The Autumn Edit
Love Letter #20 - A Love Letter To Autumn In The Desert & Ways To Celebrate That Have Nothing To Do With Pumpkin Spice, Chunky Sweaters or Hayrides
The Subtle Decay
It’s my favorite time of the year but I don’t get to experience the autumn season in the middle of the desert. I don’t see the foliage bleed from vibrant greens into oranges and reds. There are no trips to farms to pick pumpkins and apples. The weather is still too warm to pull out cozy sweaters and cute stockings. The air is sticky and humid, not crisp and clean. Living in the East Coast for four years spoiled me, because I got to experience the quintessential fall season in all its stereotypical glory. I used to feel an ache since moving back home, observing with slightly jealous eyes as others indulged in spiced beverages and seasonal festivities.
It was my favorite thing about living abroad.
I had to snap out of it!
This wasn’t always the case because I spent a majority of my life where I didn’t have these experiences at all, and was still enamored with this magical shift the day the autumn equinox hit. And so, I chose to remind myself about the version of fall that I grew up knowing.
The air here does shift but its little exhales to breathe out the scorching heat that won’t last any longer. I notice the skyline change with the setting sun as powdery, cotton clouds consume the skies. The hues of the sunset grow warmer and pastel in tones, a palette that tells my brain that cool weather is upon us. The fruit platter on the dining table switches from juicy mangos and sweet melons to peaches, plums and pears. There are hours in the day which are quite bearable compared to the unforgiving temperatures of July and August. A breeze comes in, kissing everyone a sweet hello. I notice the palm trees sway a lot more, the fronds brushing against one another to touch. Autumn is very subtle in the desert. She’s not loud and extravagant. She’s the calming presence that counters the boisterous energy of summer. You can tell that it’s the beginning of the decay, but it’s a gradual change that requires you to slow down and pay attention to even notice it’s happening.
Ten Ways I Am Honoring My Favorite Season
1. Cleansing The Space
I’m living in a state of organized clutter. Every surface of my room seems to be accumulating with stuff. I’m by no means a minimalist, but I can’t handle the disarray. People talk about “spring cleaning” but I am also a big believer in “autumn shedding”. This is the time where I sift through my stuff. I reset my space and discard things that no longer serve me. I put old clothes in donation piles, pull out my warmer clothes and give them space in my closet. I take stock of what I have hoarded within the year and consider if anything else is really needed. I figure out what I still hold attachments too, and open my eyes to what I can finally let go of.
2. Shift Your Color Palette
What are the colors of autumn to you? Do you find yourself moving from vibrant tones to darker shades? For me, colors are a way that I connect with the seasonal weather around me. I alter the tones in my wardrobe, make up, and even some house decor. Earthy browns, a spectrum of reds from terracotta to crimson blood, shades of oranges, olive greens, whimsical purples and stark blacks are my favorites this time of year. I’ll swap out fresh floral bouquets for gorgeous, dry flower arrangements. I light up candles around my room once in a while, allowing the wax to drip all over the place as an added touch.
3. Accept What Has Changed
This is a great time to do a little self reflection and notice what patterns have shifted. I was speaking to some friends about this over the past few days, where I kept making the statement: “I’m different now, I’m not the same.” To honor these changes means to mold into whoever you are growing to be. This might require acknowledgement, action, or looking inward. But ultimately, you want to sit down and say hello to the new person you are welcoming at your doorstep this time of year.
4. Slow Down
Recently, I took a tumble down the stairs. (I’m perfectly fine, I just sprained my ankle badly). It seems that the eclipse season was going to force me to slow down whether I liked it or not. I was moving at double speed, refusing to even take a second to pace myself. It was funny because at the same time my social media kept pushing the notion about grinding your way through your “Winter Arc” for a successful change.
Personally, I see a shift into something more harmonious this time of year. This is the lesson that I learned: work towards the changes that you want, but make sure it is at a calming pace. Autumn is a reminder that we don’t have to rush. Autumn is a reminder that it takes time to evolve into a rebirth. And even then, you still have to bear the through the stagnant death of Winter first.
So, take your time, there is no reason to push yourself.
5. Soundtrack For The Season
Music has always played a pivotal role in my daily life. I find myself curating playlists for almost every occasion. When the Autumn season hits, I lean towards certain artists whose voices feel like they carry the tunes of the season with them: Fleetwood Mac, Mazzy Star, Hozier, Tamino and Florence + The Machine (to name just a few).
This month, I kicked off my seasonal rock/alt playlist with eerie, dark sounds as a precursor to the month of October. I titled the playlist: “Specter Girl September”.
6. Embrace The Elements In Creative Practices
This is the time of year where I fully lean into the consumption of gothic art, horror, and whimsical magic. I’ve been doing deep dives on supernatural and folklore stories for my upcoming October newsletters. If you find certain aspects of this season to be inspirational, marinate in these elements and look to them as guiding points for whatever creative endeavors that you are pursuing.
7. The Athenaeum - Update The Reading Pile
With that being said, I always shift my reading pile to focus on the specific genres that I attach to this particular time of year. For me it includes: gothic literature, horror, dark academia and nonfiction essays and journal writing. Here are some things that is currently in my reading pile:
The Buffalo Hunter Hunter by Stephen Graham Jones
The Unworthy by Agustina Bazterrica
Our Share of The Night by Mariana Enriquez
The Monk by Matthew Gregory Lewis
Notes of A Native Son by James Baldwin
The Dairies of Anais Nin
If We Were Villains by M. L. Rio
Oddbody by Rose Keating
Bride by Ali Hazelwood
8. Nature Keepsakes
There is a lot of connection with nature during this time of year. Migratory patterns shift, the final harvest commences, and nature itself chooses to dress a little differently. A personal way I like to celebrate the season is by connecting with nature by taking keepsakes from the season that we are saying goodbye to. I collect shells and place them in a jar, I pluck flowers and press them into books, and I savor every last seasonal summer fruit that I can.
9. Update Your Rituals
I notice that I tend to switch things up this time of year. My productivity tends to take a dip even though it’s peak season in terms of work. It’s not that I am being lazy, it’s just a call that I need to change the intention behind my rituals. I focus more on restoration and regulation rather than optimization. My personal shifts include having a more minimal morning routine and a much longer, unwinding nightly ritual.
10. Gather With People You Love
What I realize about the fall season and all its festivities, is that it’s really just another excuse to come together. The season is shifting, so celebrate with those you love. Call someone, have a pot luck, or just gather together to watch a movie while being lazy on the couch. Enjoy the change around you and embrace the people who are moving forward with you.
Today’s love letter was written on a whim, today’s love letter is for the season that I am birthed in. I hope you all enjoy the gorgeous shift of the Autumn Equinox. I hope you welcome the decay, and are excited for the bloom that will soon follow.