Hello Foster friends! Melodie here, so excited to usher in my favourite time of the year. Autumn!
Mabon marks the Autumn Equinox, (September 21) when day and night are equal, making it a time of balance, equality and harmony.
Here is a point of perfect balance on the journey through the Wheel of the Year. Night and day are of equal length and in perfect equilibrium - dark and light, masculine and feminine, inner and outer, in balance. The cycle of the natural world is moving towards completion, the Sun's power is waning and from now on the nights grow longer and the days are are shorter and cooler. The sap of trees returns back to their roots deep in the earth, changing the green of summer to the fire of autumn, reds, oranges and golds.
Mabon is a celebration and also a time of rest after the work of the harvest. In terms of life path it is the moment of reaping what you have sown, time to look at the hopes and aspirations of the Spring and reflect on how they have manifested. It is time to complete projects, to clear out and let go that which is no longer wanted or serving as we prepare winter, which can offer a time for reflection and peace. It is time to plant seeds of new ideas and hopes until the return of Spring.
Now is also the time to add restorative practices to your skincare rituals - exfoliate your summer skin, layer on nourishing oils and massage with Gua Sha to move energy.
As you add these practices to your skincare rituals - be sure to let go of things that are no longer serving you. This is the time of year to set intentions of removing these things from your life and start fresh with grace and joy.
Rituals to celebrate your skin this Autumn:
Exfoliate:
Exfoliation help to remove excess dead skin cells and reveal a brighter, smoother complexion! This quick exfoliator you can make at home with things you already have in your kitchen
The apple is the symbol of the Fruit Harvest. The apple figures significantly in many sacred traditions. It is a symbol for life and immortality, for healing, renewal, regeneration and wholeness. It is associated with beauty, long life and restored youth. Apples are also amazing for revitalizing the skin!
- 1 teaspoon apple puree
- 3 – 4 teaspoons brown sugar or used coffee grounds
- 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
- 1/2 teaspoon Clarity toner or (apple cider vinegar mixed with water)
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl - it should be the consistency of mud. Apply to your skin and use your fingertips to massage into the skin in circular lotions. Pay extra attention to the t-zone area. Leave on for 5 mins after manipulation and then rinse with warm water. Continue with the rest of your skincare ritual.
Meditate
A simple 5 deep breaths while your exfoliating mask is on will do. Sitting in stillness and breathing deeply helps deliver and abundance of oxygen to your skin - which helps with everything form aging to fighting acne!
If mediation is new to you, and you would like to add it to your daily rituals, I highly recommend the Insight Timer app - it has thousands of guided mediations to get you started.
Nourish
Use nourishing oils to feed the skin, and add much needed protection as the season turns colder. During summer, there's more humidity in the air to help moisture stay in your skin and protect its barrier functions. In the cooler months, the air gets drier outside and inside with the operation of heaters. When skin starts losing moisture, the barrier can get disrupted, causing increased sensitivity, dryness, and irritation. We recommend an oil for day and night, and as extra protection - a thicker cream to lock in moisture at night or as a treatment if your skin is on the oily side.
To try: Nourish face oil, Nourish face cream.
Massage
Massage is incredibly good for the skin, stimulating circulation and creating a smoother, firmer appearance. By increasing the skins circulation every day, we start to move waste products out of the skin, to clear out things like blackheads or breakouts.
Gua sha is a traditional Eastern and Southeast Asian healing technique in which a smooth stone is massaged along specific areas of the face. The idea is that light pressure releases fascial and muscular tension and moves sluggish lymph fluid to tone the face.
Here is a fantastic video tutorial on how to use a Gua Sha: https://youtu.be/Bc12OTFzua0
Whatever your rituals this season, I wish you joy, grace and abundance.
Cheers,
Melodie