Shift Your Energy, Improve Your Outlook, and Lighten Your Mood.
It’s officially the season of the witch.
What’s more, the data clearly show that it is, indeed, THE VERY BEST SEASON BY FAR.
Haha, OK no, I know you’re entitled to your opinion. But come on. The golden light. The colored leaves. The cool breeze.
It’s just, you know. Perfect.
Another thing I love about fall? The flavor of magic we get around this time, and I don’t mean pumpkin spice.
I mean the way change is of the essence. It’s a time for letting go, clearing the decks, and adopting a brand new way of seeing and being. This vibe is invigorating and palpable. And, you can invoke and channel it for your own healing, expansion, and growth.
That’s the flavor of magic I mean. Maybe it is kind of pumpkin spicey, though, come to think of it: sweet, cozy, and just fleeting enough that you feel motivated to get out there and enjoy it while you still can.
With this exact quality of magic in mind, here are twenty-one magical ways to change your vibe this fall: to bust out of a rut, start a new habit (or several), manifest new conditions, change your trajectory, banish a stubborn challenge or longstanding issue, or simply see things through fresh eyes.
As a side note, these are the kinds of everyday magical and healing strategies I just love. Even tiny little actions can bring about big changes, and the simplest practices can often be the most profound.
Choose one or choose several. And then commit. You’ll be surprised by how much such “little things” can actually shift your vibe and lighten your mood.
1. Burn Cinnamon Incense
The wafting scent of cinnamon is warm, it’s sweet, and it raises vibrations while calling in wealth. It also unsticks stagnation by moving energy around (your own energy and the energy of your space) in the most harmonious of ways.
Here’s my favorite cinnamon incense.
If you (understandably) prefer to go smokeless for any reason, try diffusing a bit of the essential oil.
2. Do an Artist’s Date Once a Week
Whether or not you consider yourself an artist, you are one. Spirituality, at least the way I write about it on this site, is creative. It follows that if you’re reading this, you’re creative too.
In the perennial classic, The Artist’s Way: A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, author Julia Cameron insists that the reader go on at least one little adventure per week. Alone. The idea is that you are taking your creative inner child for a play date.
It doesn’t have to be fancy. It can be taking yourself out to lunch, or a movie, or the dollar store. Or it could be a trip to a museum, a hike outdoors, or a ramble through a used bookstore or public library.
Doesn’t this seem like a nice way to boost your spirits through fall and into the darker winter months? So put “Artist’s Date” in your calendar once a week for the remainder of the year. Then brainstorm some ideas. Make some plans.
3. Institute a Shopping Ban
Wow. I’ll admit that right off the top, this one sounds like a real drag.
But I’ve been – imperfectly, but not too terribly – operating under my own self-designed, self-imposed shopping ban since August first, and I have to say I find it really freeing. But let me explain.
See, okay first, uh, I went through a patch. (Let’s just say, that Venus Retrograde was no joke.) Then, I shopped way too much for a bunch of stuff I didn’t need. And it really added up. Then, I read this book, The Year of Less: How I Stopped Shopping, Gave Away My Belongings, and Discovered Life Is Worth More Than Anything You Can Buy in a Store.
In it, author Cait Flanders describes her own path of breaking the addiction (yes, addiction – for real! For real, for real) of shopping for things you don’t really need (or probably even really want when it comes right down to it). So, she institutes – you guessed it – a self-imposed shopping ban. For a year. After the year was over, she kept a lot of it going.
Like Cait, and like me, you get to choose your own rules. Mine are very similar to hers: no new clothes, no new shoes or accessories, and no new decor for my house. I don’t need any of it. No books. There’s plenty of those at the library. Also no take-out coffee unless I’m, you know, on a vacation or somewhere where I can’t easily make my own. Restaurants: yes. Vacations, yes. Gifts, yes. Houseplants, sure. And I can get toiletries and cosmetics, but only to replace ones I run out of. No, like, four hundred varieties of lip gloss just because. (Also, I used to hoard soap for some reason? So no more hoarding soap. I’ll get soap when I need it, not before.)
