The spiritual meaning of autumn may not be something you’ve ever put into words, but you’ve certainly felt the lifted energy in your heart and increased gratitude as you watch the changes in nature.
Spiritual Meaning of the Four Seasons
Autumn isn’t the standalone spiritual season by any means. Each season ushers out what is complete while also bringing in new opportunities specifically suited to that time of year. The spiritual meaning of the four seasons is appreciated when we pause to consider how our world is in a constant state of change and always preparing for what’s next.
We know that in the Old Testament, God instructed the Israelites to celebrate and mark seasons with many different festivals. I love what this call for fellowship and remembrance teaches us about God’s character.
Individually, the festivals had their own reasons for taking place, but collectively, these times of fellowship, repentance, and rejoicing served to:
- Remind the people how:
- God brought them out from oppression
- Provided for their needs
- Forgave their sins (the choices they made that put separation between them and Yahweh)
- Celebrate and give thanks for the harvest
- Come to rest in God’s provision
The presumed author of Ecclesiastes, King Solomon, laid out one of the most well-known poems of all time. In it, he marveled at how everything under heaven is bound to a specific time where it is made beautiful at just the right moment.
For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven:a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.What gain has the worker from his toil? I have seen the business that God has given to the children of man to be busy with. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”
~ Ecclesiastes 3:1-11
Though our world is both in constant change and also bound by time, this mandated flow is overseen by our unchanging, ever-steady God. This paradox is at the center of the spiritual meaning of the four seasons.
Spiritual Meaning of Autumn
The spiritual meaning of autumn revolves around the visible changes, a returned sense of awe, and gratitude that in anticipation of the holiday season, allows every heart to prepare Him room.
Spiritual Meaning Of Autumn: Letting Go
Part of the magic of autumn is seeing the leaves light themselves up with color just before they fall and nurture the earth. As the leaves decay, the soil is activated for new growth in the spring. We can pull spiritual meaning from nature’s example of letting go of what no longer serves us so that we may manifest new growth. In your life, what once served a purpose, but now needs to be let go in order to gain new growth?
Are you carrying a burden in the form of a habit, thought pattern, or limiting belief, a go-to behavior or reaction? Maybe it’s something more external like a lack of boundaries that need to be set on your time, or an excessive amount of clutter that distracts you from both working and resting with ease.
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.” ~ Galatians 5:1
It’s time to let go! Set an intention for this autumn to serve as your spiritual shake off season. Refuse to take part in any self-oppressive behaviors or thought patterns. Walking with Christ frees you from burdens. So hand them over, stand firm, and rejoice!
Spiritual Meaning Of Autumn: a sense of renewed awe
The beauty of the season is just one unfurling spool of thread from the canopy created and inhabited by the Most High. We can take these seasonal signs as reminders to maintain anticipation of what God will do next, to worship fully in spirit and in truth, and to surrender our lives to The One who remains steady at the helm.
They who dwell in the ends of the earth stand in awe of Your signs;
You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.~ Psalm 65:8
The sense of eternity planted in our hearts by God is never more evident than in autumn. As nature prepares for dormancy, we get a sense of thrill and hope! It has been planted in us to look forward with expectation, knowing on a cellular level that death is impermanent for those that believe.
In this season, with death visible yet beautiful, we instinctively yet somewhat unknowingly, celebrate with spiritual recognition the glory we will experience when we let go of this life & pass on into beauty and celebration without end.
In autumn, with death visible yet beautiful, we instinctively yet somewhat unknowingly, celebrate with spiritual recognition the glory we will experience when we let go here & pass on into beauty & celebration without end. Click To TweetSpiritual Meaning Of Autumn: gratitude
As we round the corner into the final full season of the calendar year, we are prompted to reflect and show thanks. No matter how difficult a year has been, we often choose an attitude of gratitude during this season. The spiritual meaning of autumn offers itself in plain sight; that no matter what has led to this point, we choose beauty, joy, and gratitude for promises met and even for those yet to be fulfilled.
