For 2024, I’m setting intentions to both cultivate seasonal observations and define points of practice for my life and work throughout the year.

This year I’ve felt called to explore what it means to connect with seasonal living and allow nature to influence my creative practices. If you missed my first seasonal post on Spring, you can read more about where this originated from.

Autumn Season

Here in the northern hemisphere we have reached my absolute favorite time of year!

As we gracefully fall into the 13 remaining weeks of the year, I'm reflecting on the lessons that this season offers us

 

1. Autumn shows us presence

🧐 The observation: Autumn always heightens my sense of presence. Not just because it's my favorite season or because I want to savor its fleeting nature, but because it contains so many sensory-rich experiences.

• You can FEEL the crisp morning chill in the air
• You can SMELL the earthy scent of decomposing plants
• You can SEE vibrant reds and oranges tingeing the green trees and fall bouquets
• You can HEAR wind rustling through the leaves
• You can SMELL hot apple cider, fresh donuts, or a cozy fall candle burning
• You can TASTE pumpkin pancakes, warm chai, or even a PSL (yes, I said it!)

No matter how many autumns I've lived through, I'm always surprised and delighted by the changing leaves. In fact, I seek out this spectacle. Did you know there's a term for this? “Leaf Peepers”! There's even a whole digital world of 🍂 fall foliage reports and maps (I'd love to redesign their website!). In Japan, this practice is called ‘Momijigari’ (maple tree hunting). My husband and I experienced the vibrant Japanese maple trees firsthand during our 2018 honeymoon in Japan.

🍁 The practice:

• Have you sensed any of these wondrous fall feelings? I’m making an intention to participate in and feel this seasonal transition through all of the senses.
• In a few weeks, I'm heading to Eastern California to witness the changing leaves, pick apples 🍎, and indulge in cider donuts (check out my recommendations below!).
• I'm transitioning my cooking to feature recipes from my saved autumn collection.

• I’m seeing some fall colors influence palettes I’m working on for a new client project (browns, mauves, and maroon)

 

2. Autumn shows us how to let go

🧐 The observation: Through its display of impermanence, autumn models the art of letting go, whether it's the releasing of leaves from tree branches or the fading of daylight into longer nights. It's an ideal time for introspection, to start slowing down, and to find focus. Author Jacqueline Suskin calls this "turning back to ourselves." This period of reflection reminds us that we can't do it all in one day—a truth that feels even more poignant as the days grow shorter. Shedding what isn't necessary and sharpening our focus helps us conserve energy as we transition into the colder months.

🍁 The practice:

• I’ve definitely had to let go of some of my personal time to devote my focus to training (and loving) my new rescue pup, 🐶 Benny.
• This summer, I taught and tested several free business lessons. I'll run one final cohort of "Designing Your Freelance Business" for 2024 but then I'll be taking a break from teaching new classes to concentrate on supporting our existing alumni community and coaching clients.
• I've decided to let go of a few creative ideas that I just don’t have enough time or energy to grow this year — I’m still excited about them but they can simmer a little longer.

 

3. Autumn shows it’s never too late to begin again

🧐 The observation: Although fall is closer to the year's end than its beginning, it still feels like it can also be a season of fresh starts. The shedding of the old evokes clearing the slate. This, combined with our ingrained association of September as the start of a new school year, creates space for renewal. "Back-to-school" energy in the air might inspire us to don a new look, to sign up for classes, pick out fresh desk supplies, or return to a more structured rhythm with our routines after summer's more relaxed schedule.

🍁 The practice:

• Thanks to 🐶 Benny my routines have also shifted. I’m rising earlier and appreciating quiet sunrise walks. I’m taking more breaks to ensure I see the daylight before the sun goes down.
• I’m looking forward to not just being a teacher but being a student, and enrolling in Amelia Hruby’s upcoming “Email is Magic Class” and “Unearthing Your Creative Essence” class for Off the Grid Interweb members.
• I’ve been slowly reworking Huzzah Studio in order to bring to life our story and intentions more clearly. It has been a lot of connecting dots in collaboration with some stellar creative partners. I’m almost ready to harvest what has been growing with this work all year and celebrate a new beginning after 8 years in practice! Here is a tiny taste of what’s to come (also a very autumnal 🎨 😉):

 

In the mood for fall…

Rituals

• Plan your last quarter goals for your business. Do some fun seasonal activities. Light some candles. Finish your work day earlier so you can get outside before dark! Visit a pumpkin patch! Pick some apples! Make some soup!

 

Recipes

• I use the Crouton app for saving recipes and have an entire folder dedicated to fall (of course)
• Pumpkin Bread - I love anything pumpkin (of course) and Zoë François has great baking recipes (plus a cute baking show to boot!)
• Ribollita Soup - I first tried this Tuscan bready soup when I lived in Florence, Italy in 2006. It’s a deliciously cozy dish.

 

Music

My favorite jazzy autumn tunes:

Activities

• One of my favorite places in the fall is Apple Hill where you can visit over 50 farms and orchards and find delicious apple cider donuts and fresh pressed cider! Having spent part of my childhood in New England, I LOVE this autumn tradition.
• Visiting a pumpkin patch is a must, and if you’re Bay Area based (or visiting) Half Moon Bay knows how to put on an autumn extravaganza with their Annual Pumpkin Festival. You’ll see the largest pumpkin ever grown.

 

Fall arts exhibits

• DO NOT MISS the Ragnar Kjartansson: The Visitors installation at SF MOMA (only until October 13!)
• Neon as Soul Craft at The Museum of Craft and Design, San Francisco
  

 

Films and shows

• Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice, Beetlejuice! (original, remake, or even on Broadway!)
• When Harry Met Sally - an autumn in NYC classic
  

 

Favorite fall finds

• I love Sonoko Sakai’s Japanese Californian cookbooks and cooking classes. If you don’t feel like baking from scratch, you can try her Pumpkin Crumble Muffin Baking Mix
• 3rd Ritual’s Bel Candle - this has been on my wishlist for a very long time so I finally went for it — it’s a beautiful temporal experience!