There’s something about the limits of this that feel really good to me. It turns out this has been a missing piece for me when it comes to living clutter-free. It’s also been amazing for my finances. (Already!) And, it’s helped me to see what I really value rather than what momentarily appears shiny and inviting.
So for me, so far, so good. I can’t wait to see how this shopping ban journey continues to unfold. If you want to try a shopping ban too, I highly recommend! Grab your own copy of the book here. (It’s only $1.99 on Kindle, but you can probably find it at your local library if you want to get a jump on the shopping ban action.)
4. Try Intermittent Fasting
Uh oh – you may be thinking – Tess just rolled out a real gutter ball here. And yes, I’ll admit this one, also, probably does not sound any fun at all.
But hear me out!
First of all, I’m talking about the 16:8 method of intermittent fasting, which is really not, in my opinion, fasting. What I mean is, it’s just eating between, like, 10AM and 6PM or 9AM and 5PM. Is that fasting? Or is it just a really chill schedule of eating that happens to give your digestive system and blood sugar a well-deserved rest? I say the latter.
I have been eating this way for a year now, and I’ve hesitated to discuss it publicly because diet culture SUCKS SO BAD. But I have found that the 16:8 method has helped me get more enjoyment out of food, not less. By sticking to three meals and maybe a snack each day, meal planning and prep feels more focused and fun. My digestion is better, my mind is clearer, and I just feel way way healthier all around. (I lost a bit of weight too. I don’t really love mentioning this, but in case it’s interesting to you, then there you go.)
Is it difficult? It was at first. Maybe for the first two or three weeks. But now that my body’s used to it, it’s totally easy.
If you want to give it a try, check out this video from my friend Jennifer L. Scott on her awesome channel, The Daily Connoisseur. It’s what inspired me a year ago to get started. Jennifer also has some great “What I Eat in a Day” videos that might inspire you, like this one and this one and this one.
5. Get a Pot of Chrysanthemums
Ok, here we go. Flowers. No arguments here, right?
The chrysanthemum, whose name means “gold flower,” helps shore up your energy and illuminate your path as you make the transition into these darker fall and winter months. Mums also help bring abundance and boost your luck. And they’re often in plentiful supply at this time of year. So bless your home and life with a pot of gold (flowers).
6. Put Gold Elixir in Your Drinking Water
Speaking of gold, attune your drinking water (or coffee, or spiced cider, or herbal tea) to the actual vibration of gold, and internalize the sunshine. Dive into the vibration of wealth. Bolster your spirits, strengthen your wellness, and open up the portal to success.
Here’s a gold elixir you can try.
7. Read a Classic Novel
If you love books like I do, there’s nothing like a good classic in the fall. They help you cozy in, slow down, and pay attention to the everyday business of life. There’s something so magical about peering into times long gone and finding people who are not so different than you. Some of my favorite classics I’ve read in autumns past include Middlemarch, Jane Eyre, and Tess of the D’Urbervilles. More recently, I realized I loved Jane Austen and devoured every novel of hers that I could find. (It took me a minute – her books used to bore me to tears. Then, suddenly, I loved them???)
For something spooky, fun, and off-the-beaten-path, try the novella Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan LeFanu.
8. Make a Playlist
When you want to shake things up and change your trajectory, making a playlist is always a good idea. Choose a theme. Here are some examples: autumn, queenly self-care, Samhain, or the thinning of the veil. Then write out your intentions surrounding this theme, along with the ways you’d like to feel. Look for songs that capture the essence of all that you’re calling in.
(Throw your playlist in the comments if you’re feeling social that way!)
9. Dance Every Morning
Here’s another fun secret to changing your energy and lifting your mood: after you drink your morning cup of coffee or tea (or whatever), put on a celebratory, funky, and/or uplifting song and dance. But don’t just dance: dance like you just won a million bucks or the Super Bowl or the Oscar for Best Feature Film.
(I got this idea from the author Pam Grout in one of her fabulous books – I wish I could remember which one.)
