summer to autumn transitions and an august reading list

hello.

i’ve found that most people fall under one of two categories during the polarizing transition between summer and autumn. you’re either reluctant to letting go of warmer months, falling into a late summer blues depression. or… you’re ready for autumn, anticipatory of cooler crisper weather and falling leaves, eager to participate in fall festivities during the ‘ber months.

you already know which category i fall under (the second one). but regardless of our emotions during this transition, we’re all in a period of waiting, so i wanted to share some ways to make this transition period feel more intentional and comforting.

late summer solstice guide:

foods:

(linking some recipes below- if you’re new to this newsletter, just know i always pull recipes from nyt cooking and i highly recommend subscribing if you enjoy cooking. i will always advocate for classic/ vintage cookbooks whenever you’re experimenting in the kitchen, but nyt is one of the very few websites i trust with recipes)

-fruits and vegetables in season: berries, apricots, cherries, grapes, melons, mangoes, nectarines, figs, peaches, plums, and watermelon, asparagus, beets, carrots, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, fresh herbs, peas, sugar snap peas, tomatoes, and zucchini 

-baked goods: honey tea cakes, lavender scones, blueberry muffins, cherry pie, blueberry spoon cake, peach cobbler, rosemary honey shortbread, biscuits with jam and salted butter

-savory: tomato sandwiches, quiche, zucchini galette, summer soups, rosemary bread

-drink: warm milk with honey and cinnamon, lavender milk tea, chai tea lattes on stormy days, iced matcha, ginger tea, genmaicha tea

practices:

-gather herbs: visit local gardens or markets and find herbs like rosemary, thyme, dill, sage, etc and bake in sweet or savory foods

-get sunflowers from the farmers market and all of the late summer produce: sunflowers feel very reminiscent of late summer/ early autumn and you’ll begin to welcome golden yellows into your home to ease the seasonal transition

-spend time in gardens, pick flowers to press in books or journals, make flower crowns: look up crafts you can do with nature (pinterest for inspo)

-tarot reading picnic: this is the season of witchy summer, right?

-long nature walks: touch grass, immerse yourself in nature, enjoy the weather while it’s warm (but not on sweltering day)

-read as much as possible: the perfect escape to pass time in productive healing ways

-start inviting autumnal colors into your home (golden yellow, burnt orange, deep burgundy): do this when you feel ready

-allow yourself to indulge in fall activities when the mood strikes: listen to harry potter audiobooks, read cozy witchy books, light a fall candle, etc

-make a pinterest board for autumn: you have a nightly pinterest routine, too right?

-make autumn playlists: I recommend making several- something jazzy, something indie, something classical or dark academia, maybe a lofi playlist

i hope this helps ease you into this long juxtaposition of a month. i’m looking forward to sharing more autumnal content with you very soon.

until then…

i’ve gathered a few books i think you should read this august.

there are so many newsletters in the queue to look forward to including our autumn master list, another witchy post with more recommendations, an unrealistic birthday wish list, an autumn wish list (lots of autumnal themed letters) and more <3 i can’t wait to share them with you.

if you have an requests for specific themes or topics you’d like me to write about, please comment below and let me know.

august reading list:

• upstream by mary oliver - a collection of essays where oliver's profound love for nature and keen observations of the world around her shine through, offering both inspiration and a gentle reminder to connect with the simple wonders of life.

• women who run with the wolves by clarissa pinkola estés - a powerful exploration of the wild woman archetype, drawing on myths, fairy tales, and stories to encourage women to reconnect with their instinctual and untamed selves.

• the crucible by arthur miller - a drama that delves into the hysteria of the salem witch trials, serving as a timeless commentary on the dangers of mass paranoia and the breakdown of social order.

• white nights by fyodor dostoevsky - a gutting novella that captures the fleeting and melancholic beauty of a brief romantic encounter, set against the backdrop of st. petersburg's white nights.

• the diaries of anaïs nin - an intimate and unfiltered look into the life of the famous writer, offering insights into her thoughts, relationships, and the artistic and personal struggles she faced.

• all fours by miranda july - a novel that chronicles a midlife awakening of a semi-famous artist, who abandons her predictable life for an impromptu journey that challenges societal norms and explores the depths of desire and freedom. the story is deeply human, making it an irresistible read about the anxieties of aging and the quest for personal reinvention.

  

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i love you.

bye.

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