Fall is a busy season for most people, and spiritual practices often take a back seat. We begin to plan for the holidays, which usually means more family time, and sometimes that can bring on more anxiety or stress. This is one reason that fall is the perfect season to reaffirm or even take up spiritual practices.

There are many types of spiritual modalities, and choosing your favorites is all about personal preference. When making your choice, follow your heart and trust your gut. One way to tell if a spiritual practice feels good is to see if it brings you a sense of inner peace and tranquility. If it feels forced and stressful, it's probably not the best method for you.

As autumn approaches, why not take the opportunity make a change? Maybe that means looking for a new job, getting out of a stressful relationship, or starting a new wellness routine ‒ the possibilities are endless. Developing a spiritual practice that feels right for you often improves physical health as well. This is because spirituality is a fundamental way to nourish your overall well-being.

Here are three spiritual practices to get you into the fall mood – see if any of these resonate with you.

Get grounded in nature.

Grounding is a simple way to connect to Mother Nature, and there’s no better time to enjoy the beauty of the changing leaves and to breathe in the crisp air. Grounding, also known as earthing, is the powerful technique of walking barefoot in the grass, dirt, or sand. By doing this, your feet absorb the earth's energy, and you become more energized; relaxed; and sometimes, even more creative. Grounding can also improve sleep, reduce depression, and lower blood pressure.

Most people spend far too much time indoors, in front of screens, and away from nature. The fall season can be perfect for allowing yourself to take in the beauty of the outdoors and indulge in the inexpensive self-care experience that grounding provides. While grounding, take note of falling or newly colorful leaves ‒ and try to determine what feels best for you to let go of, too.

Reflect and cleanse, with new sound meditations.

Meditation is a great way to de-stress year-round, but there are also ways to enhance your meditation practice to get into the fall mood. Sound meditations clear away negative energy and enhance your creative frequency as well as heighten your spiritual practice. Sound proves to help rebuild our vibration, reducing tension, anger, fatigue, and even depression.

Not sure where to begin with sound meditations? Here are some fall-inspired meditation practices to get your spirit moving.

• Tibetan Singing Bowl Healing Sounds (37 minutes)
• Autumn Cleansing Daily Meditation (15 minutes)
• Singing Bowl Sound Meditation (13 minutes)

As you go through these meditations, it may help to think about how you’d like to improve certain aspects of your life. These can be things like starting a new career, addressing unfulfilling relationships, or just revamping your overall lifestyle.

Embrace the fall equinox with gratitude practices.

The fall equinox (the first day of fall) is a time to expand our consciousness and create growth in our lives. Autumn and harvests go hand in hand – the fall full moon is called the Harvest Moon ‒ so it’s an excellent time to practice gratitude, for a shift in perspective and more balance in our lives. In fact, in astrology, this season is represented by the sign of Libra, which has a balanced scale as its symbol.

Acknowledging the changing nature around you while practicing gratitude can help you increase your awareness and become more appreciative of all you have. Maybe you feel called to light a candle and silently reflect on the things or people you are happy to have in your life. Perhaps it feels better to find a comfy spot outdoors to journal about five to 10 things you’re thankful to have. You may be surprised to find yourself walking a new spiritual path as a result.

Reflection and growth

These are just a few ways to get into the fall mindset and grow your spiritual practice simultaneously.. Always do what feels good for you ‒ and know there is no wrong answer when it comes to reaching your unique spiritual wellness goals.

See if sound meditations, grounding, and gratitude practices can help you grow this fall season. Beyond eating healthy and exercising, spirituality plays a critical role in helping us move on, evolve, and stay well.