Autumn Equinox
The Autumn Equinox is a beautiful threshold, a time to share our gifts in community, attune to the rhythms of nature, and set intentions for the season ahead.
An Ancient Celebration
Across cultures, the Equinox has long been a threshold moment for communities to gather, celebrate the changing of the seasons, and connect with the spiritual realm. Many of our ancestors revered this event as sacred, harnessing its energy for guidance and transformation.
In Ancient Egypt, the Pyramids served as a map of the Sun’s path across the Earth. It is believed that the Ancient Egyptians used the Pyramids to measure light and dark. In honour of balance, the Sun’s transition into Libra season was seen as deeply significant, reflecting the wisdom of Ancient Egyptian cosmology.
In Ancient Greece, the Autumn Equinox was marked by the celebration of Persephone, daughter of Zeus and Demeter, and Queen of the Underworld.
Among the Hopi and Navajo, Vision Quests were undertaken at the Equinox, drawn by the auspicious alignment of cosmic and earthly energies.
The most familiar modern reference is Mabon—the festival of the harvest. According to Celtic legend, the story begins with Modron, Earth Mother Goddess and Guardian of the Otherworld, who gave birth to her Great Son, Mabon. In the tale, owls, stags, and salmon appear as symbols of wisdom and transformation, as Mabon was reborn as the Son of Light.
A threshold time and tipping point
The autumn equinox typically falls on either September 22 or 23 and marks the point at which day and night are of equal length. The word Equinox comes from Latin, meaning “equal night,” referring to the time when day and night are of equal length all over the world—about twelve hours of daylight and twelve hours of darkness.
From this day forward, in the Northern Hemisphere, each day grows a little shorter until the Winter Solstice, the darkest day of the year. In many traditions, the autumn equinox was therefore regarded as the official beginning of autumn.
A time for giving thanks and releasing
In pagan tradition, the second harvest festival of the year was held at the autumn equinox. While the August harvest festival, Lammas, mainly centers on grain, the autumn equinox is associated with the gathering of sweet, ripe fruit, which is in abundance at this time. It was a celebration of the fact that grain, fruit, and other crops had been secured, ensuring that both people and livestock could survive the winter. Because the harvest was dependent on wind and weather, it varied greatly from year to year, and a particularly good harvest was worth great celebration. Everyone who had taken part in the harvest was invited to the feast.
As we move through days with more night than light, it is important to remember that Autumn is both a season of celebration and a season of release.
And the celebration comes first! At this time of year, our senses are delighted by the colours, tastes, and scents of the Earth’s bounty. The Autumn Equinox is a moment to give thanks for the seeds that blossomed, release what didn’t come to fruition, and celebrate with nourishing, vibrant foods as we gather with loved ones to share our gifts.
The Bridge to your New Chapter
The autumn equinox is not only a harvest festival but also a time of celebration of gratitude—for all that we have achieved, or harvested, this year, and for what we are ready to release and not carry with us into the autumn. Just as the leaves prepare to fall from the trees, the equinox is a fitting time to let go of what no longer serves you.
On the day of the Equinox, light and dark stand in perfect balance. From this harmony, a bridge is formed. When day and night are equal, the veils between dimensions grow thin and a portal opens. Some know this as the ‘Rainbow Bridge’ of the universe. It is a powerful moment to reflect and to set intentions for the cycle ahead.
The Autumn Equinox is a potent moment to reflect on the Summer just passed. It is also a time to begin preparing for the Winter, by considering:
How can you give thanks for your harvest?
What do you wish to carry with you into the darker months ahead?
Ultimately, the Autumn Equinox is a beautiful opportunity to pause and appreciate life’s delicate balance, to attune yourself to the rhythms of nature, and to set your intentions for the months to come.
It is a time of gratitude, reflection, and celebration—an honouring of the ever-turning wheel of the year.
You can find inspiration to mark this special time below, or share your own rituals, practices, or traditions in the comments.
However you choose to mark this tipping point in wheel of the year, I wish a blessed and magical time.
Equinox blessings!
Sidsel Solmer Eriksen, Founding Editor
Rituals for Autumn Equinox
Reflect on Your Journey
The Autumn Equinox—a magical moment when day and night stand in perfect balance—offers the ideal backdrop for a personal ceremony. Whether by the glow of a candle, a fireplace, or a bonfire’s warmth, you can honour the dualities of light and dark, life and death, and the profound harmony the Equinox embodies.
Take a moment to reflect on the season just passed: what you have achieved, and what you are ready to release—just as the trees begin to let go of their leaves.
You may wish to offer gratitude for the abundance in your life, whether it be the harvest of the land or the blessings of experience. From this place of thankfulness, share your hopes and intentions for the months ahead, setting clear goals and aspirations for the new season.
As the sun dips below the horizon and darkness slowly claims the day, light a candle or lantern to symbolise your inner fire from the Summer Season that you take with you into the darker months.
Rest in a moment of quiet contemplation, feeling the equilibrium of the Equinox and your place within this cosmic dance of light and shadow.
Make an Altar
Creating an altar is a powerful—and playful—way to connect with the season, to ground yourself, and to celebrate the turning of the wheel.
Here are some elements you might include for inspiration when crafting your personal altar:
Candle: To anchor the light as we transition into longer nights.
Flowers: To embody innocence and playful wonder, even as Mother Earth surrenders into the more inward season.
Fallen Leaves: To honour the trees, the earthly guardians, and the ancestors as they turn inward for winter.
Pinecones, Acors or Nuts: To symbolise potential, new beginnings, and rebirth when the time is right.
When creating your altar, always follow your intuition. Connect with the land, gather what speaks to you, and listen for the messages it offers.
A Harvest Feast at Øens Madhus from the Semine 'Copenhagen Oases' Travel Guide
Celebrate with a Harvest Feast
September is the perfect time to host a Harvest gathering. Think potluck-style get-togethers, where everyone brings a dish to share. Building community can be as simple as this—a shared table filled with nourishment and care.
An Autumn feast is a beautiful way to lean into the season’s energy of bounty and abundance, as we come together to share our gifts.
Here are some ingredients that hold special power around the Autumn Equinox:
Pumpkin: The colour of Autumn and fruit of the harvest, honouring the divine feminine, the womb, and the fruits of our labour.
Pomegranate: To honour Persephone and her strength and courage in traversing the underworld with grace.
Apple: To symbolise wisdom, sweetness, the harvest, and the turning of the seasons.
Cinnamon: To bring warmth as we transition into the darker days.