By Beth Corrick, M.S., MFT, E-RYT

A friend from the Midwest once asked me, “How can you stand living in San Diego, it’s perpetual summer? When do you get to hibernate?” It’s true, living in California we do not have pronounced seasons and the activities associated with them. So, it’s a bit of a dilemma when it comes to taking down time. Our ancestors knew the importance of fallow time; when the crops where rotated and the fields were allowed to rest. Autumn is the precursor to winter and is the perfect time to gather up our intentions for nourishing the soul.

Since our San Diego weather will not conspire to help us with reflective time we are invited to create our own rituals that will nourish and replenish us, perhaps, taking a morning to get up late, leisurely reading a book for pleasure, or starting a meditation practice. The most important aspect of creating a new ritual is that it be meaningful and resonant to you in a very personal way. It may take a few attempts to find the perfect soul-satisfying addition to your routine, but you will recognize it by how it makes you feel.

Just as we see in the cycles of nature, it is not possible to constantly run uphill. Respecting these cycles and allowing for contemplative time will paradoxically give you more energy in the long run. Mostly we are in prisons of our own construction, so finding the key to unlock the idea of permission to do nothing is a novel and shocking idea. This slow moving, contemplative time is an invitation to connect more fully with your heart’s inner most desires and that can be scary, but so worth while. Often our inner most voice can only be heard when we quiet the din of the outside world. As Mohandas K. Gandhi said, “There is more to life than increasing its speed.” When you take time to slow down your mind-body will be so grateful, the little things in life can be seen more clearly and there is space for more joy. The psyche understands the whispers of the seasons and we should shrive to honor them as well.