Autumn Equinox 2025

How do you prepare for winter? 

Did you notice there was no blog post from me at the beginning of August?

The reason was that I was having a break. A pause. For the first time in many years I decided to have a bit more holiday time because it was my youngest's last summer holidays before Uni, and I also needed some dream time, some spontaneity, some play, some time for personal regeneration too. 

I meant to get round to writing a blog about the importance of having a rest/siesta/holiday/daydream in the cycle of a day or year (or other cycle of time) before the end of July... and....well, sometimes actions speak louder than words I guess! We all need to pause sometimes.

My 48hour Pause

There's a lot going on in the world around us now, and I think with more grief, there is a need for more rest. And with all this working to make a living, we need to remember to do some living too. And sometimes that is simply to slow down and savour the season. 

At the end of August I took three days out to do a 48 hour Life Quest retreat held by a couple of friends. No food. No chat. Just being alone in nature, in a wild place by the sea, with a small fire under the cover of sycamore trees (hence the photo above). It felt very special to do this with my partner whose sit-spot was a few hundred yards away. For me the retreat was about many things which included stopping doing, no eating (in solidarity with those experiencing great hunger), not consuming and being open to listen to the voice of the world, connecting deeply with the elements and my relations, seeking clarity for future growth... and letting go of what is no longer serving me. It was a wonderful experience and I am deeply grateful to those who supported us to do the quest. 

It felt almost revolutionary to stop, 'do nothing', be elemental, consider my place in the web of life and metaphorically stick two fingers up to the powers that be, the rat race, the need for GDP.

Late summer transitions

As I write now, I am preparing for a big transition of letting go, of unravelling, collapse even... to allow for the growth, weaving and maturation to come. My young adult heads to Uni at Equinox. I'm experiencing many feelings. As are so many parents of children at thresholds at this time of year. Our 'fruit' are at their threshold of new dreamings. I've taken cuttings of houseplants she likes and re-potted them for her to take - it felt very symbolic.

Autumn Equinox is a threshold

It's a moment where I stand in balance and look forward into the darker months ahead. I live questions like these now: 

• Am I ready? 

• Have I stored enough? 

• What came to fruit for me this year? 

• What didn't make it to ripeness? 

• What will I carry with me into the next cycle?

What do you do to prepare for the winter? How do you shift your being in readiness for less light and warmth, less outside and more inside? Are there stories that carry you and hold you or frame your perspective as we come to the end of the year? 

Try this

If you have time, take a moment around sunset to stand and be this weekend, in an outdoor place you feel safe, and listen to the world inside you and outside you. Feel into the constantly shifting balance of all things in the world... and maybe a pertinent question will emerge for you.

Fears

One of my 'grandchildren' has their birthday at Autumn Equinox. I've been looking for books for her by one of my favourite children's authors, Emily Gravett (have you seen her fab book Bothered by Bugs yet?... it's excellent!) and came across Little Mouse's Big Book of Fears. 

I didn't end up buying it, but finding the book got me thinking about my fears and how they show up in my being and my doing, in relationships and in work. Fears can grow in the dark(er months) and I wondered:

• What fears keeps me safe?

• What stops me from being my fullest self?

There is a proverb that says you should run towards the lion that roars. In other words, face your fears. How does this work? Well, one of the ways a pack of lions hunts is to have an older, less fast lion ROAR! to scare their prey into running away, towards the rest of the pack lying in wait.

There are many times I have fallen prey to my fears, especially around having difficult conversations. But as I get older, and know more about myself, my story and my fears, my needs and my triggers, I am confident to stand and have the conversations I need to. 

Fruit

Looking back through this year so far I'm proud of the fruit that has grown on my tree. Have you taken a moment to gather and appreciate your fruit of the year?
A couple of examples of fruit from my tree are firstly the didgeridoo album I recorded for Alibi Records. It has been remixed too and available very soon through Alibi records as soundtracks for tv and film. 
Secondly the retreat I ran with my partner, Pam Horton, for a team I've been working with for the last few years - it was so well received. Pam and I decided to run two for the general public next year - one in late Spring, the other early Autumn. Between us we have over 50 years of experience leading nature based education, leadership and wellness programmes.

Would you like to come along for a pause, some reflection, connection, play and good food? 
For more information on our retreats please have a look here 

Hope for the future

I'd like to finish with the reflection that the time out I took this summer, the pause, has really helped me rekindle my flame of hope. 

With all that is not going 'well' in the world, my flame of hope for peaceful, regenerative, balanced futures with humans seeing themselves as part of nature again had guttered to an ember. Despair had held my hands up.

With the time close to the earth I have tended my flame of hope to brightness again. I have been helped along by gifts of time, kindness and the words of many, including a new book from Rebecca Solnit called No Straight Road Takes You There that two new friends from The Sensory Trust gave me (If you haven't read any of Rebecca's writings find out more about them here) .

I have once again got my mojo working and know that my intention and what I do makes a difference to the world. 

I remember some words from David Niven:

“You are not here just to fill space or to be a background character in someone else's movie. Consider this: nothing would be the same if you did not exist. Every place you have ever been and everyone you have ever spoken to would be different without you. We are all connected, and we are all affected by the decisions and even the existence of those around us.”

I choose to do something good for the world, even if it is simply to smile in there face of adversity and remember the simple kindnesses that being human can bring to the world.

And I wish you a wonderful Autumn Equinox and may you walk in beauty this darker half of the year. 

With love,

Chris