And for Christians, we can also be thankful for Christ who took our burden and left it buried; the Vine who only knows the renewal of a continuous spring.
Bible Verses for Autumn
Our world is in an unending season of change and God is unchanging, stable, and permanent. Such a splendidly beautiful paradox to celebrate the coming and going of what’s been created, as well as the steadfastness of our Creator!
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.to him who alone does great wonders,
His love endures forever.
who by his understanding made the heavens,
His love endures forever.
who spread out the earth upon the waters,
His love endures forever.
who made the great lights—
His love endures forever.
the sun to govern the day,
His love endures forever.
the moon and stars to govern the night;
His love endures forever.He remembered us in our low estate
His love endures forever.
and freed us from our enemies.
His love endures forever.
He gives food to every creature.
His love endures forever.Give thanks to the God of heaven.
His love endures forever.”~ Psalm 136: 1-9, 23-26
LORD, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever You had formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God.” ~Psalm 90:1-2
You can see 7 more sweet and savory bible verses for autumn previously compiled by yours truly here at Holistic Faith Lifestyle. My friend Erin at Lullaby Lark also has a beautiful list of bible verses that she’s applied to the spiritual meaning of autumn. I hope these words seep into your soul and bring life this season!
Letting Go Meditation Exercise
This Letting Go meditation exercise gets you grounded in the spiritual meaning of autumn so you can embrace the change while being anchored to the consistent, permanent, unchanging I AM. Using this practice to set an intention for letting go, will leave you free to celebrate the changing season and all its beauty!
Did you know I send out a guided Christian meditation YouTube video to subscribers each Monday? I make it available to everyone on Wednesdays, but subscribers always get first access! They’re also the only group to receive my meditation playlist for the week. Each playlist is centered around the same theme for the week as a way to facilitate spiritual growth and assist you in seeking sacred in the everyday. If you haven’t already, sign up below!
Spiritual Meaning of Autumn 2020
2020 has been a year like none other. An overwhelming number of memes and sincere outpourings of the heart seem to be rushing it out the door. Completely understandable! But what is the spiritual meaning of autumn in your life this year? How, in what may have been the toughest year of your life, do you plan to take pause and relish the spiritual meaning of autumn? I encourage you to set the intention of letting go, renewing your sense of awe, and showing gratitude. Tea, journaling, meditation, and extra time outside are all great starting points.
I’d love to hear below how you plan to mark this time!
Be blessed,
What a unique and interesting way to look at a season! Letting go of what no longer serves us is indeed a beautiful way to look at autumn. As the colors around me turn from green to hues of orange and yellow, I’ll keep your words in mind. 🙂
I love that. And I love that God uses the everyday things around us to call us closer to him!
Autumn is by far my favorite season! I love the colors, the smells, the textures, and even the spiritual meaning of autumn. Thank you for sharing these beautiful thoughts.
Me too, Erin! I love the spiritual meaning of autumn & how God never ceases to creatively invite us closer. So humbling to know how much we’re loved!
I have never looked at a particular season to have a message for me. I just live each day one step at a time. I am not so consistent with journaling, but I am beginning to start at the minimal, one step at a time.
The Autumn of 2020 for me has been bright, and I know it will keep getting brighter
Thank you for sharing this
That is GREAT news. I hope to hear that from many more people. Here’s to a bright autumn for each of us! I believe that’s what God would want for us, too.
Thank you so much for sharing! Lots of nuggets of wisdom to apply! Blessings!
My pleasure, Sheryl! I love the changing seasons and love even more looking for more of God in each one! Thanks for reading. 🍁🧡🍁
I’ve never considered that there is a spiritual meaning of autumn or other seasons. I love the pictures you paint, especially when you ask, “In your life, what once served a purpose, but now needs to be let go in order to gain new growth?” What a powerful, pertinent question. Thank you for this wonderful read!
