Embracing the Autumn: A Journey Back to Myself

Hello Creative Souls 💜

Welcome to my September newsletter and my last for now as I am taking a little break and practising what I preach by taking my own advice. I need to slow down and take some time to create art just for me and as my husband says, you can’t pour from an empty cup. Anyhoo, on with the post:

The month of September is flying by, like someone has put their finger on the fast forward button.  September welcomes the autumn equinox on the 22nd by which time we would have witnessed two eclipses.

---

---

Heading into Autumn, I have realised that I want to make some changes in how I show up, for myself and my journey of self-improvement and healing. I’ve been reflecting on the future of my blog, my art channel, and my art, and I’ve come to the conclusion that as I get older, my ambition has shifted. It’s not about chasing self-imposed goals or working tirelessly, but rather about finding fulfilment in activities that nourish my soul. Why do I do the things I do? Is it for purpose, to feel like I am contributing to the world, to make me feel better, or to spread some joy out into the world?

The most important change is to find a way of stepping away from the constant pull of external validation, the constant checking of my phone to see how my videos are doing or whether anyone has read my blog.  I’ve discovered something quietly profound - a deeper connection with myself and the world around me. There’s a serenity that comes from simply sitting by a lake, on the beach, or walking in the woods, feeling the gentle breeze that blows around me, like the leaves on the trees, connecting us through sensation. Observing the birds and wildlife as they move through their daily rhythms. These moments, unhurried and unfiltered, hold a fulfilment that no screen can replicate.

“Everything is made out of magic, leaves and trees, flowers and birds, badgers and foxes and squirrels and people. So it must be all around us.” - Emilia Hart, Weyward

I often reflect on the hours lost scrolling through social media, chasing updates, and seeking fleeting approval. In those digital echoes, I rarely found lasting peace but when I set my phone aside, I find space to breathe, to think, and to feel without interruption. I create art just for me, making marks on the page, I write in my journal, my thoughts, a stream of consciousness that isn’t going to be read so doesn’t have to make sense. Does it truly matter how many likes a post gathers when compared to the richness of real experiences?

I’ve been walking barefoot on the grass, changing how and what I eat, preparing nourishing meals with intention, nature journaling and sketching freely outside. All these simple acts help ground me. They remind me that presence is a powerful gift. Through them, I’ve come to understand that personal growth isn’t measured by online engagement but by the quiet contentment that flourishes when I live in harmony with nature and myself.

---

Nature Journal Page

---

This shift isn’t about rejecting technology, I truly appreciate how it enriches my life and keeps me connected with friends and family. Instead, it’s about choosing how I engage with the world, ensuring that technology serves me rather than controls me. By stepping back from constantly checking my phone, I’m creating space for moments that nourish my soul rather than simply fill time. While I’m still a work in progress, I’m retraining my mind to resist the impulse to reach for my phone out of habit. In doing so, I’ve discovered a peace that no notification could ever provide.

My art is no longer a product to be marketed or a goal to be achieved, it’s an extension of my heart, crafted through feeling and freedom, not pressure to sell or impress. The strokes I place on canvas are for me, for the joy of creation, the peace it brings, and the reflection of my own journey.

“Most people just want an easy life. It’s unsettling when someone starts pulling apart the stories we’ve stitched together, the things we tell ourselves for comfort.” - Emilia Hart, The Sirens

I want to lose myself in my art, not follow a rigid routine. I want time to contemplate, to listen to my aging body, and respond with love, care, nourishment, and healing. I want nature to dictate my days, the shifting light, the whisper of the breeze, the changing weather, the rhythm of the seasons, all guiding me with ancient wisdom.

This isn’t giving up; it’s waking up.

I’m choosing to live in harmony with myself and the world around me. My days are painted with simplicity, quiet time, and solitude, and my art is infused with authenticity. No longer driven by external validation, I create because it feels right, because it’s part of who I am.

---

Cornish Seascape in My Sketchbook

---

So here I am, embracing the ebb and flow of life, living by the seasons and my own feelings, painting through my heart not my mind. By spending less time on my phone and more time in nature or my studio I have connected to myself, to my healing process. This is my art, my life, unbound, unpressured, and unapologetically me.

If you found my September post enjoyable, I would be delighted to hear from you. What changes are you considering making in your life as you head into Autumn, and what activities bring you true fulfilment?

Until next time dear reader stay naturally curious,

Clare 🙏💜

September Reading:

Weyward by Emilia Hart

The Sirens by Emilia Hart