Welcoming Autumn
A Celebration of Balance, Beauty, and Letting Go
There’s a moment in the wheel of the year when the light and dark come into perfect balance. The air turns a little crisper, the sun dips a little lower, and the land begins to whisper of rest. The Autumnal Equinox, also known in some traditions as Mabon, marks this sacred threshold. A liminal space where we are invited to pause, to reflect, and to honor the golden season of release.
A Season of Balance
The equinox offers a rare and brief moment of equilibrium. Day and night share the sky equally, reminding us to seek our own internal alignment. This is a time to reflect on the light and shadow within, on where we are in harmony, and where we may need to recalibrate.
Ways to Celebrate the Autumnal Equinox
Whether you walk a spiritual path or simply feel a love or reverence for the turning seasons, there are many ways to honor this time:
Create a Harvest Altar
Gather symbols of the season: apples, corn, squash, fallen leaves, acorns, feathers, or stones. Arrange them on a table or windowsill alongside candles in deep autumn hues. Add a handwritten note, a photo, or a dried herb bundle. Let your altar become a living reflection of what this season means to you.
Ritual of Release
As the trees begin to let go, so can we. Light a candle and take a few moments to journal: What am I ready to release? What has served its purpose? Write down what you wish to let go of, then burn the paper safely or bury it in the earth (or release it in any way that feels right to you). Offer thanks as you release.
Feast with the Season
Autumn can be a sensual celebration of food. Bake something with apples, roast root vegetables, simmer a pot of chai or mulled cider. Invite friends to a potluck with seasonal dishes, or make a solo meal with intention. As you eat, acknowledge the hands and soil that made it possible.
Divination and Dreamwork
As we enter the darker half of the year, our intuition begins to stir. Pull a tarot or oracle card and ask, what energy is ripening in my life? Keep a dream journal by your bed, or begin a practice of evening reflection. Listen closely.
Take a Walk with the Wind
Sometimes the simplest rituals are the most profound. Go outside. Feel the shift. Let the wind tangle your hair and the leaves crunch beneath your boots. Notice what’s changing.
Mabon Lore & Wisdom
Though modern Mabon celebrations are largely inspired by the Wheel of the Year (popularized in contemporary pagan traditions), the heart of the equinox is found in many cultures. In Greek mythology, it aligns with the descent of Persephone into the underworld, signaling the Earth’s slow withdrawal into stillness. In Druidic and Celtic traditions, this was a time to honor balance, harvest, and the waning sun.
The name Mabon itself comes from Mabon ap Modron, a Welsh god whose story speaks of rebirth, mystery, and the protective power of the mother. Whether or not you connect with deity or myth, the essence of this festival is about remembering your place in the rhythm of things.
Reflect with these prompts:
• What am I harvesting? From within and around me?
• What am I being invited to release?
• How can I cultivate beauty, balance, and gratitude in the everyday?
May your Equinox be nourishing. May your rituals be radiant. And may you enter this golden season open to the gifts of change.
