It’s no secret that for the last 2 years we’ve been on a journey, through grief and battling mental illness, and lots of physical mobility issues, and in this time, we’ve retreated and stepped back from social lives, events, clubbing, and instead choose things that feed the soul.

We had already been walking as mobility allows, and camped, then wild camped, embarked on a car camping journey too as this is friendlier on hips and current health issues. With this we gained a greater respect for the quiet, the slow, the peace, in fact it’s quite addictive. And while it fixes the mind and it really does, it’s a shame the body isn’t so easily fixed.

Instead of racing around and being in soul sucking crowded places, we are taking time to see the changing of the seasons, embracing the windy walks, and orange colours (while they last) the raging rivers, and general stillness of the woods. Here it feels more authentic and genuine, than brightly lit shops, and blaring music, creating a stimulation overload, no wonder we get depressed. I used to dread the cold, the dark, feel low in mood and most of all stressed out.

Now I’m actively doing what the seasons and our ancestors used to do, embrace these dark nights and read books, play board games, try some crafts. Or get outside even in the rain, knowing you can soon get home and warm up again with hot water bottles and blankets. Take this quite time of the year to slow down, take stock, make hearty batch cooked foods, instead of racing to the next holiday of the year. Midwinter was a time to feast and be with those you love, giving each other blessings that we know Spring will come soon, and the dark nights and cold can’t last forever.

To help me enjoy the slow seasons more and gain more skills, I bought this book, which has crafts for each season, recipes, foraging tips and so much more. If like me you bring in most of the outdoors in, with found feathers, leaves, sticks and stones you’ve found that represent the seasons, this book is for you! So cut some Holly, bring in some Ivy, dehydrate some oranges for Christmas tree decorations, and live a slower pace.

Today marks the end of summer, as Samhain or ‘Sow een’ translates to summer’s end. And now we embrace the Darker half of the year. While remembering loved ones and our ancestors, it’s a time of reflection and withdrawing into oneself.

We would have been either up Whitby for the Goth Weekend, or down Cornwall for the Dark Gathering as this time of year is hugely busy for us, and we take our most special times away here. But this year we have our daughters Graduation on the 1st All Hallows Day, All Saints Day, so we are being sensible and staying home to plan for that.

But there are things we can do at home, light a candle for the spirits, make beautiful hearty food to prep us for winter, eat apples in a crumble to honour the time of year, and leave our offerings outside. And hopefully if the weather permits some fire to sit around and watch.

The veil is at its thinnest, so people will light their candles to guide loved ones home, so light a candle, add some oils or herbs, and put near a photo.

We have family things to do the next day, so we won’t be doing much ourselves, probably do things slowly over the month of November, to truly appreciate the darker months and pay our respects.