At the end of September, my husband and I kicked off the official "nesting" period of pregnancy. We had several home projects that we have been wanting to do for the past year or so. Naturally, knowing that a baby is on the way motivated us to get them finished this fall. While we are not adding any new square footage to our 100 year-old Victorian, we are gutting the existing kitchen. As a result, we have had to find temporary living quarters until mid-November. So, in the process of getting things settled and ready for a baby, we are actually finding ourselves a bit uprooted for the time being. This change in our lives has allowed me to pause and reflect on what nesting means to me on an even deeper level.

The urge to nest occurs not just during pregnancy. In fact, many people reportedly undergo similar nesting instincts during or after a serious life change, such as following the loss of a loved one through death or divorce, taking a new job, or when a child goes off to college. One very natural and regular time for nesting is during the change of seasons. As our environment changes around us (falling leaves, falling snow), we too may feel like making change in our homes, our bodies, and in our lives. Nesting in the fall and winter months is quite common as humans prepare to hunker down for the long, cold season ahead. Historically, this may have meant chopping enough firewood for the stove, turning over crops in the garden or planting bulbs to appear in spring, and canning late summer's bounty of garden produce. Today, our busy modern lives prevent time for honoring this tradition through physical labor, but still there is something inside of us that begs for nesting and nurturing at our deepest level.

Metaphorically speaking, we can feather our spiritual nests during this time of year. Our "home" does not need to be one with walls and windows and doors. Home is also that place deep within ourselves where our truest and most authentic self really resides. For most of us, our spiritual home probably seems distant and unrelated to our day-to-day lives where we have clear responsibilities to family and others. It is this home that we tend to neglect. But, we can easily get back in touch with our spiritual home through mindfulness and awareness around what we put into our bodies as nourishment. Pay special attention to the foods you eat this season with special focus on organic, local, seasonal foods prepared in comforting soups and one-pot dishes. This will help to strengthen your foundation, renew your inner light, and help warm you from the inside out. And, remember, nourishment comes in many forms besides just from food: community and connection, self-reflection, exercise and fitness, and of course loving relationships.

This season, practice the art of nesting in your own spiritual home. Let the bounty of your creations inside your heart spill out into the other very important areas of your life. Preparing and enjoying delicious and healthful meals with loved ones grounds us in our physical home, and also strengthens the body/mind connection on a deeper level.

Namaste.