October Focus – Autumn intentions
October Focus -Autumn intentions
As the wheel of the year turns it’s time to set this month’s Autumn intentions to support your wellbeing. Here’s my video if you don’t have much time (it’s only 6 minutes) otherwise keep reading!
Hello there – so this month our October focus/autumn intentions is simple. We are focusing on THE most important aspect of our lives which is much harder to do than say LOVE. In addition I am inviting you this month to get outdoors daily!
So what does LOVE mean to you?
2. Love
Impossible to truly discuss within the limited time of this article. I suggest you reflect on this and make your own list but for me:
Only LOVE is real
It’s our inner beauty which raises us up when we need it most
It’s an energy that we rarely connect with but is deep and has no bounds – specifically when unconditional
Love flows in the acts of forgiveness, compassion and kindness to not only ourselves, our planet, humanity but so much more. I absolutely adore the work and ethos of the peace-pilgrim, life-long activist and former monk, Satish Kumar. His beautiful approach to love and life is inspirational and so eloquent. Amazingly, shortly after writing this article I attended the Festival of Wellbeing which focused on this very topic run by the amazing Resurgence Organisation
Knowing that we are loved gives us hope and allows us to trust that we are taken care of – even through difficult times
Love is the beauty of humanity
I have a sense this month my personal quest is to find time to reflect on what LOVE means to me. To re-connect with my authenticity around Love and what it means to me during this time of my life. It’s interesting that as I step into cronehood my attitude towards life and love have shifted. These days I actively find love in the simple acts of kindness, of treating myself without judgement, appreciating the healthy impact meditation, the seasons, exercise and my attitude towards myself help my ability to spread love within my community. So – I suppose what I am truly saying is that how I treat myself really impacts others and our planet.
Autumn intentions – I invite you to say something Loving or at least kind to yourself and others daily!
It’s time to stop saying and thinking negative things about yourself
Being critical of others. You are who you are and your thoughts, hormones and reproductive cycles all influence your mental; physical and spiritual being.
Some months ago I invited you to try a smile within meditation so give it a go before completing this self reflective questionnaire. Go on – make a promise to make a positive affirmation daily from now on.
Self reflective questions:
Can I walk in LOVE for the whole of this month? If so, what acts of kindness can I manage daily?
Do I regularly say “negative things about myself daily?
When was the last time I acted with kindness towards a stranger?
Do I actively treat myself with love, kindness and compassion?
Now write a list of at least 10 positive strengths about yourself and make them into short sayings right now. Here are some suggestions to help you.
I am blessed with love; I live in harmony; Good morning – today is a good day; I am healthy. I am blessed with love. Every day offers new beginnings. I am perfect just as I am . I nourish my body daily. I am good enough. I love you. I treat each person I meet as I would like to be treated.
If none of these work for you then try one of my other suggestions below
Autumn intentions – Get outside daily and greet the day
This is super easy. Being in nature not only helps release stress, reconnect with nature, grounds us but also helps us absorb vitamin D which supports our immunity, hormone balance, nervous system, digestive system, sleep/wake cycle and so much more.
This month I invite you to
Make a list of activities you enjoy outdoors. Go on – I bet there are more than you think!
Greet the day: Just stand upright to begin and ground yourself. Let your shoulders drop and keep your spine straight. Your arms lie to your side. This is basically mountain pose (see illustration below).
When you feel grounded and have spent a few moments connecting with yourself raise your arms above your head as it you are holding the
moon (nurturing love – excellent when feeling emotional, sensitive, vulnerable, have poor sleeping habits or nightmares, PMT, menstrual, menopausal, needing some moon beam energy, wishing to express with compassion and care)
Sun (dynamic energy – use when requiring vitality, dynamism and strength to achieve something such as the start of a project, when you are worrying or feeling anxious, when low in vitality and suffering with fatigue or preparing for an important meeting, a new chapter in your life such as an interview or date!)
A ball ( you can imagine this when you would like to see the “bigger picture” or when connecting with a desire/outcome which you would like to see manifesting or completed using the law of attraction, or maybe you would like to visualise your ovaries as healthy and strong or a fertilised egg if you are trying for a baby)
Notice that this position is similar to the cup of a goblet/chalice and your body the stem of the cup. Imagine that the cup is full of the positive energy which comes down through you. If you lift your head; looking slightly upwards and backwards you can imagine that you are drinking/absorbing that energy. Breathe deeply for 3 counts inhaling this energy. Now return your arms to your sides and begin your day or repeat the process 3 times.
Autumn intentions – give yourself a hug daily
A self-hug is fabulous whenever you fancy it but great after completing the self reflective questions or your daily positive affirmation and daily yoga pose.
Oxytocin is a chemical in our bodies that scientists sometimes call the “cuddle hormone.” This is because its levels rise when we hug, touch, or sit close to someone else. Oxytocin is associated with happiness and less stress and research indicates it has a strong effect in women.
In an article entitled, How Hugs Heal by Dr. Mercola shares these benefits of hugging.
*A 20-second hug reduces the harmful physical effects of stress, including its impact on your blood pressure and heart rate
*A 10-second hug a day may fight infections, boost your immune system, ease depression and lessen fatigue
*The giver of a hug receives just as much benefit as the receiver, but some research suggests the healthiest hugs must come from someone you trust (like yourself!!!)
It is time to bring ourselves to that empowered place to love ourselves. This takes practice and it may take time but hugging yourself will lessen feelings of anxiety while benefiting your physical and emotional body.
Go for a 20 minute walk daily: There is so much to say about this so please head over to another one of my articles about the Sun
Eat Reishi
Consider using Reishi mushrooms during this month to support your hormone and immune health. Here are 10 reasons to use it!
- Reishi is a form of medicinal mushroom which has amazing detoxifying effects with purifying effects on blood.
- Reishi supports the stomach, spleen, lung, liver, kidney and heart so one of my go-to products for oestrogen imbalances and virals! Wow, that’s impressive
- Reishi is a powerful adaptogen so fabulous for stress related health issues
- It is full of antioxidants so anti-ageing and helps immunity too
- Soothes and nourishes the heart and has been used to support cardiovascular and hypertension
- is a potent stimulator of natural killer cell activity so great for immunity and auto immunity fertility issues
- eases the mind; serves as tonic and a sedative so excellent for stress related symptoms and cyclic hormonal disturbances
- studies indicate is has anti androgenic effects so helpful if you suffer with PCOS, unwanted hair growth or testosterone
- counteracts inflammations and useful support for gastrointestinal and digestive disturbances including IBD and IBS
Disclaimer: Adaptogenic herbs are generally safe , can ease symptoms and improve quality of life. Having said that I am a great believer in personalised nutrition so please accept this article as my opinion only and my comments do not take into account any medication, fertility treatment or other needs you may have. Herbs are powerful and should only be part of your stress-reduction and hormone-balancing strategy after you’ve addressed some of the bigger lifestyle factors that drive your fertility issues e.g. worry, anxiety, sleep deprivation, exposure to toxins and being out of touch with your natural hormone cycle.
I hope you have enjoyed this article. If you would like to read more of my musings then please consider:
Why rosemary may help addictions and movement
Online Hormone MOT & Lifestyle Consultation
Stepping into health during June
Mindfulness to support hormones
Justine Evans ND – Hormone Alchemist is a registered Naturopath, Nutritional therapist, Reiki Master/ Teacher &the founder of Wisewoman mentorship programmes She connects life with natural cycles and seasons, integrating Western functional science with traditional medicine and nature spirituality. Justine runs a private hormone health clinic in Twickenham, London, online and in Stroud, Gloucestershire.