What is the Autumn Equinox?
The Autumn Equinox is a time of exquisite balance. It is a season of transformation and introspection, a season that invites us to harmonise our inner and outer worlds.
In this blog post, I’ll explore the Autumn Equinox’s significance and share a some ideas for your Autumn Equinox ritual.
When is the Autumn Equinox?
An Autumn Equinox ritual, also known as a Mabon ritual, is a that honours and celebrates the balance between light and darkness as the days grow shorter and the nights become longer. The ritual is typically performed around September 21st or 22nd in the Northern Hemisphere. It is a time of gratitude for the harvest, reflect, the balance in our lives, and prepare for the winter months ahead.
Rituals are a personal individual thing, and each individual may choose to perform different elements to give their thanks to Spirit and the Universe.
Here is a short list of Autumn Equinox ritual elements to choose from for your personalised Mabon ritual:
- Intention-Setting: Clarify your intention for the ritual. What do you want to celebrate and manifest this autumn? This can be simply expressing gratitude, grounding and centering, balancing, or preparing for the coming winter. This may be done in writing through journaling, if you choose.
- Create a Sacred Space: Find a quiet and peaceful location that suits you best—whether indoors or outdoors—where you can perform your ritual. You may want to decorate your space with autumnal items such as fallen leaves and candles in warm, autunmal colours.
- Cast a Circle: If you follow a specific tradition or belief system which involves casting a circle for protection and establishing sacred space, you may add this step to your personalised ritual. Otherwise, you can simply visualise a protective circle of light around you.
- Grounding and Centering: Perform your grounding practice. Don’t have a grounding practice? Watch our podcast episode on grounding.
- Express Gratitude: Express your gratitude for the abundance you’ve harvested in your life, acknowledging the fruits of your labor.
- Offer and Offering: If you work with Deities and Guides, you may want to place a small offering on your Mabon altar or in your sacred space. This could be a bowl of seasonal autumnal fruits, nuts, or grains, symbolising the harvest. As you do this, express your gratitude for the abundance in your life, acknowledging the fruits of your labour.
- Do a Tarot or Oracle Reading, or Meditate for Insights: Some people like to use the Tarot cards to gain insights into the coming season or to seek guidance on specific questions. Others may prefer to meditate for intuitive insights. Need tips on how to do Tarot readings for yourself? Read our guide for reading for yourself.
*Remember that this ritual is highly personal, so adjust and adapt as you see fit. The main thing is to honor the changing of the seasons and express gratitude.
Connecting with the Autumn Equinox Tarot Spread:
- Earth (centre) – Represents the energy and essence of the Autumn Equinox. What is your focus at this period of transition?
- Light (left) – What needs to be released?
- Dark (right) – What can you embrace?
- Seeds (top) – What can you manifest?
- Harvest (bottom) – What should you be grateful for?
Release and Let Go: Now you have your guidance, write down any people, places, things, or situations you wish to release or let go of as we move into the darker half of the year.
Take some time to write down and reflect on your experiences, thoughts, and any insights you gained during the ritual.
Some crystals we recommend working with during the Autumn Equinox
Carnelian, Tiger Eye, Hematite, Blue Apatite, Blue Kyanite, Black Kyanite, Dendrite, Purple Fluorite, Moss Agate, Sunstone, Red Jasper, and you can also add Clear Quartz for amplification and Selenite for cleansing.
May this season bring you warmth, growth, and abundant joy!
Wishing you a joyful Autumn Equinox!