It only takes 2-4 minutes a day, it’s super fun, and you’ll notice the positive results immediately.
This is my favorite song for this practice. Use mine or find your own.
10. Read Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals
Sometimes you need a book to remind you of what’s really going on here: what’s important, what’s not, and how to change your focus appropriately. Four Thousand Weeks is that book for me right now. I haven’t finished it yet, but it’s definitely hitting just right.
If you read it, come back and let me know what you think.
11. Try a Makeup Tutorial
Who remembers when we couldn’t learn from the best makeup artists in the world by choosing from millions of tutorials on YouTube? For FREE? I do. Our technology-obsessed world isn’t perfect, but this is a pretty great perk, I’ll tell you what.
Plus learning a new way to do your makeup is a fun, easy way to subtly switch up the face you present to the world. (Literally.)
And everything is connected, remember. New makeup techniques = fresh vibes in other areas. It’s the feng shui of makeup.
If you’re in my age group (I’m 46, y’all!) and have similar aesthetic tastes to mine make-up wise, you might like this tutorial and also this one. (Otherwise, sorry – I got nothin. But this can be a group effort: if you have your own favorites, please share them below.)
12. Clean Out Your Closet
Clear your closet of all the stuff you no longer love. Free it up, create space, and get energy moving. You’ll feel better, and you’ll open up avenues of opportunity.
Plus, then you’ll be ready to…
13. Throw a Clothes Swap
I’m so delighted that I finally know enough women in my neighborhood to throw clothes swaps again. They are one of the great joys of life.
A clothes swap is where you invite your friends over and you tell them to bring the clothes, shoes, accessories, and handbags they want to let go of. Then you play groovy music, offer them chocolate and maybe some wine, and tell them to sort all their stuff into piles. (I like to start the piles with my own stuff before they get there, and label the different areas with little signs that say, like, “dresses,” “skirts,” “shoes,” and so on.)
Then you all shop. For free stuff. It really is so much fun, and you will often end up with a seriously revamped and upgraded wardrobe.
It’s so great for the planet to trade clothes instead of buying new ones.
(By the way, if you’ve been following along, Clothes Swaps are 100% allowed while on my shopping ban.)
14. Enforce a Digital Sabbath
Let’s face it: checking email and social media and texts all day is just. So. Boring. It’s not all our compulsive desires would have us believe. At all. It’s mostly just a crappy distraction with very little enjoyment involved.
But with minds famously prone to distraction and experts studying how to get us hooked, letting go of the tech habit is easier said than done. So try picking a day to leave your phone off. Maybe give it to a loved one and ask them not to give it back to you until the following morning. Do this on Sunday, say. Or Tuesday. Whatever works best. Then tell your friends and family so they know.
(I haven’t tried this exact thing yet, but I’m planning to.)
15. Wash All Your Windows
Here’s some classic feng shui for changing up your perspective and making your vision crystal clear: wash all your windows.
16. Wash All Your Mirrors
Similarly, if you wash your mirrors, guess what? You improve your self-image and boost your self-esteem. Especially if you do it with intention.
17. Clean and Cleanse Your Front Door
If you’ve read my blog or my books for a while, you’ve heard this one before. That’s because it’s powerful, and it’s so-so easy and satisfying to do. The front door represents the place where blessings and abundance enter your life. So clean it (physically) with warm water and maybe a little vinegar or some essential oils and a rag.
Then open it all the way and cleanse the threshold with smoke. Sage works. So does palo santo. So do all these fall-friendly botanicals.
You can also mist the threshold with rose water or an aromatherapy mist if you prefer to go smoke-free.
18. Invite in Wealth Every Morning
I love opening my front door all the way in the morning, invoking the Divine, and then inviting in wealth and all wonderful things. Then I feel/imagine/sense all this fresh new positive energy flowing straight into my home in the form of golden light.
Try it for a week and see what happens.
(Here’s a blog post about exactly how I like to do this if you want a little more detail.)
