The end of the year is almost here. Summer came and went, and now we step into autumn, which is known in the Shamanic culture as the “Time of the snake.” It’s called that because it’s when we shed what we no longer need, just like a snake sheds its skin. The leaves falling and the air getting a little bit colder are symbolic of nature’s release. It’s a time to tune in to your emotions and purify your spirit.

Autumn is a period to reflect on the various lessons we’ve learned throughout the year, and evaluate what has worked for us and what has not. It’s also a good time to think about the people in your life that will accompany you into the new year—who is truly in our lives for our highest good, and who do you need to part ways with?

It’s also the perfect time to reflect on your progress. Which seeds did you plant, how have you cared for them and what has grown? Or did you poison the field? We all need to evolve past circumstances and situations that bear no fruit or blessings in our lives. If we look at the patterns of our life as we watch the seasons pass, we can see how our choices, decisions and ideas helped make our life the way it is.

I always love this time of year because it gives me great insight into myself and others. During autumn, your senses are more acute, your emotions are heightened and you are more sensitive to your environment. The reason for this is that Spirit wants us to be aware of what we no longer need. How can one be perceptive without being able to sense what’s going on?

The problem is that sometimes we let our emotions take over in a big way, making rash decisions about what we feel because we’re overwhelmed. We do this because we don’t want to let go of what needs to go so we can make the changes necessary for a rebirth in the spring. It’s time to just let it go. Who wants anything in their life that doesn’t make them happy? Who wants to be a slave to fear?

Nature clearly follows the cycles—so why don’t we? Our bodies and spirits know they must be in harmony with the principles of surrender, death and blossoming in order to move on to a path of greatness and divine evolution. Everyone goes through it differently—that’s the great thing about life. We all flow universally, yet with our own unique experiences. However, the one wheel we cannot get off of, no matter how hard we try, is the wheel of life. Every living thing is connected to this wheel—people, animals, nature and the cosmos. We all move in sync with one another, though at different paces and variables, as we reach towards our greatest aspirations of who we are meant to become.

Everything in nature grows with a purpose through which it adds and contributes to life as a whole. Likewise, we are all meant to stand out as individual creations of divinity, just like a tree or flower. We are supposed to grow and evolve, as well as experience transformation, death and rebirth. This allows us to evoke new ideas and visions, so we can create a world that sustains life for our future generations.

Are you contributing to life or only to yourself? What are you willing to let go of to renew yourself and reach a level where you can give something back? What part of you are you willing to let die so that you can be reborn? Now is the season to honor those who have come and gone, and get closer to where you are going. It is all for the greater good of the planet and all life. Be ready for change and let your heart open up wide for what’s to come. Follow me on Twitter or check me out at ShamanDurek.com for more insightful tips.