Dear there,

It's Faye here. 

As I sit and write this, my window is open and there is a sharp crispness in the air that wasn't there a few weeks ago. 

How do you feel about this gradual descent into darker months? 

For so long, I felt the pressure to always be like summer—bountiful, light, and youthful, constantly giving, nurturing, and radiating positivity. After all, isn’t that what ‘good’ women are supposed to do? 

Maybe…but now I know that WILD and WHOLE women, just like the seasons, aren’t meant to stay the same. 

There’s a darker, quieter part of us that craves rest, introspection, and the space to sit with our shadows. 

I’ve come to realize that this side of me is just as important. Embracing it doesn’t diminish who I am; it makes me whole. By honouring both my light and my dark, I’ve found a deeper sense of truth and balance. 

It’s in this balance that I've found any real transformation takes root.

But how do we embrace our shadow? 

It sounds so simple, doesn’t it? But living fully—where we not only get comfortable but maybe even begin to love the parts of ourselves that don’t hide behind, ‘I’m fine, thank you’—is a deeper journey. 

Breaking free from the way we've been conditioned since we were little girls—to be nice, to meet everyone’s expectations, and to appear perfectly fine with the messy realness of life—doesn’t happen overnight. It’s not a one-and-done process.

Right now, I’m navigating deeply challenging changes in my marriage, and it’s tempting to keep smiling sweetly, pretending everything is fine, and staying as “fresh as a daisy” through it all. But I know that repressing my truth won’t serve me. 

Repressing your truth isn't serving you (and it's not really serving your loved ones either!) 

Here are some practices that are helping me avoid spiritual bypassing and stay present with my darker side:

I’ve been holding imaginary ‘board meetings’ with my emotions. I visualise each emotion sitting around a table, giving them the chance to speak one by one. I let each emotion share its truth with me, writing down what it has to say. Once I’ve listened, I thank it and move on to the next. (Last week, I led this practice in The Women's Fire and then we had time to share what came up, it was powerful to listen to the insights that came.) 

Being around other women who can drop the masks and be vulnerable. Sharing circles—a space where I can truly be heard and seen—have been powerful medicine for me. Listening to other women share their own challenges and raw emotions has helped me realise I am not alone in my struggles.

Setting aside time to slow down—ideally by getting away—is essential. With three kids, it’s not easy, but carving out this space to feel and tend to my shadows prevents them from demanding my attention in more subtle, disruptive ways. The question I'm sitting with is, “What truth do I know that I wish I didn’t?”

(This photo of me was taken earlier this year by Danniella Jaine, capturing a moment with our beloved River Dart, the sacred place that holds and supports us during our True Nature Retreats.) 

Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox 

One of the reasons I love celebrating The Wheel of the Year and pausing at each seasonal shift is because it helps me to see myself as tuned into the cyclical world around us, instead of chained to the patriarchal expectation to always do, do, do. 

Here are some practical ways to celebrate this season of change:

Create an Equinox Altar

Beauty abounds during this time of year. Gather seasonal elements like fallen leaves, acorns, and harvest fruits to create a sacred space in your home. Add candles to represent the balance between light and dark. Use this altar as a place to meditate or journal, reflecting on what you’ve harvested in your life this year and what you are ready to release.

Thank-Fullness Practice

Autumn is the season of harvest, making it the perfect time to ‘thank the fullness’ of your life. Write down everything you’re grateful for from the past few months—your personal achievements, the support you’ve received, and the lessons you’ve learned. This practice will help you honour the abundance already present in your life as you move forward into the colder months.

Gather with Community

The Equinox is traditionally a time for celebration and feasting. Invite friends, family, or your women’s circle to gather for a potluck meal, sharing seasonal foods like root vegetables, apples, and squash. Use this time to share stories of personal growth, support each other’s transitions, and offer your collective gratitude for the gifts of the year.

Engage in Seasonal Cleansing

As we prepare to move inward with the darker half of the year, it’s a perfect time to clear both your physical and mental space. Cleanse your home by decluttering and smudging with herbs like sage, rosemary, or cedar. You can also cleanse your emotional space by letting go of old patterns, setting intentions for new beginnings, and embracing a practice of self-care.

Ground Yourself in Nature

Take a walk in nature to witness the changing colours and seasonal shifts all around. Collect autumn treasures—leaves, pine cones, or stones—and use them as reminders of the cyclical nature of life. As you walk, reflect on how you can bring balance into your life, acknowledging the areas where you need more harmony between giving and receiving, work and rest, or mind and body.

Ritual for Balance

Since the Equinox is a time of balance, a simple ritual you can perform is lighting two candles—one to represent light, the other darkness. Sit in reflection, asking yourself what areas of your life feel out of balance. Meditate on how you can create more harmony as you move forward into the quieter, more introspective season of autumn.

Celebrate the Harvest in Your Own Life

Use this time to reflect on the personal harvest of your life. What seeds have you planted this year, and what have you harvested? Whether it’s a creative project, a new relationship, or personal growth, take time to honor all that you’ve achieved. Consider writing these reflections in a journal or sharing them with a trusted friend or your circle.

There are still a couple of spaces left on our Women's Fire Retreat. 

I would love to meet you in person, to hear your story and celebrate your wildness. 

If money is the only barrier to you being there, please get in touch with me about a bursary ticket faye@truenature.org.uk 

New Women's Fire Online Portal

I've been creating an online portal with delicious ‘soul food’ resources for our Women's Fire Members that is launching this Autumn Equinox. 

It is full of videos, meditations, nature connection practices and folklore to access at any point and to support you with your journey. 

About The Women's Fire

Wishing you a season of abundance, peace, and soul-deep connection with yourself and the natural world around you. 

May you feel the deep harmony of the Equinox as it moves through you.

With love and autumn blessings,  

Faye 🍁

Starting Tonight 

True Nature's Autumn Programme