Last week, I found myself standing in my closet holding a sweater that still smelled faintly like last fall’s campfire. I hadn’t worn it in a year, but I couldn’t bring myself to let it go. It wasn’t about the sweater—it was about who I was when I last wore it. The woman trying to hold everything (and everyone) together.
Sound familiar?
We keep so much more than clothes. We hold on to versions of ourselves, old patterns, even guilt about not being the person we thought we’d be by now.
But what if release isn’t about losing anything—it’s about making room?
Your Nervous System Wants to Exhale
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, fall is the season of the Metal element, which teaches us to release what’s no longer needed so we can breathe in what truly sustains us. The lungs and large intestine—our organs of letting go—remind us that every exhale is a tiny surrender.
When you hold on too tightly (to control, expectations, perfection), your body literally contracts. Breath shortens. Muscles tense. Your nervous system goes into high alert.
Release, then, becomes a full-body reset. It’s not just decluttering your closet—it’s decluttering your energy field.
Perimenopause and the Power of Permission
If you’re in midlife, your body’s already in its own great release—hormones shifting, priorities rearranging, identity evolving. No wonder your emotions feel bigger. Your system is recalibrating.
Instead of resisting the change, what if you worked with it? What if you gave yourself permission to slow down, to cry, to clear your calendar, to not bounce back but breathe forward?
Because release isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom.
A Simple Fall Release Routine
Here’s a rhythm to ground you this season — simple, sensory, and deeply restorative:
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Declutter One Tiny Space
A drawer, your purse, your digital photos. As you release the old, whisper, “I’m making space for new energy.” -
Light a Candle & Sip Something Warm
Try my Spiced Apple & Pear Sparkler — it’s soothing, seasonal, and part of my free Release Ritual Mini Guide. -
Write + Burn
Jot down what’s been heavy lately. Burn or tear it safely. As smoke rises, feel your nervous system soften. -
Rest Without Guilt
Doing nothing is doing something. It’s repair.
When you let go — even just a little — you feel lighter, clearer, and more grounded.
That’s the promise of the Release phase in the Phoenix Process™: freedom through surrender.
It’s learning to exhale, to make room for renewal, and to trust that release is what prepares you to rise.
If this season has you craving a reset, I’ve got you covered.
✨ Download your free Release Ritual Mini Guide — complete with my favorite Spiced Apple & Pear Sparkler recipe and three simple evening rituals to help you unwind, reset, and breathe again.
And remember: you’re not falling apart — you’re falling into alignment. 🍂
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