Reading cosily in autumn

my favorite ways to enjoy books this season

Light comes later in the morning now, darkness arrives more quickly in the evening. The days days rapidly grow shorter, and the air gets crisper, the notion of spending time curled up with a good book and a cup of tea sounds increasingly perfect. 

Outside the leaves are falling, and are marking a season of nature’s dying. We see beauty, but we are actually witnessing decay. In that, autumn is such a magical time of transformation. Whereas summer had us in a soft warm sleep, autumn is a season of renewal, of soul growth. 

In “Rudolf Steiners calendar of the soul” Patsy Scala writes “Just as a mother births a child, we must carry ourselves to birth in the wombs of our own souls. We steel our spirits desires and rekindle our self-awareness. We are bringing forth the force of our thinking, feeling and willing soul into its autumnal role in the world. We are birthing ourselves to be the world’s strength, as the earth itself begins its long road toward the darkness of a winter grave.”

Oh how I just adore that. We are birthing ourselves to be the worlds strength - and isn't that so very needed right now?We are bringing forth the force of our thinking and feeling. Is there a better vessel for our soul's explorations than the gift of words?To get lost between pages and sink deep into the world of story.

On my podcast “Milk & Coffee” I talked about five books that have inspired me lately, but here today I want to write about places. Taking the conversation from “what to read” to “where to read”. The context in which I invite the magic of a story to unfold.

In a cosy nook

In autumn, with its misty veils, there is a particular solace found in crafting a cosy home nook just for reading. To create a small haven, adorned with sheepskins, or soft blankets. A place where time slows and the world beyond the windowpane becomes a distant dream.

Naturally, couches and big arm chairs that envelope us like a hug come to mind. Maybe a sheepskin on your favorite window sill, a chair pulled up to the wood burning stove, or a daybed in the kitchen? On many days I can be found sitting in the small corner of my kitchen reading, while the children play, or dinner is softly simmering on the stove.

At a cafe

The comforting hum of conversations, the gentle clinking of porcelain, the soft notes of mellow music and the aroma of coffee - cafes are such warm places to bring a book to. Have you ever considered inviting a friend for coffee and a read? Something light perhaps, that can be interrupted every once in a while for a bit of conversation, or a novel that both of you enjoy. Taking the kids out for a hot drink and some reading at a cafe can be such a lovely break in our daily routines as well.

Sometimes, I get to sneak away - just me - and between the warm sips of my latte, a flaky pastry I can forget about the world. As I am reading in the company of strangers I become a part of a shared tapestry, a quiet observer of my story as well as humanity in its beautifully complex dance around me.

(photo above by alec3 on Pinterest)

In the garden

It is here that the words on the page and the falling leaves get to dance together. Dappled sunlight, birds gathering for their journey southward, the wind that carries a song of winter coming. Wether you have a beautiful garden, a cosy patio, a small balcony, a weathered bench in the country, or a nearby city park, bringing the stories we read into nature feels intimate.

In motherhood in particularly, when solace is rare, it is a symphony of practicality and romanticism to set up a reading corner outside. After all, nothing will hold the children’s attention like leaves, rocks, sticks, and all the beasts to be found in the soil and the birds to be spotted in the sky. Of course I enjoy their company and presence, but I would be a liar if I said I didn’t love escaping into the world of my book for a few minutes here and there as they play peacefully. Outside we can soak up the precious sunshine, or watch the rain fall from our covered patio.

(beautiful photograph by hollowtree.ca on Pinterest)

Preferably, by candlelight

It may take some getting used to, but to read by candlelight, or mostly candlelight and some ambient light evokes a sense of being held. I can’t quite explain it. Maybe it is the gentle flickering, or the soft, wavering dance of light upon the pages, there is a connectedness here, that goes beyond time and place. It hushes the outside world, allows for a welcome nostalgia and slows down life with its simplicity.

With a warm drink

Golden milk, velvety cream swirling through black tea, or the foamy goodness of a cappuccino. Not to mention, the salty richness of my favorite hot chocolate. Sipping and reading - a perfect pair. The familiar warmth of my favorite warm drink as I turn the pages creates that sense of rest. It is the little things after all, that make our days rich with beauty.

Together, in the tub

How does one invite intimacy beyond sex into marriage as life is busied by raising children together? For me it is time spent together and long conversations. It is all too easy to get tangled up in talking about nothing but organizational tasks and banalities, but as long as books are part of our story, the stories we share don’t have an end. Reading in the tub together is shared silence, a softening, a physical connection, a ritual in intimacy for us.

A flickering candle, swirling steam, the two of us and the characters we invite in on our pages. An exchange of thoughts and laughter and wisdoms. Some nights, we never open our books, as the words flow. Some nights, we read quietly, only the water gently swooshing back and forth between our bodies. It is as simple of a thing to do, as it is a lovely one.

We have not had a TV up in ages and while somedays me and my husband intentionally enjoy a movie on the iPad together, we rather join together in the tub, or under the blanket in bed to read. Lately, we have started reading to each other, which added a whole other level of intimacy. As a mother always reading out loud to the little ones, I had forgotten how soothing it is to drift off to a voice you love reading to you.

If this post has inspired you at all to create a cosy environment for your next book, please share with others.

I’m always keen on sharing words on here. Where do you like to read best? Which books have you picked up this autumn? Whats on your list for this winter? Do you and your partner read together? How do you make time for reading as a mother? I want to hear it all!

In light,

Eva