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❃ Friendship

Autumn leaf ritual to thank your friends

In autumn, trees let go of their leaves, and each one tells a little of the season that is ending. This ritual uses that image to look at your friendships with gratitude: you gather a few leaves on a walk, dedicate each one to a friend and send that person a heartfelt message. It is a small gesture, but it is often enough to rekindle a friendship that had gone quiet.

By the Cardaluna editorial team · Updated

In short: In autumn, trees let go of their leaves, and each one tells a little of the season that is ending. You need 5 simple items and 5 steps. When: In autumn, on a Sunday or at the full moon, the phase of gratitude.

When to do it

In autumn, on a Sunday or at the full moon, the phase of gratitude. Also on a birthday, when a chapter closes or whenever you miss someone.

What you need

  • As many dry leaves as friends you want to thank (picked up from the ground, not pulled off trees)
  • A fine marker or paper tags
  • A heavy book to press them
  • A bowl or basket
  • Writing paper or your phone

Step by step

  1. Take a calm walk in a park and pick up dry, clean leaves from the ground. At home, wipe them with a dry cloth and wash your hands.
  2. Place the leaves in the bowl. Take one for each friend, write their initial on it (or on a tag) and recall a moment when that person was there for you.
  3. Hold the leaf between your hands and say: “Thank you for your friendship; what we share keeps growing.”
  4. Write that person a short, sincere message: what you are grateful for, a specific memory or an idea to meet up soon. Send it today or hand it over in person.
  5. Press the leaves inside the book for a few days, then keep them in an envelope or in your journal as a memento of the ritual.

Safety first

These rituals are symbolic. Do not ingest herbs or oils, ventilate the room when burning incense or herbs, and never perform a ritual to harm or control anyone.

To finish

If someone replies wanting to meet, set a date as soon as you can. If the leaves crumble, return them to the soil of a plant pot or a park. Some autumn leaves and berries are not safe for small children or pets: keep the bowl out of their reach. To keep nurturing your friendships, pair it with the shared tea ritual.