“In my last reflection, I spoke about the rituals that already live in our days—the small sacreds we overlook. But as summer leans toward its end, I’ve felt another layer asking to be witnessed: the rituals of transition.
The quiet recalibration. The whisper that says, ‘slow down.’
Because just like our skin and breath and tea, the seasons are rituals too—and right now, summer is speaking in the language of both abundance and burnout.”
The Beauty and the Burn of Summer
As summer begins to wind down, I can appreciate the change that I know is coming.
I’ve spent time basking in that midday sun you can only feel in summer—where everything is loud and alive and bursting with color. I’ve witnessed life in full bloom in the way only summer can provide.
Yes, this season brought unusual heat—but instead of complaint, I’ve reminded myself:
There will come a day in winter when I long for this warmth.
So I chose to savor it, to stand in the joy without wishing it away.
A Season, Not a Forever
Summer reminds me: this is the season of life in full bloom—but it’s still just that—a season. A moment in time. Not a permanent state. No season is.
Every phase brings its own lessons, and with summer, I’m learning that even peak growth must prepare for rest.
We’re not meant to blossom endlessly. Even flowers pause. Even the sun sets.
Laying the Groundwork for What Comes Next
This is the season where the days stretch long and growth seems natural, but I’m starting to think more and more about what comes after.
Because dormant growth is on the horizon—the kind you don’t see on the surface but feel in your bones. And that growth doesn’t happen without preparation.
Now is the time to begin the inner groundwork for the colder, quieter months ahead.
The Wisdom of Pacing
Let’s be honest—this time of year can be a lot.
There’s a tendency to overdo it: say yes to too much, fill our calendars, and try to squeeze joy out of every sun-drenched second. But if we’re not careful, we lose our peace chasing pleasure.
I’ve had to learn that pacing is sacred.
Growth is beautiful, but burnout is real.
And overextending turns even the most joyful things into stressors.
Releasing Guilt, Choosing Grace
I’m still learning to release the guilt that whispers, “Do more.”
To stop pushing so hard.
To listen to my gut, my body, my soul when it says, enough for today.
This isn’t easy. But it’s necessary.
And for me, it began with finding tools that helped me return to center.
Scent as a Portal Back to Self
I’ve found that aromatherapy and scent have a way of recentering me like nothing else.
They don’t have to be tied to memory—sometimes they’re tied to possibility. A scent that reminds me who I want to be. Who I’m becoming.
Lighting incense. Breathing in essential oils. Melting a soft aroma into the air. These are rituals that anchor me, lift me, calm me.
Scent doesn’t fix the chaos.
But it gives me a moment to pause.
And sometimes, that’s all we need.
Ritual Doesn’t Have to Be Grand
The shift back to self doesn’t require perfection or performance.
It starts small.
It begins with no expectations.
Just the willingness to try.
To show up with openness and prepare space for transformation.
That’s it.
My Wake-Up Call
I reached a point where I was constantly drained.
I didn’t want to keep living that way.
And even though I’m a grown woman, I felt like a baby—starting over, learning who I was again.
I asked myself:
Who have I become?
Who was I before all this?
And who do I want to be from here forward?
It felt overwhelming—until I gave myself permission to begin one tool, one breath, one drop of water at a time.
Writing Was My First Step
I started journaling.
At first it didn’t flow—but I didn’t give up. I used prompts. I let stillness guide me. And slowly, I found my way back.
Some days it felt effortless.
Other days I met resistance.
But either way, I kept going—because the old version of me wasn’t working anymore.
I gave myself grace.
And I moved forward.
Step by step.
Your Garden, Your Tools
If you need a break, take it. Just don’t live there.
We can’t fully bloom if we stay in the shade.
And we’ll wither if we never leave the sun.
You are a work in beautiful progress.
You are your own gardener.
You get to choose the pace. The tools. The timing.
For me, those tools have included scent, stillness, journaling, hydration, and intention.
They’ve reminded me of who I am—who I’m becoming.
And now I want to walk this journey with you.
Because we all bloom differently—but we all bloom.
Journal Prompts for Late Summer Rest & Recalibration
- What has this season taught me about growth and burnout?
- Where am I overextending myself in ways that steal joy?
- What does rest look like for me—not just sleep, but real soul-rest?
- What are the small tools that help me return to myself when I feel unbalanced?
You are allowed to change pace.
You are allowed to tend to your nervous system.
You are allowed to rest—even in the season of bloom.
You are sacred. Your rhythm is sacred. And your return to self is always waiting.
Let this be your late-summer recalibration.
Let this be your ritual.
With Love & Light,
Tammi
Founder & Cultivator of The Bloom Way