Every October, as the light shifts and the air carries a new edge of change, I find myself thinking about the ways people have marked this season for centuries. Some years ago, I read about an old tradition—Celtic or perhaps Nordic in origin—where families would sweep out their homes, whitewash walls, and prepare the fireplace before the long months of winter.
The hearth would be scrubbed and tended because it was about to become the center of life, burning almost non-stop. Floors were swept, corners dusted, and homes refreshed—not only for practical reasons, but also to mark the transition of seasons with reverence.
Here in the tropics, a fireplace is the last thing on my mind (thankfully!). Yet the idea still resonates. It isn’t just about tidying up a room; it’s about aligning ourselves with the rhythm of life.
Cleaning as Reverence
We often think of cleaning as a chore, something to check off a list. But in its oldest expressions, it was so much more than that. It was rhythm. It was ritual. It was a way of making space for what was to come.
- A swept floor wasn’t just free of dust—it was a signal that the household was prepared for the change of season.
- A whitewashed wall wasn’t just brighter—it was a fresh canvas for the months ahead.
- A cleared hearth wasn’t just practical—it was symbolic of readiness, safety, and care.
In this way, the mundane became magical.
When we tend our homes with intention, we are doing more than managing dirt or clutter—we are cultivating peace. The simple act of sweeping, folding, or clearing becomes a quiet prayer, an act of care, a rhythm of respect.
Why Autumnal Clearing Still Matters
Even if our lives look very different than those of our ancestors, seasonal clearing holds meaning for us today.
- Practically, it creates order, lightness, and a sense of calm before the whirlwind of holidays.
- Emotionally, it helps us let go of the old—physical clutter, yes, but also stale energy, habits, or expectations.
- Spiritually, it becomes a ritual of release and preparation: we clear space not just in our homes, but in ourselves.
Think of it as the autumn version of spring cleaning—not about bursting into new growth, but about creating room for rest, reflection, and the gatherings to come.
Finding Magic in the Mundane
This October, I invite you to look at your cleaning tasks with fresh eyes. Instead of just “getting it done,” try pausing long enough to sense the deeper rhythm beneath the routine:
- When you sweep, imagine brushing away what no longer belongs.
- When you fold laundry, think of wrapping your family (or yourself) in care.
- When you wipe down a table, prepare it as an altar for connection and nourishment.
It doesn’t take more time—it simply takes more presence. And in that presence, we find the quiet magic of daily life.
Mantra for the Season: There is magic in the mundane.
Looking Ahead
This post opens my October series: Clearing Space, Creating Peace. Each Tuesday and Friday, we’ll explore how cleaning, decluttering, and simplifying can move us beyond the practical into the truly meaningful.
Next up: we’ll talk about decluttering not just our homes, but our inner world—the thoughts, expectations, and noise we carry. Throughout this series, I’ll share reflections from some books on my reading list, including The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo, Essentialism by Greg McKeown, and others exploring minimalism and simplicity.
For now, I’ll leave you with this: cleaning is not only about neatness. It’s about reverence, rhythm, and readiness. When we honor the seasons—even in the smallest of ways—we discover that yes, even sweeping a floor can hold a little bit of magic.
-Laura