Autumn can bring up a surprising amount of emotion.
Old grief. Tenderness. Nostalgia. A desire to turn inward. Sometimes feelings we thought we had already moved through find their way back to the surface.
From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, Autumn is associated with the Lungs and Large Intestine and the emotion of grief. It is a season connected to both receiving what nourishes us and letting go of what we no longer need.
And we can see this happening all around us. The plants are drying and dying back. Leaves fall. Seeds drop. Perennials send their energy back toward their roots and into the soil. Nature isn't resisting; it's letting go. Autumn reminds us that grief is not something we necessarily need to fix. Sometimes it needs space, ritual, nourishment, and tending.
Here are a few of our favorite Mountain Song herbal allies for these tender seasons:
Grief Tender Elixir - Our most grief-specific formula. Take a dropperful during moments of sadness, transition, loss, or emotional heaviness, or incorporate it into a daily grief ritual.
Heart Hugs Tea - Make yourself a warm cup when you need comfort. Let the simple act of sitting, sipping, and slowing down become part of the medicine.
Happy Heart Oxymel - A sweet and tangy herbal preparation for heart-centered support. Take a spoonful on its own, add it to sparkling water, or incorporate it into your daily routine.
Kava Rose Calm Elixir - Reach for this when grief is accompanied by tension, restlessness, or difficulty settling. Take a dropperful and give yourself permission to soften. (Due to payment processor regulations, this product is temporarily unavailable for online checkout. We still have it available for purchase! Please reply to this email to place your order while we work to bring it back to our online shop.)
Soothe the Nerves Tincture - A supportive nervous system ally for those times when emotions leave you feeling frazzled, overwhelmed, or depleted. Keep it nearby and use it as needed throughout the day.
Daily Ritual Oil - Grief lives in the body, too. Massage the oil into your hands, chest, feet, or shoulders. Take a few slow breaths and allow the scent of frankincense, rose, and vanilla to help you bring you back into your body.
There is no timeline for grief. Like the seasons, it can return in cycles.
Autumn simply gives us a beautiful reminder that letting go, turning inward, and returning something to the earth are natural parts of being alive.
Maybe instead of pushing grief away, we can make a little room for it. Drink the tea. Light the candle. Oil your body. Walk among the falling leaves. Put your hands in the soil.
And allow Autumn to remind you that there can be tenderness in letting go.