Embracing September: My Annual Month of Spirituality, Self-Care, Reflection and Regrouping
it's also the hottest month of the year and i'm like NOT ok :/
I’ve always had a special spiritual connection to September. From the days I was young, I was never excited to sit in a loud classroom or a freezing synagogue, but when the onset of a new school year or the Jewish holidays rolled around, I always felt this rush of cleansing energy. This was years ago, before spirituality was really discussed. In fact, growing up, there weren’t words to express the majority of feelings we talk about today. I didn’t know what I felt, except that I felt free, renewed, refreshed, excited.
I loved the first couple months of school. Everyone is still excited about their new classmates and easing into their fresh fall wardrobe. Especially when I moved to Oregon for college, September was such a feeling. The brisk air, the new roomies—oh my, what would a fresh year bring?
But that coincided with how I felt about the Jewish High Holy Days (Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur). They always fell around the start of school. It was just a beautiful time. And yes, I was just as equally bored in temple as I would be any other time of year, but I remember enjoying the day and the blowing trees and all the things. Much like the school year, the Jewish holidays signified a new year, too—new beginnings, repenting for our past mistakes, letting go of them, and sealing in the fate of the year to come. This is how I know I’ve always been more spiritually Jewish than religiously.
Over the last several years, however, September has been the designated hottest month of the year. It definitely does not align with the spirituality of it all. If anything, those blistering days are so bad for my mental health that I sometimes need to check out for a full day until the sun goes down. Anyone who knows me understands how I feel about the heat and sun. I have Seasonal Affective Disorder, but not the kind people get during the winter. It’s been hard for me, and really impacts how I feel.
Regardless of the weather, September has always been what I consider the calmest month of the year (for me at least). Vacation season is over, there are no hyped holidays, there are no stressful or time-consuming birthdays—just my amazing dad and brother’s—and of course, it’s the onset of my favorite season. Since 2018, I’ve abstained from alcohol during September, along with foods that aren’t whole. So, no sugar, dairy, bread, rice, beans, fried foods, corn, the list goes on. It’s weird, I’ll go from a pretty socially eventful August to just cold turkey changing my lifestyle for a month. I’m an extremist like that!
I’ve made September my reset month for six years now, so I’m used to the temporary adjustment. I enjoy the clear head and the focus. The heat has been getting to me as it always does, but for the last two weeks, it’s been getting dark at like 7:15, so even though it’s still hot, that darkness casts a beautiful wave of fall energy.
I find that during my reset months when I’m eating and drinking whole, more opportunities come to me because my mind isn’t clouded with unnecessary distractions or the aftermath of toxin consumption. It’s really interesting to notice your spiritual energy shift when you have extra energy to spare. In fact, as of this week, it’s been confirmed that two major professional opportunities I’ve been hoping for all year will come to fruition. I’d been working on these for a little while, but it’s kind of surreal how energy and timing align.
I guess I’m a chameleon of sorts. I love a good party but I can also commit to a reset. Leading up to COVID, I was a social butterfly, but the minute we went into lockdown, I was in my happy place completely solo. I guess it makes sense because I’m a cancer sun and leo moon—the combo totally checks out.
I can’t believe a week from Sunday will be fall. I wait three seasons each year for this moment. And then, like everything else as you get older, it comes and goes in the blink of an eye. There will be a special fall post separate from this one, but I want this September post to be about the importance of taking time for yourself. Cherish those rare little quiet pockets of the year. September and March are those for me. September moreso because we’re quieting down versus getting ready to liven up. It’s just so peaceful, and I never want to forget these days.
If you’re into manifestation and setting intentions like me, the onset of fall is the perfect time to check in with yourself and take that extra spiritual connective step. I just texted my reiki healer as I wrote that because I realized it’s definitely time for a healing refresh. I do a lot of journaling this month and reflecting and appreciating nature. This is the perfect time to let go of what isn’t serving you. Find even just one friend who makes you feel whole and step into nature or go on a peaceful drive (when the temps cool a bit). Again, taking advantage of these quiet moments is so magical.
Most people see Jan. 1 as that time, but I really think of September that way. Use this month to kick of your physical, professional, personal goals so that when January does come, you’re already well on your way. I guess my bottom line here is don’t let September go to waste. Don’t think of it as just a bridge between summer and fall. It’s so much more than that.
Side note: I love how I’m having this whole “peace” chat as I’m listening to this bizarre automated music on the USPS wait line. It’s been 36 minutes. When I called about a mail issue, they offered a ~preference~ of music choice: contemporary, hip-hop or country. I went with contemporary, thinking it would be Taylor Swift or something I could just have on in the background. But it’s like their own weird music and it’s been an experience. Thank goodness for Substack! Writing this has helped distract me… somewhat. I say somewhat because we are in the middle of a heatwave and I’m not handling it with grace. I can’t focus on work, so I’ve made today my day of chipping away at my to-do list, and calling USPS to chase my mysteriously missing mail. Fun times guys!
And with that, I will leave you with all good vibes this month and beyond! Stay tuned for the next one—and if you missed last week’s post on the failed celeb apology, click HERE to check it out ◡̈.