The Invitation of Early Autumn: Turning Inward with Intention

I don't know about you, but I feel that late September carries a unique energy. The days are still mild, but dusk arrives noticeably earlier. Trees hold onto their leaves just a little longer, while hints of color begin to creep into the canopy. This time between summer’s fullness and the deep fall offers a quiet invitation: to slow down, to listen, and to turn inward.

The natural world models this internal shift. As the sun’s warmth softens, plants and animals begin their preparations for the darker months ahead. Trees don’t shed their leaves all at once, of course. Instead, they slowly transition, drawing nutrients from their leaves back into their roots. Animals adjust their routines to conserve energy. These subtle movements teach us that change is rarely sudden; it unfolds gently and with purpose.

dusk in the forest

For us humans, this is an opportunity to follow the land’s example. Turning inward doesn’t mean shutting down or giving up. Instead, it means making space to reflect on what we have grown through and what we need to release. It is an act of self-care rooted in the rhythms of the earth rather than the clock of culture.

In this time, many people feel an unconscious call to descend... to slow the mental chatter, to sit with emotions that have been pushed aside, or to quiet the constant urge to “do.” This descent can be uncomfortable because it asks us to face parts of ourselves that we might normally avoid. Yet we know that it is necessary for renewal.

Allowing yourself to lean into this turning-inward time sets the stage for deeper clarity and resilience. When you follow the early autumn’s lead, you create a fertile inner space where insight can grow. This practice is not about achieving a goal but about befriending your own cycles, just as the forest does each year.

If you sense this invitation, try simple daily practices: slow walks in natural settings, journaling your observations and feelings, quiet moments of mindful breathing at dusk, or joining me for a forest gathering this September 17th. Notice how your inner landscape shifts as the outer world changes.