Autumn reflections, the harvest, and letting go

Today it's the Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere. Day and night are equal, but from now on the nights will slowly get longer, until the longest night of the year at the Winter Solstice.

In the Wheel of the Year, the Autumn Equinox, also called Mabon after a Celtic young sun god, is the second harvest festival, after Lughnasadh.

In ancient times, people would keep harvesting fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, nuts, and seeds to build stores for sustenance during the cold winter months.

Celebrations with an abundance of food and drink were widespread, to give thanks to the gods for the harvest, and invoke abundant ones for the following year.

My celebrations are much simpler.

I decorated my altar with some leaves, nuts, a tiny red apple from our neighbour's orchard, and a favourite photo of a country lane carpeted with russet leaves.

I added a few maple leaves to my front door wreath, burned some special incense I bought years ago in Glastonbury, and lit a candle to honour my favourite season and give thanks for all my blessings and for the earth's bountiful fruits.

After an unseasonably hot start of September that had me worried, once again, about climate change and the state of the planet, the weather finally broke and we had some welcome rain.

The days are getting noticeably shorter and cooler, especially at night, and after the rain a veil of fog rose from the nearby river and shrouded the garden, to my delight - I adore fog and the sense of magic the soft, blurred world evokes.

Autumn, with its mellow light and spectacular colours, is my favourite time of the year.

The moment temperatures drop, I feel a buzz of energy go through me, and chase the summer torpor away.

I go for long walks again, with my trusted wellies and walking stick, breathing in the fresh air that keeps my mind sharp, and taking in the beauty of the changing landscape.

Apples, hawthorn berries, and sloes grace the country hedgerows with their jewel-like colours, and the first mushrooms of the season are popping up in the fields.

I look forward to apple pies, roast pumpkin, steaming bowls of soups, and endless cups of tea.

Time to read, bake, make jam, tidy up the garden, make the house cosy, chase the light with my camera, and write on my journal, a habit I'm getting back into after a couple of years' hiatus.

I believe that the observation of nature can teach much about inner growth, and inspire personal change and increased awareness.

The cycle of the seasons is one of birth, growth, death, and rebirth, and the Autumn Equinox signals a move towards decline.

In autumn, leaves turn yellow and die, drifting to the ground, until all branches stand bare, with their buds exposed. All the tree energy falls into its roots, for the winter rest.

This retreating and resting is what allows the tree to strengthen and grow, its buds to turn into new leaves in spring, and its flowers to bloom and turn into fruit.

In a similar way, creativity has a cyclical nature, and in order to create something new there's a phase of letting go of all that's been outgrown, and then a retreat into the inner world to rest and let the seeds of new ideas mature in the dark, to emerge as strong seedlings in spring.

Even the body goes through a similar cycle of activity and rest, and may need time to adjust to seasonal changes.

September coincides with a new academic year, and a return to activity after the summer holidays. For me, this is also the perfect time for some introspection, to reach a new level of awareness and self-knowledge that will help me navigate my journey through life and begin new projects and adventures in the months to come.

I have created a simple worksheet with some prompts to explore the current season's themes: the harvest, and letting go.

If you'd like to join me in this process of self-discovery, you can download the prompts by clicking the link below. I hope you find the worksheet helpful.

Autumn Reflections worksheet

Equinox blessings to you all.