Issue #24: fall. RELATIONSHIPS. cycles.
SOLSTICE + midlife MARRIAGE tuneup + HEALTHIER fall beverages + LUTEAL phase support
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If the month of September was your friend
“She’d be the friend you went to when you needed a fresh beginning, a new start. She’d be thrilled to brainstorm new business ideas, career changes, home designs, life philosophies. Let’s get coffee and chat, she’d say, so I can hear all your plans.You’d send her pictures of your haircut, an outfit that made you feel good. You look amazing! she’d say, sounding as excited as you felt. September was a daydreamer, a schemer, always planning for the future, but she also had a nostalgic side. On warm evenings that smelled like summer, after she’d been busy all day, she’d fall back on the sofa, open up the windows, pour a cold drink. I can’t wait for what’s to come, she’s say, but it’s good to remember how good things already are.”
JOIN us this SUNDAY
EVOLVE mindful market
@ivyhouse 11am-2pm
Grab tickets and pop in to see us and a vibrant array of amazing vendors this Sunday! Prioritize your personal wellness journey with this amazing opportunity to connect, learn, and elevate your well-being in a supportive community. Come join us for a day of genuine growth and transformation!
Learn more and get tickets here!
FALL + SOLSTICE + CYCLES
As the vibrancy of summer fades into the hues of fall, we welcome the Fall Solstice—a moment when day and night are equal, inviting balance, reflection, and change. Just as nature slows down, releasing the energy of the past season, our bodies too follow cyclical patterns that echo the rhythm of the earth. Autumn beautifully mirrors the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle and the perimenopause stage of a woman’s life. Both are times of transition, introspection, and preparation, offering a unique opportunity to sync with nature and cultivate a life that aligns with our deepest desires.
The Fall Solstice: A Time of Balance and Transition
The Fall Solstice marks a shift from the outward, high-energy vibes of summer to the inward, reflective energy of fall. The air becomes cooler, and nature begins its slow descent toward winter. This season asks us to let go of what no longer serves us, clear space for new beginnings, and cozy up with comforting rituals that ground us in the present moment.
Similarly, in the luteal phase of the menstrual cycle (which occurs after ovulation and before menstruation), the body and mind naturally start to slow down. Energy turns inward, and we may feel more introspective, a bit more sensitive, and in need of rest. It’s the body's way of preparing for menstruation, much like the earth prepares for the stillness of winter.
For those in perimenopause, this phase of life mirrors fall’s energy on a broader scale. Perimenopause, the transitional stage before menopause, is a period of deep change and reflection. Hormonal fluctuations may cause energy to wane, moods to shift, and a longing to simplify or restructure our lives. Much like trees shedding their leaves, perimenopause invites us to release old patterns, habits, or expectations that no longer align with who we are becoming.
the LUTEAL phase: AUTUMN’S reflection in the body
The luteal phase, lasting approximately 10-14 days, is often considered the "autumn" of the menstrual cycle. Progesterone rises, creating a calming, nesting effect, which may cause cravings for warmth, comfort, and rest—cozy fall vibes in the body. This is a time when we might feel the urge to nest, declutter, and create a more nurturing environment around us, just as we do as autumn settles in.
Here are some cozy, cycle-syncing ideas for the luteal phase:
Restorative Activities: Replace high-intensity workouts with yoga, stretching, or gentle walks in nature. Listen to your body’s need for rest, much like how the earth begins to quiet in the fall.
Nourishing Foods: Opt for grounding, warming foods like roasted vegetables, soups, stews, and herbal teas. These help support the body's energy as it turns inward. Check out this fall inspired meal plan for your luteal phase from @manskis_wellness.
Mindful Practices: Journaling or meditating during this phase can bring clarity to any emotions that surface. It’s a time for self-reflection and planning for the next cycle or project, allowing you to align with your desires. *See Steph’s 5 Senses Friday HEAR recommendation below!
PERIMENOPAUSE: our AUTUMN
Just as the luteal phase reflects the cyclical rhythm of the month, perimenopause mirrors the autumn of a woman’s life. It's a time to slow down, reassess, and nurture yourself more deeply. Hormonal shifts may bring changes to the menstrual cycle, sleep patterns, and emotional states, but this period also offers the chance to re-center and design the life and environment that align with your truest self.
Creating a cozy, nurturing environment during perimenopause can have a profound impact on how this phase feels:
Simplify Your Space: As autumn invites decluttering, so does perimenopause. Reducing the physical and emotional clutter can help create a peaceful, balanced environment that supports well-being.
