Autumn Equinox
A time for hearth and home
My fondest memory of Autumn was when we moved here to California, and my mother would play opera cds in the kitchen as we made apple treats. I remember a certain crispness that would begin to be in the night air, and the need for an extra layer in the bed to make it extra cosy.
For years now we have paid homage to the shifts in seasons here on TLR. I find it is crucial to be in sync and in tune with the elements in order to be in tune with myself. In the past we have posted about Winter Solstice, Spring Time rituals, and more and it seems now years later it is becoming more mainstream to do so.
September 22 is the actual equinox and when the night and day are exactly equal. After Autumn equinox, the evenings become longer and the days shorter. This day can therefore symbolize balance and harmony in the seasons and within us. Autumn rituals stem from pagan times and the celebration of Mabon. It’s about preparing for the winter to come and this can be symbolic in terms of we can do today to honor this season. The Chumash Indians of California also had a sun ceremony on the equinox date. Autumn can be about soft sweaters, pinecones, cinnamon and also harnessing our intuition to see through winter moments of going inward.
Here are some Autumn Equinox Rituals for you to honor this time.
Journaling.
Making a gratitude list for all that we have harvested thus far since Summer Solstice.
Create a second list of what seeds you wish to plant and see come to fruition by Winter Solstice. Write out a third list of things you would like to release with the shift in seasons. This can later be burned in a bon fire or fireplace.
Bon fire or fireplace.
Autumn is a time we begin to honor the element of fire and how it helps us in so many ways. Every day when i light my incense, I honor this element and know of it’s power.
Make a fire (in a safe place) and throw in the journal sheets of what you release. Burn what no longer serves you and feel the space created by giving up the negative.
An offering to the earth.
Make a mixture of milk and honey to celebrate sweetness in life and creative fertility.
I make this offering to the earth, and I say thank you for all gifts I have received.
Go in nature.
Hike or walk in nature and gather the wood for your fire or for autumn treasures for your altar.
Feathers, leaves, pinecones, seashells, bones. All these can go on a nature table in the home.
Visit a local farm.
I used to love to take my daughters to the apple farms for harvesting apples.
Make special autumn treats like apple pie, apple cider and apple crumble with the bounty you harvest.
Make bundles of herbs.
I like to gather sage, rosemary, mugwort on my walks in the canyon. You can find a post here on how to make these bundles.
House Cleaning.
Since we entered Virgo a few weeks ago I have been on a house cleaning jaunt. It seems to coincide with the equinox which is a good time to realize the physical things we no longer to carry with us towards the new season. Cleaning closets, desks, drawers all of this creates new energy. I loved decluttering my house this past year, see how I cleaned up with a Feng shui expert here.
Have a harvest meal with loved ones.
On September 22 bring in the equinox with family and friends. Have pomegranates, persimmons, walnuts, and other Autumn treats. Find this delicious recipe for Kabocha squash with pomegranate here and a recipe for Pomegranate walnut stew here.
Read!
The great myths from the northern Hemisphere and look at the goddess energy that reigned there. Mists of Avalon is always perfect too.
Tags:autumn, fall, herbs, nature, recipes, rituals, sage
