The gentle rhythm of September
September... often described as a "hinge month', a gentle turning point between the openness of summer and the grounding rhythms of autumn.
This month is softer than August and gentler than October. The scent of ripe apples and woodsmoke is lingering in the air. Hedgerows heavy with berries. Bees move slower. Light falls lower and the trees rustle with quiet secrets. Sunlight spills gold across the garden.
September is a pause, a tender hush. Not quite summer, not yet autumn, but something beautifully in between. A month that seems to hold both endings and beginnings. A month to treasure!
I definitely love September, this soft in-between month. It's a month of transition, and transitions often stir something within us. After the relaxed pace of summer, there can be a sense of relief in the return of structure- a subtle desire for order, rhythm and calm. Especially when one has children, this is clearly noticeable as the school year starts again.
But I also feel some kind of bittersweetness: the fading of long golden evenings when I enjoyed reading outside while watching the sunset, the slowing and withering of flowers in my garden, the knowledge that darker and colder days are on their way.
Still, I have to admit I'm longing for the cozyness and calm of autumn. I think the length of our seasons are just perfect, don't you agree?!
In my studio I'm slowly adding some hints of autumnal joy such as dried flowers from the garden to mirror this seasonal shift.
In September, the natural world is preparing for rest. The crops are harvested, trees are turning and letting go of their coloured leaves, animals are gathering food for the winter ahead. And in our own lives, we often feel that same longing to pause, gather and reset.
September becomes an opportunity to find balance and belonging- to align our daily rhythm with the natural rhythm of the world around us. It's an invitation to slow down and to reflect.
Here are some September reflections I've been pondering about in my journal:
what did summer brought me?
what moments, memories or feelings am I grateful for?
what do I need to let go as I step into autumn?
what does a balanced life look and feel like for me this season?
what rhythms or rituals help me feel more grounded?
where in my life could I slow down, and what might open up if I did?
who or what do I want to feel more connected to this month?
Let's take a little stroll in the garden where the first signs of autumn are visible…
The vegetable garden has been suffering from the drought in August and between the dried flowers and seedpods, the last veggies are ready to be collected.
September is also the apple picking month! Both our apple trees looked promising in spring with their abundant soft blossoms and in summer the apples were ripening to blushing red. But in the meantime there aren't many apples left on the trees as most of them are infected by monilia rot. From the few that are still left, I'd like to make apple pie, crumble and compote.
My new glasshouse, handmade by my husband is such a lovely place. Tomatoes, basil and cucumbers have been growing all summer. Nothing better than the taste of a freshly picked tomato on a warm day!
I've collected many seedpods from my flowers and let them dry in the glasshouse. Now it's time to put the seeds into paper bags and store them for next spring.
I hope you will have a soft and gentle September in which you can shift inward and enjoy the changing season!