Accidentally falling in love

With Autumn, of all things

Recently, I’ve been telling everyone how in love I am with Autumn as if it’s not the most basic, obvious and normal thing in the world. As if people haven’t been making loving Autumn a part of their personality for as long as the internet, Starbucks and American sit-coms have existed on the earth.

I have always mourned the slipping away of Summer, as I spoke about briefly in my last letter, and while I did have a moment here or there, I have otherwise embraced the sweet and mystical portal of this season with an enthusiasm that is, honestly, surprising to me.

One reason for this is, obviously, I live in a new country and living in a new country is kind of like being born all over again in some weird and unexplainable way. There is a level of excitement and delight in the mundane, which is the way things should be, I believe, but is too easily forgotten when it is all you’ve ever known.

It makes sense to fall in love with Autumn in Japan. A country famous for its seasons. A country surprisingly unfamous for it’s excruciating summer (I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard Really? Does it actually get hot in Japan?) the descent into Autumn feels, for everyone I would say, like sweetly fragranced relief (the week the osmanthus are in bloom is really and truly insane, it’s like walking around in a vial of ancient, natural perfume) with the ability to finally go outside without sweat drenching through your clothes, and the air con blasting your bones at night as you sleep.

As someone who has only ever been drawn to the heat and the height of summer, both in my inner and outer world, I have never, not once, understood the excitement of Autumn’s call.

In the many years I was vegan, the beginning of Autumn heralded the beginning of s season in which my skin would be perpetually dry, uncomfortable, red, tight and peeling. I would often get painful eczema on my legs and easily catch viruses and colds. There are so many reasons for this, but my resistance to doing less certainly didn’t help. In terms of my inner world, I have always been more comfortable with seasons of outward movement and success (haven’t we all). I have struggled deeply with time of uncertainty, lack of forward movement, not being the ‘best’, most productive version of myself.

At the same time, I have also seen how these inner autumnal seasons have been essential, almost like magic portals, oftentimes re-wiring my life completely, which is why I do the work that I do. Why I make rest a practice and a guiding force. Because it works. Because it’s important, not because it’s easy.

To feel myself happily leaning back into a season that asks us to do less, wherever and however we can, truly does feel like incredible growth.

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Below, some of my Autumn favourites, and tools of support for people who feel a little weaker at the change of the season. For those of us who tend to run dry, crave cosiness or simply like a peek into other peoples lives (🙋‍♀️) From simple recipes, to practices, japan favourites, skincare and home tools: no matter what side of the world you’re writing, dreaming and dancing on, I hope these favourites will inspire you.

I even have an original recipe included here!! Something I have been wanting to share again for a long time. You can find another very ancient recipe share from me here.

꩜ Onsen Trips

When I left Australia, the one thing I was worried about missing (aside from loved ones) was living close to the water. Surprisingly, I haven’t yet found this to be the case at all, and I believe it does have something to do with the fact that I have prioritised spending quite a lot of time in very different bodies of natural water: Japanese Onsen or hot springs. I’m working on a longer piece about this I will share here on substack soon, but for now all I can say is if you do come to Japan, please visit an Onsen Hotel or Ryokan. I have many favourites, like Arima in Kansai, Kaga Onsen near Kanazawa and of course, you’d be crazy not to join us in Kyushu (one of my favourite areas in Japan by a mile) in June (enrolments are not yet open but they are coming soon!).

꩜ Onsen Water

Ever since I had the extreme luxury of spending almost two weeks in total over the last month at onsen ryokans (I was working, but it’s still a luxury for sure) I couldn’t help but notice quite an extreme difference in my skin, my sleep and my digestion (which to be honest, are already quite good) despite the fact I was working a lot (holding retreats is one of my favourite pleasures, but it truly is no joke)! Since coming back to Tokyo I started to order this onsen water from Kagoshima online and it’s the first time in my life I felt a noticeable difference in my desire for drinking water as it is. The taste I can only describe as beautiful, too.

꩜ Blue Lotus

In 2021 I did an intensive study with Adrienne Fisher from Meraki Nomad in which we sat with Blue Lotus in many different forms over seven months. I adored the long, slow format of this course and now I do have a very intimate relationship with Blue Lotus. To me, she is quite a deep and intense medicine and while I was navigating new life and new business debacles earlier this year, it did feel right to take a small pause from working with her. Now that life has settled (somewhat, does it ever really?) I have been reaching for her again in the form of a flower essence (one of my favourite medicines) and a cold water whole flower infusion using the onsen water above. To me, lotus is true second chakra medicine. Femininity, sensuality, intuition, sexuality and depth. I highly recommend working with blue lotus if you are called (we will be exploring her and these themes next month in TDR studio too…)

꩜ Body Oiling

One of my favourite practices all year round, but especially in times of seasonal transition, travel and change. I did a whole workshop on this in TDR studio but you can’t really do it wrong. My friend Alyssa (who has also been a guest in TDR) makes my favourite body oil of all time. Take a bath or shower, sit yourself down on a towel or sheepskin (do I have one just for oiling…. yes) and trust your hands to lovingly take care of yourself. From your toes all the way up to your neck and jaw and if your hair can handle it, your scalp, too.

꩜ Yin Yoga

By nature, Yin Yoga is a seasonal practice. But there is something about Autumn and Winter that has me craving evening yin like never before, and it seems I’m not alone in this. Current TDR studio favourites include: Deep Hips Yin (Hormone & Sensuality Support), Yin for Inner & Outer Autumn (Grief, Lungs, Release) and Beauty Yin. Our recent class Yin for Deep Restoration & Melting Fear is on high rotation, too.

꩜ Black Sesame Milk