Finding Light in the Turning of the Year: A Humanist Reflection on Autumn
As the year tilts toward its quieter months, many of us instinctively brace for the darker evenings and the cooling air. Fiona admitted the same in this season’s gathering: Autumn had never struck her as a time for celebration. With plants closing down their long summer of growth and the nights drawing in, it could easily feel like the world is folding in on itself.
But as Fiona explored seasonal writing for inspiration, something surprising emerged. Time and again, poets and thinkers spoke of Autumn not with melancholy, but with reverence. They wrote of the “fantastic final flourish” of the turning leaves, the richness of colour, and the sense of calm generosity that the season offers. Rather than a fading, they saw a deep, bold exhale of beauty.
This discovery opened up a rich discussion within our group: What does Autumn mean to us as humanists?
A Season of Change and Growth
Autumn is often framed as an ending, yet we found ourselves drawn to its message of transition. Just as trees release what they no longer need, we too can use this season to let go of what no longer serves us. Growth isn’t only about reaching upward, it is just as much about pausing, reassessing, and preparing for what comes next.
The group reflected on how change is woven through every life, and how humanism encourages us to meet it with curiosity, compassion, and honesty. Autumn mirrors the transitions we all experience: the shifting roles in families, new phases of work or study, the cycles of loss and renewal that shape our lives.
Beauty in Reflection
Throughout the conversation, uplifting quotes were shared - each one reminding us that Autumn can be a time of rich appreciation rather than retreat. Whether it’s the vibrant canopy of leaves, the crisp air that sharpens the senses, or the feeling of slowing down after a busy summer, Autumn invites us to take stock and reconnect with what matters.
Jude suggested that these reflections deserved a wider audience - a gentle reminder for our community to look again at a season often overlooked. And so the idea for this blog post was born.
Embracing Autumn’s Wisdom
Autumn asks us to pay attention. To notice the beauty in transition. To recognise that change, though sometimes bittersweet, is a natural and meaningful part of life. For humanists, who find wonder in the natural world and in the shared human experience, this season offers a poignant reminder that every ending carries the seed of something new.
As we move through these shorter days together, may we welcome Autumn not as a closing chapter, but as a chance to reflect, appreciate, and prepare for the warmth and growth still to come.