Sometimes nourishment looks like a perfectly planned meal — and other times, it looks like a quiet moment in the kitchen with a candle, a warm pot on the stove, and a long slow breath.
This past year has asked me to shed more than I expected — identities, homes, timelines, relationships, expectations. There were moments when I felt strong and clear, and others when I found myself stirring soup not because I was hungry, but because my soul needed warmth more than my mind needed answers, & my body needed grounding.
And maybe you’ve felt it too…
That inner pull toward comfort, slowness, and something simple that reminds you:
“I am still here. I am safe. I am held.”
As we settle deeper into Fall and begin the transition toward winter, our bodies — and our nervous systems — are whispering for warmth, steadiness, and gentle support. According to Ayurveda, Fall is governed by Vata dosha — the energy of air and ether — which can feel like:
scattered thoughts
- feeling ungroundedoverstimulationtrouble sleeping
- emotional sensitivity
- difficulty making decisions
- craving comfort foods
And the medicine is surprisingly simple:
Warmth. Rhythm. Oil. Stillness. Simplicity.
There is something sacred that happens when we treat the kitchen not as a place of performance, but as a temple of nourishment — for body, mind, and spirit.
Below I’m sharing a few simple Fall kitchen rituals that you can try this week, especially as we move into Thanksgiving — a time that can bring both comfort and overstimulation.
You don’t need fancy ingredients, a complex recipe, or hours of prep.
You simply need presence.
Fall Kitchen Rituals to Ground Your Energy
1️⃣ Light a candle before you cook
This signals to your nervous system: we are entering sacred space.
2️⃣ Warmth over raw food
Choose soups, stews, baked apples, roasted vegetables, oats, teas.
3️⃣ Cook with a slow rhythm
Fast movement increases Vata; slow, intentional stirring calms it.
4️⃣ Add warming spices
Cinnamon, ginger, cumin, cardamom, clove, fennel, turmeric.
5️⃣ Sit to eat — not stand
Your body digests better when you feel emotionally safe.
6️⃣ Whisper an intention while stirring
Examples:
“May this bring clarity.”
“May this soften my edges.”
“May this nourish my cells and spirit.”
7️⃣ Oil is medicine
Add healthy oils like ghee, coconut oil, or olive oil for grounding.
Click here for my favorite fall soup recipe.→
🍲 Why This Matters (Especially Before Thanksgiving)
This holiday week can stir emotions, expectations, memories, travel stress, family dynamics, nostalgia, comparison, or loneliness.
So here’s your reminder:
Nourishment is not just food.
Nourishment is:
- boundaries
- warmth
- time alone
- quiet moments
- deep breaths
- gentle movement
- soul connection
choosing emotional safety over performance
This Fall, let nourishment become less about shoulds and more about what actually supports you.
Your nervous system is always listening.
And I’ll be right here, walking this seasonal path with you — one breath, one cup, and one warm bowl at a time.