Be Like a Tree: Flow with the Transitional Energy of October

October is one of my favorite months of the year, it always seems so filled with exciting and powerful changes. Sometimes I think I can almost feel the energy of change in the crisp early dawns, the Autumnal winds and the smell of wood fires burning.

It's often around this time of year when I look back on what I have achieved so far and what I still yearn to manifest. I like to use October as a kind of spiritual check-in with myself.

Much like farmers gathering the harvest, this is a time for us to collect the fruits of our endeavours and celebrate our successes while acknowledging where we have yet to make changes.

October is a transitional month, it’s not like January where we generally feel inclined to kick off the new year with clear intentions, and it’s different still to September, with its Equinox, shifting energies and opportunities to cleanse.

For me, October is a month to go with the flow.

It offers us all an opportunity to transition through the challenges of our lives gracefully and with gratitude.

Nature is leading the way in these shifts, as the birds and animals start gathering for winter and the fruits of the harvest are ripe for plucking. Nature, as is so often the case, can be our greatest teacher for this reason.

This October, why not ask yourself how you can flow with the transitions that come up in the lightest, easiest, and most joyous way possible?

I am reminded often of how I once read about certain Native American tribes referred to trees as the “one leggeds.” I love that image, the tree kingdom can teach us so much about being grounded and yet able to shift, change and bend in the wind while not being knocked off our base.

The trees teach us about resilience, growth, and letting go. They teach us about being grounded, nourishing our roots and yet still reaching for the sky.

Go out and seek your nearest tree! Whether you live near a forest, woodland, park or simply a city street where there are trees. Observe the trees for a few minutes, noting their qualities and appreciating their nature. Then consider the following:

Here are some powerful ways you can channel the wisdom and energy of the trees and experience great joy this October.

1. Learn to shift without falling

What would life be without challenges and unexpected obstacles? Life itself is change and unpredictability. Even the most predictable days contain the unexpected within them.

Think about something in your life that you can learn to go with the flow around without losing your calm or your focus.

Whatever that thing is, next time you think about it or the next time it begins to cause you anxiety, picture yourself like a tree, bending and moving in the wind yet never falling over. You are able to witness the coming and going of the seasons, the sun and the rain, and you remain firm, connected to your inner stability.

2. Learn to be unafraid to let go

The trees willingly surrender their leaves every Fall without resistance. There are great lessons for us contained in that surrender. What would it be like to allow things to leave your life easily and without a struggle?

What do you need to let go of today? This month? This year? Learn from the trees and practice letting go of things that you know in your heart you can no longer cling to.

The fear of loss and letting go is present within most people, we all have to experience it. It’s an integral part of life. Once you surrender to change and the natural cycles of things, you learn that far from losing you are in fact creating space for the new.

3. Ground yourself in the present stillness

Trees are, by nature, grounded. Their root systems are vast and yet we do not see them for the most part. Trees are incredibly silent, strong and still.

There is much for us to learn from this stillness. Sometimes when we are afraid or indecisive, we might jump to take the wrong kind of action. The trees can teach us in those moments about the value of not-doing and simply being.

Next time you feel compelled to react or lash out in retaliation, stop, take a few moments to be still and simply feel, listen and remain quiet. You might find that you change your mind about your next actions entirely.

4. Don’t be afraid to take up space

Sometimes we keep ourselves small because life feels more comfortable that way. We don’t realize that in not taking up space, we are dimming our own light in the world, shrinking instead of being as big as we need to be to show our gifts. Perhaps this manifests as seeking external validation or not having the confidence to speak your truth.

Trees, you will notice are entirely unapologetic about the space they take up. There is no shrinking to fit in or apologizing for being big and stretching out. Trees are who they are, and that is what is so wonderful about them.

In what ways can you be more of who you are? In what ways can you learn to be powerful in your own space?

Let October’s shifting winds blow you around as much as they like without ever forgetting your true, intuitive nature.

Use this month to own your power and learn to flow with life’s changes with ease, stability and gratitude.

“If we surrendered to Earth’s intelligence, we could rise up rooted like trees.”
Rainer Maria Rilke