Each one of the four seasons has a different lesson to teach us. When we learn to synchronize our energy to reflect the seasons and the valuable knowledge it has, we can optimize the energy of that season to either rest, reflect, purge, manifest, or create.
The autumn equinox marks the period where we begin to turn inwards and slow down. The high energy of summer starts to shift. The weather becomes colder, we spend more time indoors and our mindset shifts into periods of reflection. We prepare to enter into a more cozy and relaxed lifestyle.
By spending the Autumn Equinox performing a personalized ritual, you take time to reflect on the seasons that have just passed and how your life is unfolding. By taking stock of where you are, you can evaluate if you need to course correct to accurately reflect where you want to go.
Below is a compiled list of ways to honour and celebrate the autumn equinox, to welcome in this new season of introspection. Don’t feel obligated to do everything, take what works for you and leave what doesn’t. Do a couple of things from the list today and a couple tomorrow. If you’re short on time, break it up over the week. Complete this ritual a few days or a week leading up to the autumn equinox and a few days or a week after.
1. Meditation-
Our world is noisy and clutters our minds. Whether our socials are taking over, our environment, our job, or other obligations. There is always something to think about and something that needs to get done. When we spend time focusing on our breath and body, instead of the constant chatter in our minds, clarity and inspiration can more easily flow to us.
Schedule a bit of time today, if only 5 minutes, to practice meditation. Find a quiet space and time where you won’t be interrupted. Light candles, incense, hold onto crystals, and create a calm and serene space. Meditate in silence, to music, to frequency sounds, or follow along to a guided autumn equinox meditation.
Ideally, meditation is a great habit to incorporate into your daily routine. If not daily, then a couple of times per week. Especially around the time of the equinoxes and solstices, so that you can focus on what you want to bring forth and/or leave behind every new season.
2. Nature Walk-
Find a plot of nature in a park, forest, garden, or wherever else in your city or town. Notice how the leaves begin to change and the air starts to feel different. Take note of anything else you can observe with your senses that differs from the summertime.
Think about any changes in your life that have happened over the past season. Have you entered or left relationships or friendships, have you started or left a new job? Moved cities or towns? Started a new business, pivoted in any way?? The changes in seasons can reflect the changes of life back to us.
Life changes, that’s a fact that we can’t change. The more we accept and embrace the changes in our lives, the easier and more fun our lives become. Nothing stays the same, which is as equally exciting as it is terrifying.
3. Cook/Bake/Drink-
If you live in the northern hemisphere, the autumn equinox lands during a time when the weather can turn bitter, depending on where you live. Warm your soul by preparing hot and spiced dishes. Think soups, mulled cider, hot apple pie, stews, chili, etc.
Use seasonal ingredients like squash, pumpkin, apples, cranberries, leeks, potatoes, corn, mushrooms, beets and pears. Eating seasonally is great for your health, your wallet, and the environment. Incorporate spices like cinnamon, star anise, cloves, cardamom, allspice and rosemary.
4. Fire-
The earth’s natural light from the sun begins to shy away from the world, and daylight savings time will soon make it even more timid. The fall and winter seasons bring us less natural light, so create your own. Start a bonfire, light your fireplace, or light candles and tea lights to brighten your space.
While the earth becomes darker, we’re invited to spend more time indoors. Implement the Danish way of “hygge living” and invest in cheap scented or unscented candles to give your home a cozy feel. If you have an area where you can host a bonfire, write things on a piece of paper that you wish to let go of going forward. Throw these papers in the fire and contemplate the actions you’ll take to make this release a priority.
5. Tarot-
If you’re into tarot, find an autumn equinox spread online or create your own. It’s not recommended to peek into other people’s energies or see how someone feels about you. Use it to confirm your own current energy and where you could be heading if you stay on your current path. The energy of the autumn equinox is all about reflecting and introspection. Find or make your own questions to match this theme.
6. Journal Prompts-
Use these journal prompts to reflect on your journey thus far and release anything that no longer serves you.
-What am I ready to release from my life?
-What is holding me back from reaching my goals?
-Am I proud of my daily habits and routines?
-What are my current values?
-Where have I let myself down?
-What changes do I need to make?
-Where have I made myself proud?
-How satisfied am I overall with my life?
-How well am I taking care of myself?
-One self-care practice I’d like to implement?
7. Purge-
We always hope to enter into a new season feeling fresh. Releasing material items that aren’t being used and are taking up space is a great place to start. Get rid of old clothes or other items that haven’t been used in the past year. A good rule of thumb is if it hasn’t been used in the past year, it’s most likely not going to be used going forward.
While it’s mentally taxing to get rid of items you feel you haven’t gotten your money’s worth out of, it’s not doing you any favours by taking up space in your home. Try to sell these items to make some profit back or give them to a shelter for people in need. Practicing detachment from our material things is an important practice.
Things like your relationships, values, mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual well-being are much more important. Family heirlooms and sentimental items aren’t necessarily included in this list. Use your discretion to decipher what holds meaning and value and what you’re hanging onto just because.
8. Bath-
Water is a fantastic grounding and healing tool. Use today’s equinox to ground yourself, de-stress, and soak away any worries or anxieties you’ve been hanging onto. Incorporate fall-scented essential oils, bath salts, and candles. Play calming music, and go the whole nine yards for your autumn bath ritual.
Plan this so that you have adequate time to chill out without feeling rushed. Similarly, to a sauna or steam room, when coming out of a hot bath you’ll feel more peaceful, and have more clarity coming out as opposed to when you went it.
Water is the perfect cleansing agent. If you’re in a warm enough climate and have a lake or ocean nearby, go for a dip and let the water cleanse your mind, body, and spirit.
9. Smudge-
This autumn equinox is the perfect time to cleanse the energy of last season. Learn how to cleanse yourself from any stagnant or lingering energy from the past to help yourself start the autumn season invigorated.
Read our post here to learn how to perform the ritual of smudging safely and respectfully. Use herbs like cedar, rosemary, cinnamon, orange, thyme, tarragon, and lavender to create an autumn-themed bundle.
Conclusion-
After the zesty, social, and scorching summer comes the practical, reclusive, and chilly nature of autumn. This might feel like a bummer for some of you, but every season has its purpose. Instead of being upset about the end of summer, indulge in all of your favourite fall activities.
Use the autumn equinox to review the seasons behind you. Take time to pause, rest, and reflect on where you are now and where you’d like to head in the future. This isn’t the time for manifesting and calling in something new, but to give yourself an audit of your life, emotions, and feelings.
Spend the autumn equinox by meditating to quiet your mind, spend time in nature to connect with the universe, and cleanse the energy of your home. Ground yourself with an autumn-themed bath and journal to understand yourself deeper. Use tarot to gain clarity on your path and purge your space and belongings to make space for what truly matters.
Use whichever of these ritual ideas call to you and leave what doesn’t. Do them all if you have the time or break up these ideas over a few days and repeat to get the most out of the autumn equinox energy. Let us know in the comments below which methods you’re looking forward to completing on the autumn equinox.
