A Guide To Living Seasonally In October
Dear October,Reveal your secrets through raindrops on our window. Wrap us in the mystery of your howling wind. Show us the delicacy of your morning dew. Cloak our paths in mist and invite us to explore our solitude. As nights grow longer, we'll gather by the fire, where warmth and laughter forge deep connections. In this transforming month, we'll create a life that embraces the cozy, the mysterious, and the grounded, bringing your seasonal beauty into our homes.A True Autumnal Welcome
The bridge month of September has ended. The temperature is officially cooling down. The Fall/Autumn Equinox has already occurred. It’s officially cozy season.
Autumn is the season of harvest and celebration. It’s also the beginning of resting and going within. It’s the season where we begin to eat more warming and hearty meals. It’s also the season where we begin a host of celebrations [Halloween, Thanksgiving, and more]. AND it’s the season where pumpkin spice everything [and pumpkin in general] seems to reign supreme.
For me personally, October is one of my favorite months because the weather here in the southern USA finally starts to cool down a bit after blasting me with heat for months on end. While I can’t quite break out all the sweaters just yet, it does cool down. I’m secretly [not so secretly] hoping to move further up north in a few years so I can experience a true Autumn with all the changing colors. Till then, however, I will practice gratitude [a key thing energetically for this month] for the state I live in while also manifesting that move to colder climates.
Beyond all that, October tends to bring a bit of cooler weather, gray skies, and rain. We begin to want to withdraw a bit and cozy up in our homes.
As I said last month, seasonal living is all about re-learning how to be in tune with each and every month and season physically, mentally, spiritually — in every way. So while the stores are already putting out Christmas trees and gearing up to blast Mariah Carey, I encourage you to try your best to remain present here in the month of October. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with planning for the holidays and even getting ahead on your shopping for decor and such, but I implore you…please refrain from decorating too soon. Enjoy the here and now. Engage in the seasonal activities of this month. You won’t regret it.
A Seasonal October Checklist
So what can you do to seasonally enjoy the month of October?
Bake an apple pie [or pumpkin].
Listen to a Autumn playlist [you can listen to mine on Apple Music or Spotify]
Press an autumn leaf in your journal.
Create your own Halloween costume.
Visit a museum.
Go apple and/or pumpkin picking.
Take a hike and take in all the changes in nature — ‘look at the foliage!’
Listen to a Halloween/Samhain playlist [you can listen to mine on Apple Music or Spotify].
Wear red lipstick.
Have a cozy picnic with seasonal food and drinks.
Cuddle up with a blanket, a warm drink, and a good book [check out my book reviews to find your next read, scroll below to see my book recommendations for the month, or check out my October Books section on my Amazon Shop].
Carve a pumpkin.
Decorate for Fall/Autumn and Halloween.
Wear cozy loungewear.
Pumpkin spice everything.
Drinking a cup of hot tea on a cool morning.
Watch the playoffs and World Series in baseball
Celebrate Halloween/Samhain on October 31st.
Eat foods seasonal to the month of October [see the list below].
Listen to an October-themed playlist [check out mine on Apple Music or Spotify].
Wear and use the colors/other correspondences associated with October [ideas for that are further below].
Some Things I Did This Month
The Energy Of October
The Basic Energetic Themes Of October: death, rebirth, transformation, wisdom, karma, justice, balance, inner harmony, and letting go.
With Autumn in full swing, October’s crisp energy urges us to continue to clear out the cobwebs physically, spiritually, and emotionally, and prepare for the introspection of the upcoming Winter. We are nearing Samhain or Halloween, the final harvest festival on October 31st. Take stock of your accomplishments through the past year and celebrate them with feasts, family, friends, and frivolity. Begin to consider an shadow aspects of yourself that will need attention in the months ahead.
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In terms of energy, October is a month for a mix of things. It’s the beginning of the season of Autumn with there being a major harvest celebration — aka Halloween or Samhain — at the end of the month. This means, energetically and physically, that there is still time for you to put the work in towards your goals and major projects. The thing is, however, is that this isn’t the super hard work of the Summer. Instead, it’s more like the wrapping up of loose ends. It’s the finishing up of those last tasks.
On the other end of this Autumnal energy is celebration. This month is a great time to take stock of your accomplishment through this past year and to celebrate them with feasts, family, friends, and fun. This is one of the reasons I love watching baseball. I know — you’re probably wondering what baseball has to do with anything. Well, baseball is one of the few sports where their playoffs occur during the month of October, ending with two teams heading to the World Series. When you think about it, these baseball players work really hard during the Summer months to get their teams to the playoffs in the Fall. And when Fall comes, especially the month of October, we all get to see what they’re really made of. And those who end up making it into the World Series have the celebration of their lives, while also preparing for that last task of winning it all. That’s very much what October feels like to me.
The reason I say October feels very much like a mixed bag is because not only will you feel that push to wrap up last tasks while also celebrating your wins, but you’ll also feel this instinctual need to go within and almost clean house. I mentioned this briefly in September when I wrote about it feeling like a month of limbo. I then extended that feeling to the months of October through December. So really, October will energetically feel a bit like September. Forward and backward. Backward and then forward. The only difference between October and September, in my opinion, is that you descend a bit deeper down the stairway of self-reflection. You’ll begin to become more aware of who you’re being and the life that you’re living. Instinctually, you’ll begin to cut even more ties than you did last month with actions, habits, people, and situations — I mean, there is more than reason October is often equated with death, and with it being an Autumnal month, it all clicks into place.
The good news, however, is that on the other side of a closed chapter is a new one. While cutting ties with the old, you’ll begin to see glimpses of the new. Sometimes this process is painful. Deep emotions and old beliefs may come up to be revealed, but on the other side of that is the joy and hope of a new beginning.
