Smell – Autumn is the season for your common sense of Smell. Procedural memory calms, the woodsmoke, smell and color of leaves, etc. each sign of autumn is tradition. Tradition is calming (each of the five). Smell is alert to anything out of the ordinary/tradition comes to their attention, including different kinds of weather than should be. Relief that life becomes quieter, regimented, traditional.
This the totem season for your common sense of Smell. Honoring traditions is part of your Common Sense of smell. Setting schedules, too. A calming season of settling into the rhythm of winter. Everything about this season is calming to your body, mind, and spirit.
Body is automatically calmed by the cooler temperatures. No more dangers of overheating outside. This is a physical time of year because of all the seasonal chores that have to be done. Working hard makes people with a majority of traits in this category very happy for three good reasons. Endorphins, Serotonin, and dopamine, your stress busting happy hormones. Less stress is calming to your body.
• Hard physical labor, cardio workout chores, is necessary for producing happy hormones
called endorphins.
• Working hard also creates serotonin, your body’s natural sleep aid. It’s why you want to fall into bed at night. Sleep is the most calming thing you can do for your body.
• Finishing these physical seasonal chores is a race for reaching goals on time. Reaching goals produce yet another happy hormone, dopamine.
• If you are working in a group, or get a massage after working, you also are creating oxytocin…the fourth happy hormone. Working hard really does make you happier.
Mind is calmed by known routines. Autumn means a less chaotic schedule than you had in summer, especially if there is a school in your life somewhere. Your mind can slip into auto pilot while following a known schedule.
Adapting is tiring. A daily/weekly schedule is calming. Get up and go to sleep at the same time every day. Eat your meals and snacks about the same time every day. Walk to the same spot every day, at around the same time, no matter the weather. A routine anchors your mind.
Spirit is calmed by having more time to think, to be inspired. Longer nights bring everyone inside. After dinner activities tend to be meditative of some sort. Arts and crafts, reading, listening to music, playing games, listening to stories, even watching TV, all invite your thoughts to wander.
That’s when your spirit whispers new ideas to your mind. Asian medicine calls it a moving meditation. Doing something with your hands for fun is nightly self-care for your body, mind, and spirit. It’s an instinct to be quiet between dinner and sleeping. A peaceful time that prepares your mind for sleep, and your spirit for speaking up.
