The Power of Touchstones: Grounding Tips for the Season
“A little stone grows warm in our hands. The moisture from our skin makes it glisten, just as any loving touch makes what is touched glisten with life. We hold it in prayer like an anchor, to keep our thoughts from drifting away.”
Here we are at the doorway to Autumn, a season of transition.
What can you do to support yourself as you journey into this new season?
In this blog post, we’ll explore the magic of touchstones and how they can help us navigate this seasonal shift.
The Role of Touchstones in Autumn
The season of Autumn invites us to slow down, witness change, and find beauty in letting go. The falling leaves, the crisp air, and the shorter days all contribute to a sense of introspection and transition.
As nature sheds its summer attire, it offers us a powerful metaphor for releasing what no longer serves us and preparing for winter’s rest.
Amidst this seasonal shift, touchstones are grounding.
A touchstone can be both a physical object and a meaningful ritual.
A touchstone is a point of connection between the external world and our inner selves.
Here are some ideas for incorporating a touchstone in your life this Autumn:
Carry a physical touchstone
Select a touchstone that resonates with the essence of what Autumn is for you. This could be a smooth acorn, a rock, or crystal or another small object that is meaningful to you. Carry this touchstone with you throughout the day - perhaps in a pocket where you can easily touch it.
Create an Autumn altar
Design a small altar in your home dedicated to Autumn. Place your touchstone alongside candles, leaves, and other elements that embody the season's energy. This physical representation can serve as your touchstone, a visual and sensory reminder of the beauty and impermanence of autumn. Each time you look at it, take a moment to breathe deeply and appreciate the present moment.
Create a daily ritual with a poem
Select a poem that resonates with the essence of what Autumn is for you.
Let this poem be a touchstone. Read the poem each morning and let the words land in your body. You may even want to tuck the poem into your pocket and read it throughout the day, allowing the words of the poem to ground you.
Create a spiral labyrinth
Create a spiral labyrinth out of leaves.
You may want to do this once a week as a way to connect with the changing landscape and ground you to the Earth.
You could create a small labyrinth that you walk with your finger or a larger labyrinth that you walk with your feet. As you walk the labyrinth, say to yourself, Outer to inner, Autumn is here.
