Grief & Loss
The Season of Letting Go: Working Through Autumn Grief
October 2, 2026
— CHRISTINE SPARACINO
Autumn is in full swing, and a new month extends before us, full of possibilities. The energy of this season is twofold: we harvest what we have worked towards all year, and we release and shed.
The primary emotion of Autumn is grief, as we move inward, away from the hectic energy of Summer. This can look like feeling sad about the shorter days and cooler weather. It can also look like grief over the hopes you had for this year that have not yet materialized.
The release prepares us for the next season, when we are asked to rest and conserve our resources and energy in Winter. We prepare now for the soil restoration that takes place in the upcoming months.
This is a good time to reflect on what you might need to release or reduce. Do you need to clean out a closet? Do you need to release your expectations? Do you need to let go of what feels depleting? (To learn more about the things that deplete our energy, read this.)
Releasing can look like donating or selling items that we do not use, ridding yourself of clutter. It can also be releasing of identities you have outgrown, patterns that do not serve you, expectations that are unrealistic.
This is also a good time to reflect on what you are grieving. What sadness do you notice? What grief? If a close friend was feeling the way you are, how would you extend compassion? Can you do this for yourself? (You can read about my experience of dealing with grief that remains).
One helpful tip for the grief of the season is to take a moment to reflect back on the year. First, identify what intentions you set, what goals you had, what you were hopeful for. Flip or scroll through your calendar and take notes of what happened. This can prompt our minds to remember what we may have forgotten.
Once you have your list, then take a moment to catalog all the things that went well. All that you completed. What you accomplished. Make a list of these wins. Often when we give ourselves credit for how we survived difficult times, how we showed up even when it was difficult, our spirits lift. We connect with our resilience.
Another way to move through the grief of the season is engaging in rituals and traditions. Do you have favorite Autumn activities? When we anchor ourselves in the activities and traditions of a season, it helps soothe our grief and connect us to the present moment.
If your heart is feeling tender, consider watching a favorite movie or baking a treat. Go gently with yourself and see if you can connect with what feels good in the season, even if you are still dreaming of sunny, long Summer days.