19. Celebrate the Harvest Moon
This year (2023) the Harvest Moon is in effect September 28th-29th. Stand or sit in the moonlight. Soak it in. Call in healing, magic, and inspiration. Cultivate gratitude. Invoke the Goddess and speak words from your heart. Eat or drink something delicious and offer a little to the Goddess and the Moon.
20. Stock Up on Cozy Beverage Options
As we get ready for the cooler months, stock your kitchen with all the herbal tea, cocoa, cider, and other hot beverage options you could possibly desire. Most teas, coffees, and beverage mixes stay good forever and they’re a fairly inexpensive way to make yourself feel extra special, luxurious, and loved.
21. Learn (or Practice) a Divination Technique
You know what’s great to have lined up for winter? Hobbies: stuff you love doing – not to make money or to impress your friends, but simply for the joy of it. And divination techniques are excellent hobbies to have. So choose one that sounds good and get ready to study and practice it throughout the season. Come 2024, you could be well on your way to having it down.
If you want to learn Tarot, I really like the book Finding the Fool. The Tarot Coloring Book is also invaluable for learning this craft. And, here’s a free video starring me about how to get started reading Tarot right away.
If you’d like to learn the pendulum, check out this (free) post and this (reasonably priced) online workshop.
Here are some other ideas for divination practices to learn.
So, what do you think? Do any of these call to you? Which ones are you going to try? I’m dying to know. Please speak up in the comments below.
Laurie says
Really needed a lift today and this post helped so much 🌞. I read “The Year of Less” when it first came out and was so inspired with Cait Flanders’ experiences and ideas. And I just spent some happy time making a playlist of uplifting songs to listen to tomorrow at work…everything from my Mom’s favorites from the 50’s to a fantastic new song by Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors called “I Need to Go Somewhere” that made me laugh out loud 😁. So good!
Thanks Tess for sharing your light and magic with us all🌟
Tess Whitehurst says
Aww, Laurie, this is so encouraging and sweet! Thank you for taking the time to share your experience and for your kind words.
Susan Eileen Jizba says
Such Wonderful Suggestions, as always Tess! Thank You!
My Favorite ones are:
A Weekly Artist Date (I do this!)
A Shopping Ban – I LOVE this suggestion! I’m thinking of buying and reading the book “The Year of Less..” which is saying a lot since I already have a stack of wonderful books, waiting to be read!
Playlists – I find those incredibly inspiring!!!
Clean out closet – I’m doing this and cleaning out our entire house too (kitchen cupboards, storage, garage…)
Practice Divination – I always do this in All Ways!
Thank you Tess!!!!
Tess Whitehurst says
Susan, I’m so delighted to hear your faves! Lmk what you think of The Year of Less if you read it. It was life changing for me. And thank you for reading!
Leah Boyer says
I love your posts like this. Found a wonderful playlist on Amazon called Autumn Folk. Also burning cinnamon incense today made by the local metaphysical store.
Tess Whitehurst says
Leah, I’m so glad you connected with the post! Thanks for letting me know. The playlist sounds perfect, and I’ll bet that local cinnamon incense is nice. 🍁✨
Kimberley Horner says
Hi, Tess! Count me in on shopping less – I have been doing this for a few years. I let the pandemic “teach me” what I truly required vs what I thought I had to have. I still have plenty of fun items and honestly don’t feel restricted. In fact, it is counterintuitively very freeing. And for sure for sure the yummy beverages. One song on my playlist perfect for dancing – “Pick up the Pieces” by AWB! Thank you, Tess! 🍂🍁
Tess Whitehurst says
Great song! And yes, absolutely, you said it. Counterintuitively freeing. It’s like: oh, hey, I really do have enough! Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts.
Janet Post says
Thank you Tess. Perfect timing with your wonderful and creative ideas for fall. My favorite time of the year as well. I just bought “The Year of Less” on Kindle and this will be my last purchase for myself for some time. Many blessings to you!
Tess Whitehurst says
Janet, I’m happy to hear you feel drawn to that book too! I hope it inspires you like it did me. Thanks for reading and for your kind words.