As September ushers in the change of season, it brings a subtle shift in energy. The cooler mornings have started, there is a softer change in the light from the heady summer sun and the nights feel noticeably darker.

Rather than being sad that summer is over, I always feel that this transition from summer to autumn offers us a special opportunity for introspection and renewal. Much more than January! The change of season feels like a reset button, and for me a much more suitable time for people to try a break from alcohol or a fast than the middle of winter when most people attempt these drastic change of lifestyle!

One way I like to embrace this seasonal shift is by creating a new ritual, something which can sometimes be lacking for us in the wildness of summer when routine has fallen out of our daily rhythm. Rituals, big or small, ground us and provide a sense of stability and comfort especially in times of change. They can be as simple as lighting a candle each morning, savouring a cup of herbal tea, or taking a walk after meals. These small acts connect us with the present moment and with the natural world.

I like to choose a new ritual that is not only personal to me, but reflects what is going on in my life right now. So for instance while I used summer to have a digital detox, clearing my mind from the constant connectedness. Now, in September, I want to feel connected again but in a different way so I will be re-joining my meditation group and trying a daily meditation which in the past has brought me great peace at the start of each day.

This September, as the season shifts, there is immense power in creating a new ritual that brings us back to ourselves and perhaps for some to the natural world. These rituals can create space for reflection, growth, and rejuvenation, grounding us as we move through the cycles of nature.

Dr Elizabeth Thompson