September: A Season of Transition
The beginning of September always feels like a turning point. Summer still lingers with golden evenings and the simple pleasure of wearing a t-shirt. Yet there’s a subtle sense of change in the air. Mornings are cooler, the days draw to a gentler close, and the rhythm of life begins to shift.
We’ve had more rain than usual recently, and it’s been beautiful to watch nature green, a quiet reminder of life refreshing itself after a long, warm season. September is both an ending and a beginning: a gentle pause between the expansiveness of summer and the grounding embrace of autumn.
“The ordinary becomes sacred when you treat it like it matters”
I recently came across a piece of writing that spoke of “romanticising discipline”, about making small promises to ourselves and wrapping them in care, rather than forcing ourselves into rigid routines. It’s about learning to see everyday acts as blessings and remembering to be grateful for the life we have.
For example: lighting a candle before sitting down to work, taking a moment to notice the privilege and joy of being able to do so. Playing your favourite music while folding laundry, letting the mundane feel alive again, and noticing how lucky we are to have clothes to fold. Drinking water from a wine glass, appreciating the blessing of clean water. Cooking a simple meal with attention and love, recognising how fortunate we are to feed ourselves.
Connection, too, can sometimes fade as we move away from the lightness of summer. But it doesn’t have to. Host a small dinner, it doesn’t need to feel pressured. Ask everyone to bring something and simply enjoy the shared company. Keep connection alive this September through these small, intentional acts that anchor us as the seasons shift.
Anchors Through Change
These little choices anchor us through transition. They remind us that wellbeing isn’t found only in grand gestures, but in the way we show up for ourselves, day after day. Autumn is the perfect season for this — for grounding, for creating cosy rituals, and for noticing the richness in the details of daily life.
Small Rituals to Try
As September unfolds, find your ordinary acts and make them intentional. Take a morning walk and notice the first leaves beginning to turn. Enjoy a warm tea before bed and write a few lines of gratitude to close the day. Spend a moment simply sitting outside, listening to the sounds of nature, feeling the shift of the season around you. Slowly, these small practices become threads of care, weaving the ordinary moments of life into something meaningful.
Retreat as Renewal
This is the heart of what we hold in retreats too — the simple acts of eating together, walking in nature, creating, and resting, elevated into moments of connection and renewal. As the season shifts, may you find ways to romanticise the ordinary, and in doing so, discover that transition can feel not like a loss, but like a beautiful beginning.
If you’d like to step fully into this sense of slowing down and reconnecting, our Dorset retreats provide the perfect space to do so — with mindful practices, creative sessions, and time in nature, all designed to help you anchor, reflect, and restore before the year moves on.
🎙️ Recommended Podcast: On Purpose, Jay Shetty
Jay explores how slowing down doesn’t mean falling behind, it allows us to reconnect with our days, move with intention, and actually get through our to-do lists more effectively. It’s a wonderful companion to the small rituals and mindful practices we’ve explored here, reminding us that embracing the ordinary can make life feel both calmer and more meaningful.
🪴 Local Artist Spotlight: River of Hope at Christchurch Quay
This September, Christchurch Quay will host the River of Hope Festival. A beautiful outdoor art installation running from 12–15 September 2025, as part of the Inside Out Dorset festival. The free event will showcase over 60 vibrant flags created by young people in response to the climate crisis, connecting art, rivers, and climate action.
Artist Heidi Steller and poet Matt West worked with pupils from six local schools, to create pieces that give voice to the next generation’s hopes for the future. Their flags will be displayed alongside works from across the UK and Ethiopia, accompanied by a soundtrack from Dorset rapper Isaiah Dreads.
Join us on our next retreat and experience how simple, mindful rituals such as eating together, walking in nature, creating, and resting can become anchors of renewal. Just as September invites us to soften into change, our retreats offer space to slow down and reconnect. It’s not about escape, but about returning home to yourself with a sense of balance.
Sacha and Naomi X