The colours of autumn fill my screen as I scroll through the pictures shared by my global Substack Community, giving me glimpses of different worlds and the wonders that nature bestows in different parts of the planet.
The Urdu word for autumn, commonly used in many parts of India, is ‘patjhad’, literally meaning the shedding of leaves. In American and British English it is referred to as ‘fall’, a season marking the transition between summer and winter. There is a wistful beauty in the wilting flowers and crumpled leaves of this season that tug at one’s heartstrings. As nature finds ways to thrive in changing conditions, and through its everyday actions, it leaves us with cryptic messages to ponder over.
In many ways, the simple act of falling leaves is a lesson in letting go.
Our lives are often synonymous with the act of holding on.
We hold on to the burden of past hurts, trauma and bad experiences and let them shape our thoughts and actions in the present. We hold on to fears and worries about a future that hasn’t even arrived yet and let it colour our mood today. We hold on to wasteful thoughts, about things happening in the lives of public figures, neighbours, acquaintances, that add no value to our lives.
“These mountains that you are carrying, you were only supposed to climb.”
― Najwa Zebian
We also hold on to more and more material things, as we constantly buy, consume, and hoard stuff that we don’t really need, often to counter the belief that we are not good enough. The less we like ourselves, the more we consume. And the more we consume material things, the more we are disconnected with our true selves.
Over time, our minds and bodies begin to crumble under the burden of things that we relentlessly hold on to.
This autumn, as nature demonstrates the gentle yet powerful act of letting go, let us look deep within at the thoughts and things that we are needlessly holding on to. As trees around us let leaves float down effortlessly in lightness and joy, with full faith that the universe will bring in fresh ones in time, let us join in to this process and let go of stuff that doesn't serve us anymore.
Let us ask ourselves - With each falling leaf around us, can we let go of judgement, of criticism of every resentment that we have held onto for years, decades and lifetimes? Can we let our worries, our fears detach from the tree of our mind and fall gently into the embrace of the earth? With each gust of wind, can we let them fly away never to be seen, revisited, remembered? Can we allow new thoughts to emerge from bare branches, thoughts of faith and acceptance, of compassion and care, of joy and love?
Indian autumns embody a cheery vibe as Diwali - the festival of lights is celebrated in homes and workplaces. In recent years, the forces of consumerism have shifted the focus to buying and gifting, but traditionally Diwali is also a time for an annual cleaning of our homes.
This Diwali, in tandem with nature around us, can we refocus on this aspect of clearing and letting go? As we clean every corner of our homes, can we give away material objects that we have been mindlessly holding onto and allow for new energy to enter our lives? Can we clear our minds of mental blocks caused by negative perceptions of self and the world we live in? And lastly, can we forgive and release people and events from the past and move on to being lighter, happier versions of ourselves?
It’s time we celebrate the essence of patjhad and the joy of simply letting go…
Love and best wishes for a joyful Diwali to my Substack family. A warm welcome to all new subscribers. Do share your comments and help this reader supported publication reach more people through your likes, shares and subscriptions.
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Yes, nature has many beautiful lessons and one of them is about letting go. Great post Minaz!
This beautiful thought is what I begin my Diwali with !
Thank you Minaz.