all the leaves are brown
By Ailbhe Doyle
I think we must all have a yearning to also slow down and mind ourselves more.
It’s like nature is coaxing us into a ‘self-care season’
Are we following a societal pattern of ‘autumn feels’ or is it nature that’s telling us to retreat?
Nature’s not so subtle way of telling us to chill is kind of spot on. It comes when we need it most, nearing the end of the year, but not quite there yet. Autumn is infamous for its reds, yellows, and browns, grey skies and harvest moons. Hibernation is one of the many animal behaviours that I think we should absolutely be copying, and preparations begin for this months-long chill-fest in autumn. Although we continue our normal lives, and definitely don’t shut down as much as the natural world, I think the subconscious part of all of us is leaning towards the same patterns during autumn. Most of us love ‘sweater weather’ and not just because it’s an excuse to wear all our jumpers (admittedly most of my wardrobe), but I think we must all have a yearning to also slow down and mind ourselves more. Warm drinks and soup, staying in, and warm fires are so much more appealing to us. I am very aware that the weather is the main reason for this, because who wants to be out in cold rain and wind all the time, but it’s this changing weather that forces us indoors, pushes us towards more intense self-care behaviour and we innately begin looking after ourselves more.
The warmth we crave during autumn isn’t just something that a coat can fix. It comes from within, something a Gilmore Girls binge might be able to help, or a pumpkin spice latte (basic but true). It’s like nature is coaxing us into a ‘self-care season’ with its complete physical transformation from green and blue to brown and grey. Everything the autumnal transition involves starts at a place of brightness and energy and ends in a state of mellowing and slowing down. So surely this is a clear message from our surrounding environment to follow suit and do what the world around us is doing - unwind and recuperate.
The majority of the in-season vegetables of autumn are from the root family, so the food that grows at this time is naturally denser in nutrition. This is another way in which the earth is providing us with higher sustenance to get through this period of rest. Speaking in families, it is the Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, and Liliaceae vegetables that have a lot of input into our meals during autumn. That’s why stew is such a go-to from now until spring. It’s all about the turnips, potatoes, leeks and beans, and I’m not complaining.
Artwork by Ilana Semler
Photography by Deabhan Murray