My pleasure, Cathy! I’m glad the spiritual meaning of autumn helped us to look deeper together!
OK first, I just subscribed to your youtube channel. I’m so excited! Can’t want to join in some faith filled mediation. 🙂
But also I love what you shared about the spiritual meaning of autumn. It’s so true there is a magic to fall leaves. I moved to a place where we don’t have fall – our summers are so dry the leaves turn brown and die before the cool sets it. 🙁 I miss fall leaves most of all!! And I love this idea of letting go… it’s like a good pair with spring cleaning. And of course I’m so blessed by all this scripture. Thank you!
Great post! For me it’s a bit of everything. I need to let go. Gain a sense of awe and be grateful for various and different situations in my life. And l need God’s help for all of these!
And God is so good to help us in every way we need! Hope you draw near and reap just the right blessings!
What a beautiful look at autumn from a spiritual perspective! Thank you for the encouraging words!!
I have never thought about spiritual meanings behind the seasons. I really loved them though. Letting go, the beauty of death, renewed awe, and more. Beautiful and unique post!
This is such a beautiful post! I especially liked this…
“We can take these seasonal signs as reminders to maintain anticipation of what God will do next, to worship fully in spirit and in truth, and to surrender our lives to The One who remains steady at the helm.“
Change comes, but only serves to remind us of our never-changing God. Blessings!
What a unique perspective about autumn, I never thought of it in that manner. Grateful to God for all of life’s seasons.
I have personally never thought of the spiritual implications of fall. There is a meme that floats around that talks about how the leaves in fall show us how to gracefully let go. I think this would be a good start for me. Blessings, Joni
I love that! Sums up the spiritual meaning of autumn perfectly, I think!
You just made me love autumn even more! And this line, “The beauty of the season is just one unfurling spool of thread from the canopy created and inhabited by the Most High. We can take these seasonal signs as reminders to maintain anticipation of what God will do next, to worship fully in spirit and in truth, and to surrender our lives to The One who remains steady at the helm” is simply beautiful. Thank you!
I’m so glad!!
Holy Spirit is so generous to help us see God’s character in all things. I’m thankful alongside you! 🍁🧡🍁
Autumn has always been one of my favorite seasons. I love how you incorporated this into a more Christian and mindful spiritual application. In my life, most recently, I have had to let go of my own disappointment, anger, and bitterness as I was recently discharged from employment. Not sure what direction the Lord has in store for me and I have been spending the last few days in deep meditation, contemplation, and prayer for his direction.
I’m sorry to hear that. All of those emotions sound very legitimate. I know God will be happy to take them off your shoulders and provide you with strength & peace as you navigate this rough piece of road. Saying a prayer for you now.
I love the concept of the spiritual meaning of Autumn is let go. I thought it would be about change.
Me, too! Change definitely happens when we let go. Isn’t it beautiful to look beneath the changes – whether they’re by choice or like so many things right now, just happening on their own – to find the spiritual meaning of autumn is more deeply rooted? That in order to find growth amidst the change & decay, we must surrender to God and let go? Oh, man. I get excited all over again! 😅 I hope you have the best time this autumn, seeking sacred in all the everyday, routine things. God is already there waiting on each of us! 🍁🙌🏼🍁
What a differnent and interesting way to look at the seasons. I have never heard or thought of it that way! I love the verses you shared! So fitting!
Thanks from the bottom of my heart, MJ! It’s become my life’s goal to seek sacred in everyday routines. I KNEW but am now beginning to UNDERSTAND God is present in everything we face, sometimes obvious and sometimes in a way that while still powerful, is more subtle to our senses. We just have to show up, take notice, and be present in return. I hope amidst all the crazy of our world, this autumn tees you up for the best holiday season & new year ever – finding God with you in all the things! XO.
I enjoyed learning more about this. I am often researching the meaning behind God’s creation.