Autumn, autism, ADHD and animism: sensing the world with a deeply attuned heart

As the golden leaves of autumn begin to fall, the air turns crisp and we step into ADHD Awareness Month, I find myself drawn to the reflective nature of this season.

Autumn is a time of transition, a season of shedding and letting go, preparing us for the introspection of winter. It’s within this cyclical rhythm of nature that I’m choosing to share something deeply personal. My journey with autism and ADHD, and how these experiences have shaped my profound connection to the natural world through the lens of animism.

Embracing autism and ADHD Awareness Month: cosy season for my inner landscape

For years, I felt as though I was moving through the world with a deep sense of feeling out of season with the world around me. It wasn’t until my ADHD diagnosis that I began to understand a part of this feeling. In that assessment, the psychologist illuminated my autism to me and I was referred for an assessment. When my ADHD was medicated, my autistic traits became very clear to me. It is as if my extroverted ADHD was my dominant fiery yang energy. That had overpowered the introverted autistic yin energy my whole life. Then when the yang energy was soothed, the yin energy of autism became so much clearer to me.

At the start of summer, my autism was confirmed. I have spent a whole season, processing it and for the first time in my life, I feel truly at home in my own skin. It offered so much clarity and a sense of peace that transcends my inner landscape. As if I’ve pulled on comfies and tucked up under a blanket and there is no need to think beyond this cosy moment. For it all makes sense.

The profound connection between autism, animism, and nature

Autism heightens my sensitivity to the world and it gives me a unique way of experiencing life. My brain is finely tuned to pick up on the subtleties. Allowing me to sense the energy that flows through everything around us. This connection is more than just an appreciation for the beauty of nature. It’s an intrinsic and innate ability to sense the frequency of everything. Every tree, stone, wave and creature — holds its own energy. This belief, closely aligned with animism, is not just a concept but a lived experience for me.

Autumn, with its vibrant colours and quiet decay, embodies the duality of day and night, light and dark, life and death. This is a concept that resonates deeply with my belief in animism. Animism, the idea that all elements of the natural world are alive and imbued with spirit, is more than a worldview — it’s the way I experience the world. I feel it in the rustling of leaves, the whisper of the wind and the quiet pulse of the earth beneath my feet. My autistic brain processes these sensory inputs in a way that is both intense and expansive. Alowing me to perceive the world with a richness that is sometimes overwhelming but always profound.

Where others might see a simple landscape, I see a symphony of interactions. Colours, sounds, textures, and movements all blending together into a dynamic moment to ground us. This hyper-tuned sensitivity is a gift, though it can sometimes be challenging to navigate. It allows me to experience the world with an extraordinary depth of feeling. To truly sense the energy that flows through us and everything around us.

Photography as a bridge between worlds

When I photograph people, I aim to capture more than just a portrait. I create a space where people can let down their walls and reveal their inner essence. In doing so, the images feel radically authentic. There is space to share the part of them that is deeply connected to the earth, the sky, the oceans. When we meet in that liminal space of a shoot and co-create in the alchemy of the moment. My lens becomes a bridge between their inner world and the outer one, allowing their authentic spirit to shine through. My goal is to honour their inherent connection to the natural world. To show that their energy is as much a part of the landscape as the mountains or the sea.

In this way, my photography is not just a documentation of life; it’s a celebration of our shared existence with the natural world. When I photograph a person, I see them as part of the greater ecosystem. A living being whose energy resonates with the rhythms of the earth. Just as I can feel the changes in the light, flora and fauna, I can sense the unique energy that each person brings to the world. This energy, this connection, is what I seek to capture in my work.

Photography for me is a sacred modality

It’s a way of acknowledging and honouring the interconnectedness of all life. Storytelling images that remind us of our place within the natural world and inspire us to reconnect with the earth and with each other. It’s about finding the magick in the moments. When our human experience intersects with the natural world. Where our stories and the stories of the earth meet and merge.

This perspective is particularly resonant during the autumn season, when the cycles of nature are so clearly visible. As the leaves change colour and fall, as the days grow shorter and the air becomes crisp, we are reminded of the impermanence of life and the beauty of change. Just as nature sheds its layers in preparation for winter, we too are invited to let go of what no longer serves us. To reconnect with the essence of who we are. To find our place within the cycles of the natural world.

Through my photography, I hope to inspire others to see themselves as part of nature. To recognise their own connection to the earth and to the energy that flows through all things.

In this way, photography becomes not just a creative expression, but a powerful tool for rewilding our connection to nature and to each other. It’s about more than just seeing the world. It’s about truly sensing it and feeling it, as well as understanding that we are all part of this intricate, beautiful web of life.

Living cyclically: tuning into the rhythms of nature

Autumn is a season that naturally invites us to slow down. To reflect, and to live more in tune with the rhythms of nature. This cyclical living — honouring the seasons, the moon phases, and the ebb and flow of life — is something that I’ve come to embrace fully. It’s a way of living that aligns perfectly with my autistic experience. Where the anticipation and predictability of the incoming season offers a sense of comfort and stability.

In a world that often values speed and surface-level interactions, I’ve come to realise that my way of sensing and connecting is a powerful form of wisdom. It’s an intentional way of being and one that requires listening with the heart and seeing with the soul. Autumn, with its quiet beauty and reflective energy, is a beautiful time to honour this way of living.

The enchantment of autumn: rewilding our connection to nature

Autumn is also a season of enchantment, a time when the veil between the seen and unseen is thinner. It’s in these liminal spaces that I often find the greatest sense of connection to the world around me. Enchantment, for me, is not just a fleeting feeling but a way of living. A way of approaching each day with curiosity and wonder. As well as being open to the free-range, untamed awe that awaits us in every moment.

This connection to the world around me is something I cherish deeply. It’s a reminder that we are all part of something greater. That the energy within us is mirrored in the energy of the earth, the sea, and the sky. By embracing my AuDHD, during ADHD Awareness Month and beyond, I’ve found a path that feels authentic. One that allows me to live in harmony with the natural world and to share that harmony with others.

Enchanted being: an invitation to live more fully

As I continue to walk this path, this ADHD Awareness Month I invite others to explore the world through this gaze. To open their hearts to the energy that flows through all things. To sense the world with a deeper awareness, and to honour the interconnected energy that resides in every corner of our beautiful planet.

As we move deeper into autumn, I encourage you to embrace this season of shedding and renewal. Let go of what no longer serves you, and open your heart to the enchantment that is all around us. By tuning into the energy of the world and approaching each day with curiosity, as well as living in harmony with the cycles of nature, we can create a world where storytelling rewilds our connection to nature. A world that empowers healing, and celebrates the magick of life itself.

Ways we can work together this season

I have availability in late September into October (ADHD Awareness Month) and I would love to hear all about your soul aligned work and how I can support your visibility.

I’d love to shoot more environmental storytelling projects. Whether you’re working on a conservation initiative, a community project, or a broader campaign, I’m here to help bring those stories to life. Let’s use photography as a tool to inspire others to reconnect with the earth, as well as advocate for its protection.

Email me at hello@rebeccadouglas.co.uk or DM me on Instagram and share more about what you’re looking for. Then I will share more information about ways we can work together. As well as a link to book time in to chat.

Happy ADHD Awareness Month, my loves.