Autumn, a little self-care and listening to what our bodies are telling us, sometimes before our minds can fully catch up
It was my birthday on Tuesday, and I spent part of the day walking from Zennor, along one of my favourite stretches of the Cornish coast.
The drive over from Penzance was incredibly misty, and I gave up on my decision to walk up the moors towards Mulfra quoit as the landscape had almost disappeared into the soft grey of the sky. Instead I carried on in my car and headed towards the coast where the mist had settled less heavily. Walking out toward the headland the mist gradually lifted and the sky began to clear, allowing the most beautiful light to break through. It was one of those lovely autumn days that reminds me just how much I enjoy this time of year.
There's something about autumn that makes me want to slow down a little. The summer busyness is behind us, the tourists that throng the beaches and streets around Penzance, St IVes and the west of Cornwall where i live are mostly gone. The evenings are drawing in and nature seems to be settling into a quieter rhythm.
The slowing down around me has given me a little time to think. We're all so good at carrying on regardless, even when we're feeling tired, a bit run down or just not quite ourselves. There's always something that needs doing, somewhere we need to be or another thing to tick off the list. But how often do we actually stop and check in with ourselves?
Are we getting enough sleep? Are we feeling a little under the weather? Is that scratchy throat the beginning of a cold, or are we simply exhausted and in need of a proper rest?
As we head into the colder months, I think it's worth paying a little more attention to those early signs that we might need to take better care of ourselves and that doesn't necessarily mean doing anything particularly complicated - simply giving ourselves permission to do a little less is the starting point... something I'm not that good at doing myself if truth be told.
Of course, essential oils have always been part of my own approach to everyday wellbeing. I love how tuning in can encourage me to reach for an oil BEFORE I reach a burnout or a crisis point. At this time of year it's all about oils that can boost my immunity - think Cinnamon, Ravensara, Naouli, Rosemary, Ginger. For the mind it's all about oils that ground us and connect us back to the earth and encourage us to slow down - Vetiver, Lavender, Cedarwood, Sandalwood, Patchouli, offering a moment of slow calm. At the moment we are batch making our Christmas candles and the smell of clove, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom is filling our workshop. It's beautiful and perfect for keeping all of us well.
Our Right as Rain essential oil blend is one I particularly associate with this time of year. Blended with some of the antibacterials and antivirals I mentioned above ( Niaouli, Ravensara, Eucalyptus, Rosemary, and Cinnamon). This blend was specifically created with the colder months and seasonal sniffles in mind, and it's a lovely fresh, clearing aroma to diffuse when you're feeling a little below par. I start to use it at this time of year, when the changes in seasons can be a trigger for coughs and colds. It's packed full of natural antibacterial, antiviral and mucolytic essential oils that help clear sinuses and airways. It's hard to remember sometimes to slow down and look after ourselves, but this is the season when we must, if we want to head into the winter fighting fit and well.
So perhaps that's my little thought for this week. As the seasons change, maybe we can try to take our cue from nature and slow down a touch.
Notice how we're feeling, listen to what our bodies are telling us and remember that looking after ourselves shouldn't always be the last thing on the list.
Here's to autumn walks, misty mornings, a little more rest and taking good care of ourselves.
Marie x
ps i hope you like my photo of the soft skies around Zennor :)