So ultimately, finish up your tasks, celebrate your wins, look within, and let go of what’s holding you back — or anything that just no longer belongs in your life [goodbyes are not always bad…sometimes it’s just time to move on]. Keep that fine balance so you don’t get swallowed up into the depths of things like looking at your past mistakes. It takes a balance to stay sane, especially with the weather getting colder and the days getting darker.
An Energetic Checklist For October
So here’s a quick checklist of things to energetically do this month so that you can finally enjoy October to the fullest:
Put in the work to finish up any last tasks on the major goals and projects you wanted to accomplish this year.
Celebrate what you’ve accomplished thus far.
Find a balance between last tasks, celebrations, assessing the past, and letting go. Things like journaling or listening to music can help you move through deeper emotions. Celebration with friends, family, or even yourself help bring that energetic sunshine into your life. Gratitude helps you remember that now is absolutely perfect. Honesty helps you let of what no longer serves you. You get the gist, right?
The Symbols Of October
October brings a shift in energy as we fall deeper into Autumn. This month is symbolized by the more bold but dark colors, inviting solitude and shadow seeking. Libra and Scorpio, the zodiac signs of the month, embody both balance and rebirth, encouraging us to celebrate our accomplishments while also meditating on our mistakes. As we dive deeper into the Fall season, October invites us to embrace our darkness while still reaching for the light.
Below, you will find all of the things [from food to colors to trees and more] associated with the month of October, followed by plenty of ideas on how you can incorporate some of these things into your life.
Colors: black, orange, and red.
Scents and Oils: cinnamon, nutmeg, and dragon’s blood.
Trees: cypress, maple, and yew.
Nature Spirits: Banshees, forest faeries, and goblins.
Animals and Birds: bats, cats, crows, jackals, owls, ravens, and scorpions.
Food: apples, apple cider, ginger snaps, pumpkin bread, and red wine.
Stones and Crystals: amethyst, apache tear, bloodstone, obsidian, opal, tourmaline, and turquoise.
Herbs and Flowers: angelica, burdock, calendula, catnip, chrysanthemum [mums], cinnamon, cosmos, dahlia, myrrh, patchouli, rosemary, sage, and thyme.
Deities: Freya, the horned god, Demeter, Lakshmi, Astarte, Ishtar, and Cerridwen.
Astrological Signs: Libra and Scorpio.
Elements: air and water.
Holidays: Halloween/Samhain.
Symbols and Decorations: burgundy or red colors, autumn leaves, pumpkins, apples, squash, crows, black cats, ghosts, bones, antlers, and red candles.
Activities: dreamwork, ancestor work, scrying, divination, and inner cleansing.
Playlists For October
I’ve personally curated this playlist to take into account the numeric and seasonal energy of October. It’s something I’ve been listening to all month.
You can listen below via Apple Music or Spotify. Don’t forget to give me a follow on whichever platform you use most and add the playlists to your library as new playlists and music are always being added!
Did you listen to the playlist? Let me know what you thought of it in a comment below or tag me on instagram [@shenayesuggs] or use my hashtags #shenayesuggs so I can see that you’re listening!
October Eats And Drinks
Eating seasonally is a game changer. Not only does it bring your body back into harmony with the Earth, but it also makes each month feel new and exciting. I mean, have you ever gotten tired of eating the same foods over and over again? Yep, me too. When I started eating more seasonally, however, I found myself stepping back into my zone of excitement and creativity. I get excited about the foods and ingredients each month has to offer. Now, this doesn't mean you have to box yourself in by any means. I’m all for balance — and with all the technology we have these days, many foods are available almost all year round. So, if I am having a major craving for something that might not be so seasonal, I still let myself have it. I have found, however, that eating seasonally makes it so I don’t crave ‘out of season’ foods as often, because when they are in season, I get my fill and am ready to hold off until that season rolls around again.
With all that being said, let’s list the foods that are considered ‘in season’ for the month of October. Keep in mind that some foods may vary depending on where in the world you live. I’m in the southwest of the United States, so adjust as you need to where you are located.
Seasonal Eats Checklist
Vegetables: Arugula, avocado, beets, broccoli, brussel sprouts, butternut squash, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, collard greens, chicory, delicata squash, eggplant, kabocha squash, kale, leeks, onions, parsnips, peas, potatoes, pumpkin, runner beans, spaghetti squash, spinach, sweet potatoes, swiss chard tomatoes, zucchini.
Fruits: Apples, blackberries, cranberries, figs, grapes, grapefruit, kiwi, lemon, lime, oranges, pears, pomegranates, quince.
Herbs/Seasonings: [Most of these are grown all year round, but have a special correspondence energetically and seasonally with September]. Cinnamon, calendula, maple.
Nuts: Chestnuts, walnuts.
Food And Drinks To Try In October
October Fashion & Beauty
October is a gentle month when it comes to temperature, at least for me in the southwest of the United States. There’s still a bit of warmth during the day with the morning and nights becoming cooler. Then, keeping in mind the color themes of the month [orange, red, and black], below you will find just a few ideas of items you can incorporate into your wardrobe [and beauty routine] to live in tune with the month of October and the season of early-Fall.
You can see more fashion, beauty, and even home decor picks for the month of October in my Amazon Shop here.
An October Home
With the color themes for the month being black, orange, and red, here are some of the things I picked out to use in my home.
You can see more home decor picks for the month of October in my Amazon Shop here.
Holidays To Celebrate This October
The older I get, the more I find myself wanting to create little traditions to bring happiness throughout the year. In the month of October there are many things to celebrate. Below you’ll find the holidays [or special days in general] that I’ve personally started celebrating along with tips and tricks on how I bring in all the happiness.
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