No matter what season it is, now being summer into fall, the shifting of the seasons provides an opportunity and an external trigger for us to reflect internally. I had my dear friend Rachael from Our Infinite Nature back on the show to help us navigate the upcoming season. If you've been following me, you know how magical she is—she’s my go-to for everything seasonal and spiritual. We’ve been doing these seasonal check-ins, and this episode is all about celebrating the fall equinox.

Let’s chat about what’s going down this fall, not just with nature, but with us too. Time to chill, think things over, and gather what we've got. It’s time to slow down, reflect, and, of course, harvest.

 

In this episode, we learn:

• [01:44] What has Rachael been up to during the summer?
• [05:47] How do nature rituals become part of Rachael’s parenting?
• [08:05] The gift of a bird's nest
• [14:55] De-stress this fall equinox with the soothing sounds of Wind River Chimes!
• [16:38] Plant smarter this fall with high-quality organic products from Espoma Organic!
• [18:56] How are our gardens, lawns, forests, and local ecosystems doing in the fall?
• [21:11] What does autumn look like?
• [21:44] Death as part of nature's cycle
• [28:27] How can we balance productivity and rest in the fall?
• [29:14] How do we balance elements of fire, water, and air?
• [30:49] How does the Libra season correlate with the fall equinox?
• [35:10] Why should we embrace the changes of eclipse season?
• [37:01] What are some personal practices that we should do this fall equinox?
• [42:27] How do the elements of each season relate to our personal growth?
• [44:25] Meditation for the fall equinox!
• [54:28] What came through to us during the meditation?
• [56:04] Where can you find and work with Rachael?

 

 

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Changing Colors of Fall

Fall is a time of transition. The leaves that start changing colors are also a metaphor for our own lives. Rachael shares that those red and gold leaves we see are actually the result of them stopping their own productivity. As the days get shorter and colder, the green chlorophyll starts to fade, showing off the other colors and pigments that were there all along.

Nature is showing us that there’s beauty in slowing down, in letting go of our hustle-and-bustle attitude. Fall lets us step back and enjoy the fruits of our own labor. It ramps us down and gets us ready for winter.

 

Celebrating Abundance and Preparing for Winter

I just harvested my first round of potatoes from my garden! But after the joy of digging them up, I had to think about curing them, storing them, and clearing away the old plants. It's a beautiful balance of celebration and preparation.

Rachael also reminded us that, historically, this was a crucial time for preserving food to last through the winter. While we might not be canning and salting like our ancestors, we can still use this energy to prepare for the coming months. What do you need to “store up” to nourish yourself through the winter?

For me, this season has been all about preparing for my big move to Florida (check out the previous episode!). It has been chaotic, but the reminder that autumn is also a time for reflection and planning has been so grounding. Rachael always has this magical way of reminding me to slow down, and that’s exactly what I needed to hear.

 

Fall is The Element of Air

Rachael associated fall with the element of air—that the fresh air carries the scent of change. She suggested a beautiful practice of going outside on a windy day and letting the air cleanse you.

This airy energy is perfect for:

• Clearing our minds
• Being open to new ideas and inspiration
• Setting boundaries and focusing our energy

Air is all about the mind, thoughts, and communication. It’s also about cleansing and inspiration.

 

Preparing for The Next Season

I want you to take a moment to think about where you are as winter approaches. What are you harvesting in your life right now? What still needs attention before the year ends? What can you let go of or “compost” to feed future growth? And how can you create space for rest and restoration this winter?

The change of seasons marks the start of a new year for those of us with an academic or business mindset. It's a great time for annual planning and setting intentions for the coming months.

One of the things I’ve learned is that it's okay to let things turn out differently than you anticipated. Life is not a race to the finish line after all. So take a moment to relax and appreciate where you are right now.

 

Rooting Into Fall

As always, Rachael wraps up the episode with a beautiful meditation! She guided us through a practice of connecting ourselves to the element of air and letting it purify us—much like a gentle wind removing “mental dust.” It was such a reminder to let the season do its work.

So, my dear plant friends, I hope this fall brings you peace, self-awareness, and all the good energy that comes with a new season. You've got seasons just like nature does so it's totally okay if you're not always in grow-grow-grow mode. Sometimes, the most amazing changes happen when we let ourselves rest and just be.

 

 

Mentioned in our conversation:

• Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear, book by Elizabeth Gilbert
• Growing Joy Ep 242: Why You Should Care About the Summer Solstice with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature
• Growing Joy Ep 234: Eco Anxiety with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature
• Growing Joy Ep 223: Cultivating Intuition with Nature with Rachael of Our Infinite Nature
• Growing Joy Ep 209: Plant Magic: How to Be a Green Witch with Rachael from Infinite Succulent
• Growing Joy Ep 229: Why You Should Care About the Spring Equinox
• Growing Joy Ep 165: Everyday Plant Magic with Rachael of Infinite Succulent

 

Thank you to our episode sponsors:

Wind River Chimes

Allow yourself to have a moment of mindfulness with the help of wind chimes! Wind River is a Virginia-based company creating premium handcrafted and hand-tuned wind chimes for over 35 years. If you are looking for a way to soothe your senses and bring a moment of peace in your busy days, a Wind River chime is the perfect option. Plus, you can engrave the wind sail on the wind chime with meaningful dates, names, or phrases!

Visit windriverchimes.com and use code GROWINGJOY to receive free engraving on your chosen wind chimes.

Espoma Organic

If you want thriving houseplants that survive any climate, set them up for success with high-quality soil, fertilizer, potting mixes and more! Espoma Organic is dedicated to making safe indoor and outdoor gardening products for people, pets, and the planet. They have an amazing variety of high-quality, organic potting mixes, garden soil, fertilizers, and pest control products that are organic and eco-friendly. To top it all off, they have a huge sustainability commitment with a 100% solar-powered plant, zero waste manufacturing, and eco-friendly packaging.

Visit espoma.com to find your local Espoma dealer or check my Amazon storefront.

 

 

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