Create Comfort Rituals: Engage in activities that make you feel grounded and nurtured, such as lighting candles, indulging in luxurious self-care rituals, or spending time with loved ones.
Tune Into Your Body: Listen to your body’s cues for rest, nourishment, and movement. Just like in the luteal phase, the body in perimenopause craves balance, grounding, and warmth.
the CONNECTION: intentional + COZY
Fall is the perfect season to embrace the art of living intentionally, tuning into the rhythms of both nature and your body. Whether you’re syncing your life with the luteal phase each month or creating a peaceful transition through perimenopause, there’s magic in slowing down and aligning with the energies around you.
As the world shifts into a slower pace, you too can tap into the season’s wisdom: release what no longer serves, cozy up with nourishing rituals, and design the life you truly desire. This is the time to honor both the outer fall and the inner autumn of your body, allowing you to feel more grounded, aligned, and at peace as you transition into a new season of life.
Embrace the Fall Solstice and the wisdom it brings. Both your body and nature are guiding you toward balance, reflection, and a cozy transformation—creating the life and environment that nurture your most authentic self. Cozy up with warm blankets, candles, and comforting foods, and allow your life to flow in harmony with these natural rhythms. Let autumn remind you that change, though gradual, brings beauty and growth, both within and around us.
Speaking of fall + cozy, this week’s Five Senses Friday comes our way from Steph, scent creator and founder of BUSHYL.
TASTE: Pick Up Limes. Cooking isn’t exactly my specialty (all my mixing and measuring energy goes toward soap and shower steamers), but I love watching *Pick Up Limes* on YouTube. Besides being visually stunning, colorful, and beautifully shot, the recipes feel thoughtful and approachable. Have I ever made any of them? No. But I haven’t given up on myself yet!
SEE: Practical Magic. I saw this movie for the first time when I was 13, and I joke that I’ve been slowly morphing into Sally Owens ever since. It’s the perfect girls' night movie for this time of year (or really, any time of year if you ask me). Beyond the aesthetic perfection of that Victorian home, it's ultimately about the strength and messiness of family, sisterhood, and accepting who you really are. (Ooh, it looks like Practical Magic 2 is in the making too;)
SMELL: Shameless plug alert! I couldn’t pass up the "smell" section without mentioning the Bushyl Fall Collection. Scent has been a huge part of my life since I was old enough to realize I had an above-average sense of smell. I love how a fragrance can set a mood or amplify your daily routine in such a simple way. Each scent in this collection captures an aspect of fall that I deeply love, and it’s so rewarding to know my candles and diffusers are making their way into people’s homes to help them celebrate the season.
HEAR: Kinder Records' Shadow Work Series. I love everything from Kinder Records. I always circle back to their affirmation playlists when I’m feeling overwhelmed, so when they released this shadow work series, I jumped on it. Each track offers a journaling prompt to help you examine different aspects of your personality and values, and I’ve really enjoyed making a ritual of doing one prompt each morning.
TOUCH: Sleep Masks. Good sleep has been a lifelong struggle for me. My overall sleep hygiene is in desperate need of a makeover, but the one thing that made an immediate, dramatic improvement is wearing a sleep mask. It’s not just the darkness it provides; there’s something about the light pressure of the mask that almost feels like a hug. Maybe it’s a placebo effect, but I can’t say enough about how much better I sleep with one on. So if you’re part of the sleep struggle club, give it a try!
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Midlife Marriage Tuneup
“Midlife can be a weird time. Maybe you’re grappling with new aches and pains or brain fog. Perhaps you’re one of the 2.5 million sandwich generation caregivers simultaneously caring for children and aging parents. Maybe you’re having an identity crisis, maybe not… Middle age lands somewhere between 36 and 64, or maybe 40 to 60, depending on whom you ask. It is also an inflection point in relationships, experts say, a time when many couples emerge from the daily grind of building careers and a family, and find that they’re in a union they no longer fully recognize.”
Here are 6 questions that therapists and relationship researchers suggest to help bring couples closer during this stage.
What is our next chapter?
What are we modeling for our children?
How do I contribute to our problems?
What skills have we developed?
Is this relationship worth it?
Should we get outside help?
Read the article for more details and/or check out this other great one with other relationship tips. Read on for some other things on our radar this week including fall solstice inspiration and healthier fall beverages!
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