“Autumn is the hardest season. The leaves are all falling, and they’re falling like they’re falling in love with the ground’, wrote Andrea Gibson. I hear her, others love the idea of anything orange or representing a pumpkin, cups of hot chocolate and big, baggy jumpers and boots. Some of us sigh as the sun gives up, the wind picks up and the rain sets in. I then count ‘blue sky’ days as at least they are cheerful other than the ‘greyness of a quiet Sunday with nothing happening or worth watching and I have read my recent book’ kind of day. The shops turn to shades of black and grey as if we are in mourning. No idea why as this is when we need sky blue, pink, lemon and lime as if to remind us of summer days or at least to give our pale skin a lift. Shades of brown, deep red and plum-coloured leaves litter the roads and the colours are copied in interior decor in the shops. Then someone reminds people that it is only 7 weeks to Christmas! It is all too quick!
Brown as a Berry
The colour brown and any shade with a brown base represents the Earth Element. Anything that is brown wood, represents the Wood element. That needs to be made clear as it can seem confusing. The Earth element is about foundations, grounding and being centred. Think of stone, ceramics, terracotta, all have a sense of the soil. Wood represents growth and the colour that matches it is actually green. Separate the two elements to make it easier. One is a colour and the other is wood. Choose warm caramel and chocolate shades in throws, cushions and decor and make sure that anything beige doesn’t throw a depressing, grey tinge. Perhaps brown is the right kind of colour for Autumn as we let go of most of the year and turn towards the final months.
Feng Shui Notes
A key Feng Shui tip, dead flowers, twigs, leaves, pods and grass are seen as representing death. Throw them out and either replace with a living plant or flowers or wooden ornaments. Dead plants collect dust anyway and usually look sad. Same with dried fruit and berries. Get a bowl and put some fresh fruit in for colour and a sense of life. Those twisted branches are saying so many things! Get rid of them. While we are talking about plants, look now for a living tree for your Christmas tree or like many we know, get a plastic one, they look real these days and are better for the environment.
Final Thoughts
What are your sounds and smells of autumn? Some say gaggles of geese migrating, marble grey surf, rain on the roof, the crunch of apples. Scents of pine, wood, warm food, hot chocolate and the sharp smell of a morning dew. Whilst I am dreaming of warm breezes, the sea and a swim, I will embrace autumn with its soft wool, comforting food and set off for a walk along the coast.
