Creative Grounding for Early Autumn: Welcoming Transition with Art Journaling

As we enter the second half of August, I've been noticing a slight shift in the air. The mornings are just a bit cooler, and the sun is rising a little later, and I've noticed a yellow or browning leaf here and there. Gentle reminders that summer is quietly giving way to autumn.

I can tend to resist this transition (I dig deep into that here), however, as I've grown older, I've come to appreciate the reprieve that autumn brings. It's a time between extremes: of summer's heat, and winter's starkness and cold. It is also a time to come back to ourselves and find grounding in the rhythms and more predictable cadence of school schedules.

Reflecting on the early signs of transition to autumn, I sat down with my art journal and attempted to capture the juxtaposition I noticed in the heat I was experiencing and the brown leaves below the beautiful tulip tree that stands tall in the front yard. It's a bittersweet feeling as I will mourn the beauty of the green leaves and flowers that light up the world, but I welcome the crispness and adventure that autumn holds. I look forward to the comforting activities of apple picking, pumpkin carving, cider tastings... all reminders that each season has its highs and lows, ebbs and flows. So, I embrace this transition with the rituals and rhythms that connect me to nature's flow.

If you're feeling the shift as well, here are some ways you can mark this time in your art journal:

• Notice the colors around you. Which shades are saying "early autumn" to you? Try laying a light swath of this color across your page as a grounding base.

• Reflect and release. Think back on your summer. What are you ready to let go of as you transition to a new season? You can express this in writing, or let your hand move and flow as the emotions flow through you.

• Growth and harvest. What would you like to take forward with you into the next season? What are you grateful for? Express this abundance across the page.

This kind of creative reflection is at the heart of my work and is ever-present in my newest online course, W.I.L.D. Within - a month-long virtual retreat designed to help you reconnect with yourself through Wonder, Inspiration, Liberation, and Discovery. It's designed to meet you where you are, with engaging, flexible invitations that fit into your real life. You don't need to clear hours of your day or have any "artistic" experience -- just a willingness to explore.

If a full month feels like too much right now, I also offer W.I.L.D. Spark, a 7-day experience that gives you a taste of this practice with a smaller commitment. It's a beautiful way to begin if you're curious but not quite ready to dive in.

However you choose to engage, I hope you let this new season be an invitation to pause, reflect, and create. Just as the trees prepare to release their leaves and the northern hemisphere shifts into a time of gathering and grounding, may you find space to honor your own rhythms.

Whether you choose to explore in W.I.L.D. Within, dip a toe in with W.I.L.D. Spark, or simply spend a few minutes with your journal this week, may your September be a season of creative grounding, gentle reflection, and nourishing restoration.