“August is the border between summer and autumn; it is the most beautiful month I know.”
Tove Jansson
August evokes mixed feelings for me; there is a mass exodus from London and the city becomes a quiet summer shadow. It can feel unsettling, yet the emptiness has an unmistakable sweetness.
Despite knowing that the highest point of the year took place over six weeks before at the summer solstice, I think of August as a key summer month and it surprises me when the British weather and my own energy levels don’t match up to my high expectations.
At the same time, lasting memories of school holidays and having a September birthday, August will always signify the close of one year; a time to slow down the pace and take a precious pause before a crisp new start.
The first harvest.
The Celtic Wheel of the Year reflects this pause, as the festival of Lammas or the ‘First Harvest’ takes place at the beginning of August, signalling the first gathering of the grain harvest. It was traditionally a time of gratitude for the abundance yielded from the cycle of planting seeds, tending carefully to the first green shoots and allowing the crops to flourish in the months that had gone before.
So whilst in my mind August is for sunny barbecues, trips to the seaside and evenings spent al fresco in the lingering light; there is undoubtedly a natural shift and a feeling of autumn in the air. It makes sense for us too, to start to slow down, to turn inwards and reflect on how far we’ve come since this time last year.
A modern concept of time.
My relationship with time has always been complicated. Since birth, I have not been one to be rushed (being three weeks late to arrive!) and I have always liked to take my time over my everyday rituals. However, my disinclination for rushing is coupled with an optimism about how long things take, a dash of impatience and a job in the fast-paced world of PR where I work up to six months ahead and am constantly on a mission to keep on top of industry news and trend alerts via newspapers, magazines, online news platforms and social media. As a result, I find myself scanning over the finer details, finding it a challenge to remain fully present and absorb the sheer volume of information I am exposed to each day.
Working in a news-fuelled industry or not, digital technology has meant that we are all overstimulated by a constant barrage of information and our incredibly full modern lives, meaning our attention is often occupied by a hundred things at the same time, as well as thinking about when and where we need to be next.
Reframing time.
As one of my favourite poets and philosophers John O’Donohue said, “when time is reduced to linear progress, it is emptied of presence”, meaning that rushing through our daily routines and merely getting from A to B leads us to operate on autopilot, diminishing the fullness of our experience and the beauty of the simple things, as well as the inevitability of losing focus and making mistakes.
This year, I have recognised August as a signal for me to reclaim my affinity for taking my time, to harvest my efforts during the year so far, to digest my daily life fully and make space for the details that are only noticeable when you slow down.
A timeless home.
Creating a home also requires time to become fluid, layered and personal. At the end of August, we move into a new flat and although the temptation is there to scour Pinterest and buy the (many) pieces on my wish list, I am going to consciously slow down the process and wait to tune in to how we are going to live in our new space.
I hope instead to use the time to create mindful, moveable layers that feel reflective, intentional and bring flow into our lives. I will be looking into ancient practices used to create a joyful home and sourcing soulful pieces that resonate on a deeper level, whilst being mindful that our tastes will change as we evolve through time.
By reframing time as a three dimensional experience, we can move away from the concept of time as being purely linear, where there is never enough. When we slow down and simplify, we can reclaim the power of presence and become shapeshifters of our own space and lives.
My process of living a slower life is very much a work in progress but I have found the following helpful in finding a slower pace…
Don’t over commit, make intuitive decisions based on how you feel in the present moment. After all, we are human beings…not human doings
Keep it simple, be discerning about how you choose to expend your energy. Make choices depending on what will enhance your life. Know that you can’t do everything without feeling depleted
Have a digital detox, switch off from social media/emails/news channels for an allotted amount of time, or aim to decrease the time spent in front of a screen each day
Show up for yourself and create a morning ritual of things that you enjoy and help you to feel centred
Carve out time to meditate or sit quietly alone each day
Create a peaceful haven and sanctuary in a corner of your home to unwind and relax
Write down how you are feeling and what you are grateful for in the present moment
End attempts at multi-tasking by doing one thing at a time mindfully and with your full attention
