transitional season, like spring, holds a polarity. It is at once about letting go and being in gratitude for what is ripening in our lives. We can attune to the the essence of this season by cleaning, giving away old things and practicing forgiveness and also by gathering and feasting with friends and giving generously of time, energy or resources that we feel to be abundant. 

Autumn Rituals

DINACHARYA

Our bodies need regular cleaning, just like our homes, in order to keep our energy clean, bright and optimally functioning. Daily habits like sweating, soaking with bath salts, drinking warm lemon water upon awakening and twists can keep our livers functioning well, especially in the shoulder seasons of Autumn and Spring.

In Ayurveda, India’s ancient system of wellness and medicine, dinacharya is the word for daily practice. A core wisdom of Ayurveda is that daily habits are the backbone of a healthy, happy and whole life. Most of the practices are focused on cleansing, releasing the toxins both physically and energetically that decrease our life force, or prana and hold us back from living in flow!

JIWAH PRAKSHALAN

Jiwah prakshalan is the practice tongue scraping. Tongue scraping is said to help digestion, immunity, detoxification, organic activation and over all health. It is widely agreed that a copper tongue scraper is better than a steel one.

Have a look in the mirror at the central part of your tongue…The tongue should be soft, pink and clean.  Like the eyes, it can give us insight into the health of our whole system. This is because the tongue is linked to the gut and gut health, as we all know by now, dictates overall health. 

Is it white? This reflects stagnation.

Is it red or yellow? This reflects too much heat.

Is it black or brown? This reflects too much cold or wind.

The tongue should be soft, pink and clean.  Like the eyes, it can give us insight into the health of our whole system. This is because the tongue is linked to the gut and gut health, as we all know by now, dictates overall health. 

TO PRACTICE:

In front of a mirror, stick out your tongue.

Place the tongue scraper as far back as is comfortable.

With some force, but not too much, slowly pull the scraper forward across the tongue.

Repeat 10 times.

Clean, rinse and dry the scraper.

Use daily when brushing the teeth.

MEDICINE:

Mushrooms, onions, seaweed, garlic, horseradish, cooked foods, warm water, persimmon, apple, bay leaf and thyme.

MEDITATION:

Gratitude: Sitting comfortably with closed eyes, take a few deep breaths. Draw your attention to all for which you are grateful. There are myriad health benefits associated with filling your cup with gratitude daily.

MOVEMENT:

Twists for stimulating the digestive system and relaxing the nervous system. Laying on your back, pull the knees up and let them fall down to the right side for one minute. Repeat on the left side.

MUSIC :

Find the Tea Huntress Autumn Tea Ceremony Tea playlist on Spotify under Tea Huntress.

READ:

The Sisterhood of the Enchanted Forest. This book illuminates all of the magic of Finland that has inspired the ethos behind Tea Huntress. In it you will find many mushroom recipes and also insight into living the good life!

Autumn Reflections:

1. What are you ready to release?

 

 

2. What are you most grateful for in this season?

 

 

3. Write a letter to yourself one year ago. What are you proud of? What have you created?

 

 

4. Write a letter to your future self. What are you wishing for? What encouragement can you offer?