Autumn Equinox

Balance. Abundance. Community. These three pillars anchor us as we navigate the shift into autumn, guiding us through a season of both harvest and reflection. The autumn equinox reminds us that we are standing on the edge of a season rich with both light and shadow, where every moment holds an invitation to pause, take stock, and recalibrate. As we gather the fruits of what we've sown through the spring and summer, it's time to reflect on the balance within ourselves and within our lives.

Autumn is not just about gathering abundance; it's about evaluating what has flourished and what hasn't. It's a time to ask the essential questions:

What do I need to let go of?

What do I need to hold onto? 

These questions aren't just about external things but the inner landscape of our thoughts, habits, and energies. As we move toward the darker half of the year, we are encouraged to harness the light within us—our creativity, our joy, our hope—while embracing the necessary quiet and rest that comes with the season's shift. Letting go of the past is crucial now. Old wounds, outdated beliefs, and unnecessary baggage—we are not meant to carry these into the new season. Just let them fall away, like the leaves surrendering to the ground. Invite healing and resolve in. This is the time to heal old rifts, both within ourselves and in our relationships, and to find peace in our hearts as we transition into the stillness of winter.

In this time of plenty, share what you've gathered, not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually. Abundance isn’t meant to be hoarded. When we share our harvest—whether that's wisdom, kindness, or time—we build a stronger community, one that can support each other through the darker months ahead. This year, perhaps more than most, has tested us. Many of us feel stretched thin, burdened by uncertainty and division. The world feels fraught with noise and chaos, and it’s easy to get swept up in the drama. But as we prepare for winter, we are also reminded that we can choose a different path. We can avoid the division, evade the noise, and instead focus on what truly matters. That amidst all the political theatre and online agression, we stay connected to the light within us. We stay grounded in the Earth, drawing strength from her steadiness. No matter how chaotic the external world becomes, remember that you are here for a reason, and your purpose is tied to the larger rhythm of life. Stay grounded, and let that grounding be your guide. And most importantly, be kind. Be kind to yourself, to others, to the Earth. This season asks for empathy and understanding, especially for those who are struggling to find their footing. We are all walking through this time together, and a little kindness can go a long way in easing someone’s path.

So offer it freely—kindness is a form of abundance, one that replenishes itself the more we share it.

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The autumn equinox of 2024 marks a sacred pause, a moment of balance where day and night stand as equals before the natural cycle tips towards the darker half of the year. This turning point invites us to reflect on our own inner balance—how we navigate between light and shadow, creation and rest, action and introspection. It’s a time to honor both the harvest of our efforts and the need for release.

Spiritually, the equinox acts as a threshold. It’s the liminal space where we can sense the thinning of the veil between worlds, making it a potent time for deep inner work and connection to the spiritual realm. The energy of this season carries both nostalgia and wisdom, reminding us that in order to make room for new growth, we must let go of what has reached its end. The lessons we’ve learned over the summer, the seeds we’ve planted, now offer their fruits, and it’s up to us to decide what to keep and what to release.

This particular equinox, in 2024, feels charged with the themes of transformation and recalibration. We are being asked to look at our lives with clarity—where have we been holding on too tightly? What patterns or beliefs no longer serve us as we move towards the stillness of winter? The universe gently encourages us to surrender to the natural rhythm, to find peace in the cyclical nature of life.

Autumn’s energy is one of beauty and mystery, a dance between abundance and decay. The falling leaves remind us that change is inevitable, yet there is beauty in that transformation. As we move through this equinox, we can use this time to restore balance within ourselves, setting intentions for the coming months with both gratitude for what has been and acceptance for what is yet to come.

Let this season remind you of the magic that exists in surrender, the wisdom found in release, and the power we reclaim when we embrace life’s cyclical flow. Celebrating the autumn equinox can be a beautiful way to honor the balance of light and dark, the harvest of the season, and the preparation for winter. Each of these activities are mere suggestions for how we can hold space for gratitude, release, and express a celebration of balance, helping us align with the deeper rhythms of nature as we move into autumn.

1. Harvest Gratitude Ritual

• What to do: Create a gratitude list, reflecting on what you've accomplished or received throughout the year. You could write these reflections on small pieces of paper and place them in a jar, or say them aloud as a part of a personal ritual.

• Purpose: The equinox is a time of abundance, and taking a moment to appreciate what you’ve harvested—both literally and metaphorically—aligns you with the energy of the season.

2. Nature Walk and Foraging

• What to do: Take a mindful walk in nature, paying attention to the changing colors, the cooler air, and the shift in the landscape. You can collect fallen leaves, acorns, pinecones, or other natural items to use in your home or on an altar.

• Purpose: This practice grounds you in the present and helps you connect with the Earth, embodying the equinox's balance and beauty.

3. Balance Meditation

• What to do: Set aside time for a quiet meditation that focuses on the concept of balance. Visualize both the light and dark aspects of yourself, and acknowledge how each one serves you. Meditate on the dualities in your life and how they create harmony.

• Purpose: The equinox represents the perfect balance of day and night. This meditation allows you to reflect on your own inner balance.

4. Feast with Seasonal Foods

• What to do: Prepare a meal that highlights the season’s bounty—squash, apples, pumpkins, root vegetables, and grains. Share this meal with loved ones, or enjoy it in solitude as a sacred offering to the season.

• Purpose: Sharing food is a way to honor the harvest, celebrate abundance, and connect with others or the Earth in gratitude.

5. Bonfire or Candle Lighting Ceremony

• What to do: Gather around a fire or light candles to symbolize the light we carry with us into the darker months. Reflect on the balance of light and dark in your life and what you want to nurture through the winter.

• Purpose: Fire represents the light within us that continues to burn even as the days grow shorter. This ritual keeps you connected to that internal flame.

6. Journaling for Reflection

• What to do: Reflect on the key themes of the equinox: What have you accomplished? What do you need to release? What seeds of intention do you want to plant for the months ahead? Write your thoughts in a journal, focusing on these reflective questions.

• Purpose: Journaling helps you align with the introspective nature of autumn and the act of releasing old patterns as you prepare for the winter season.

7. Seasonal Altar Creation

• What to do: Build an altar or a sacred space in your home to honor the autumn season. Decorate it with symbols of harvest such as pumpkins, gourds, wheat, and candles. Include personal items that represent balance and abundance.

• Purpose: An altar creates a physical space for honoring the equinox, helping you stay connected to the energy of the season every time you pass by it.

8. Release Ceremony

• What to do: Write down what you are ready to let go of on slips of paper. You can safely burn them in a fire, bury them in the earth, or release them into a stream or body of water.

• Purpose: The autumn equinox is a powerful time for release. Letting go of old habits, beliefs, or emotional baggage allows you to clear space for new growth in the future.

9. Community Gathering

• What to do: Host a gathering with friends or family where everyone brings something to share—whether it’s food, a story, or a piece of wisdom from the past year. You can also collectively discuss what you’re releasing and what you want to cultivate in the coming months.

• Purpose: This reinforces the idea of community and shared abundance, as well as the support we offer each other as we move through cycles of growth and rest.

10. Moonlight Walk or Stargazing

• What to do: Take a nighttime walk under the equinox moon or spend time stargazing. Notice how the energy shifts between day and night, and reflect on the mysteries of the dark season ahead.

• Purpose: This activity helps you connect with the celestial aspects of the equinox and embrace the darker, quieter side of the year.