18. How to Bring the Autumn Equinox Into the Studio
Seasonal Creativity Contd...
Happy Autumn Equinox to those in the Northern Hemisphere (and Spring Equinox for So-Hems)! We’re at another point of perfect balance between light & dark, at the mid-point between Summer & Winter.
The equinoxes have been celebrated by cultures worldwide for millennia. In the Wheel of the Year, the Autumn Equinox is celebrated by some as the holiday Mabon (May-bn), centered around the biggest harvest point in the year. It’s a bustle of productivity, but also a pause-point for deep savoring of the earth, nature, and the fresh foods we’re still digging up.
One of the relevant themes for Creatives is beginning the process of wrapping up big projects of the year. Pack away the summer, start setting up for winter. It’s a good time to harness this burst of harvest energy and make a big chunk of progress on anything unfinished that feels important for you between now and the next turn of the wheel, Oct 31st-Nov 1st (final harvest). If you get a chance to pause, here are some reflections + studio items that are good for this time:
Reflect
What projects were successfully planted, grown, and harvested this year? Give thanks for them!
What unfinished project would I most like to spend the next 6 weeks on?
What unfinished projects could be a better fit for the more hunkered in months ahead?
What projects might be best left for next year?
Studio Items
Look around your workspace and ask:
Does any particular spot need a deep clean? Maybe the floor under my desk? (Wouldn’t know anything about that...)
Are any tools or materials that I don’t use often getting prime real estate, while things I use daily get stuffed around wherever they’ll fit? Re-order these spaces to match your daily workflow better.
Give the newly ordered space a good airing out. Bring in some favorite earthy scents, fall decorations, foraged items, or make Autumn-inspired artwork.
And, if you’re in a place amidst the hustle and bustle and finding yourself without energy or capacity - just have a quiet moment in your space, breathe, and appreciate the favorite bits of your creative work.
Thanks for reading Creativi-Tea Time!
This post is brought to you by: my upcoming picture book A COZY WINTER DAY! Celebrating the best parts of winter all winter long. (Out October 15, 2024)
This morning I'm still coming down from seeing Meshell Ndegeocello live last evening, and a chanted lyric from one of her songs continues to reverberate: "wake up, return, balance, align." It felt so appropriate to have that message delivered on the equinox. While the song is from an album honoring James Baldwin, that lyric reminded me to let the summer self rest and to step into the more interior space of autumn. Stretch off the summer and breathe into fall!
Loved your suggested reflections and studio whatnots. Cleaning is so often mentally confined to spring, but I find that sweeping the dust away, straightening up the room, and clearing space for new work is so important in every season! And what better time than when the wheel turns?
love this! I've been enjoying a burst of creativity lately, so I can definitely relate. I'm publishing my first children's book next month and wanted to let you know your book, Home in the Woods, is a family favorite and was very inspirational as I created my own story :) Looking forward to reading your next one!