When we think about the harvest season, we tend to think about all the abundance of the Earth—the squashes and apples and all of the last crops of the growing season. We think about the chard that has grown all season, the gardens that have been producing, and all of the things that have come from the work we put in throughout the year.
We also begin thinking about the upcoming winter season. We are preparing for the weather, planning for the holidays, and thinking about everything that is coming next. Sometimes we are already so focused on winter planning that we forget to pause and appreciate the season we are actually in.
My invitation is to take a moment to pause and appreciate this beautiful season. Take a look around at what has grown. Notice what you have cultivated, what has changed, and what you are harvesting from the work you have put into your life.
One recurring theme that keeps coming up for me this time of year is devotion. Harvest is about gathering the things that have grown from our hard work, our care, and our devotion. Devotion comes from our love. In many ways, devotion is the form that our love takes. Whether it is our relationships, our art, our garden, our family, or the life we are creating, whatever we consistently put our focus on has the opportunity to grow like a beautiful garden. This doesn’t happen without showing up and doing the work. Sometimes it takes a lot of elbow grease. It takes tending, returning, caring, and continuing to show up.
Just like anything in life, the energy we consistently put into something influences what grows from it.
Daily Devotion
Part of devotion is commitment and focus. We live in a time when there is an incredible amount of media, information, entertainment, and stimulation available to us. Our attention is constantly being pulled in different directions. We get phone calls, texts, emails, notifications, and advertisements throughout the day. We can listen to something while we drive, scroll while we wait, and try to accomplish several things at once.
I think we sometimes forget the value of focusing on one thing at a time. Even when we are multitasking, we are often really just breaking our focus over and over throughout the day. Our attention is precious, and our nervous systems are taking in so much information all the time. I think there is something powerful about remembering that our time in this life is limited, and we get to choose what we give that time to.
I spent many years focused on surviving. I was working, taking care of responsibilities, raising my son, and trying to keep everything together. I was doing what I needed to do, but it wasn’t a particularly happy or abundant time in my life. I often felt lonely, tired, stressed, and like I wasn’t good enough.
But through all of that, I still felt like something was knocking on my door. For me, that something has been the universe, God, angels, spirit, and this feeling that there is a benevolent force supporting us even when we can’t always see it. Eventually, I began to let that in.
I learned so much about loving life and transforming the way I viewed my own experience. It hasn’t been a simple road to change the way my mind works. I have had to learn to believe in that supportive force around me, but I have also had to learn to believe in myself. I have had to learn that I am allowed to be happy and that I can create a life that feels good.
That has become part of my devotion too. Not only making time for the things that matter to me, but continuing to move through my own judgment and the fear of judgment from others. Sometimes the hardest work is believing that we are worthy of the life we are trying to create.
What Are We Cultivating?
As I think about this harvest season and the ideas of devotion, commitment, and harvesting, I can see how much my own life has changed. I can see what I believe now, what my goals are now, and the difference it makes when I allow myself to get into that state of flow and follow the inspiration that comes through me.
More and more, I feel supported by the universe, God, angels, and the people who have come into my life. I also feel inspired to share what I am learning with others. There is something very Aquarian about that to me—the desire to uplift humanity, share what we are learning, connect with one another, and contribute something meaningful to the world.
When people talk about manifestation, I often think about focus. Our focus, commitment, and devotion create the small decisions and the bigger decisions that begin to steer our ship. If you look at how a ship moves through water, the smallest turn of the wheel can completely change its trajectory over time.
I think our lives can work in a similar way. A vision board, a daily practice, prayer, journaling, painting, music, meditation, or simply taking a walk outside can all help us remember where we want to go. These practices aren’t just about trying to stay positive. They can help us pay attention to what we are creating, where our energy is going, and what we are choosing to cultivate.
Entering Our Inner Season
As we move through harvest and begin heading toward winter, I think there is an invitation to turn inward. Winter is a time of hibernation, reflection, rest, and preparation. Seeds are planted in the dark, and so much growth happens beneath the surface before we ever see it.
Before we rush into the next season, take a moment to celebrate your harvest. Celebrate your growth, your relationships, your experiences, and the fruits of your labor. Think about what you have learned and what you have created. Think about what you have survived and the parts of yourself that are stronger than they were before.
Then ask yourself what you are devoted to now. What in you needs to be nurtured in order to allow more flow and joy into your life? What do you want to give more attention to? What do you want to grow in the coming season? Check in with your mind, your body, and your spirit. Check in with your relationships. People don’t always tell us what they need, but we can become more present and attentive to the people we love.
And check in with yourself. Maybe there is something you’ve been putting off. Maybe there is a dream that needs more attention. Maybe there is something that needs to be released. Maybe a part of you simply needs more rest.
Our attention is one of the most valuable things we have. Where we place it matters.
So as we enter this harvest season, I invite you to gather your inner gold. Celebrate what has grown, tend to what still needs nurturing, and make some commitments to the path and the love you want to cultivate in your life.
Be creative. Enjoy life. Love deeply. And remember that even when you can’t see what is growing beneath the surface, there may be more happening than you realize.
