The autumn equinox, also known as Mabon, is a significant time of the year in witchcraft and pagan traditions. It is a time when the day and night are of equal length, symbolizing the balance between light and dark. This balance is often celebrated and honored through various rituals and practices. During this time, witches and pagans may gather to perform specific rituals to honor the changing seasons and give gratitude for the abundance of the harvest. These rituals may involve the use of candles, herbs, crystals, and other tools to create a sacred and spiritual space. One common ritual during the autumn equinox is the making of an altar or shrine dedicated to the harvest and abundance.
Cuban Santeria Practices
Santeria is a fusion of Catholic practices and African folk beliefs. It emerged in Cuba during the 17th century, and has been embedded in Cuban society ever since. These days, it’s far more prevalent than Catholicism on the island—Santeros outnumber Catholics by 8-1. Cuba is still the religious center of Santería, but the faith has spread to many other countries as well, including the U.S.
Santería’s roots can be traced to the Lucumí religion, which was practiced by the Yoruba tribes of modern-day Benin and Nigeria. Slaves from West Africa were imported to Cuba in the 17th century, and they brought their religious tradition with them. The slaves were banned from practicing their own religion, so they disguised their gods as Catholic figures and continued to pray to them as they pleased. As such, in Santería – the name means Way of the Saints – Catholic saints represent Yoruban divine beings, known as orishas.
For centuries, Santería – which is also known as the Regla de Ocha – was practiced in secret, and survived orally from one generation to another. After the Revolution, Santería was openly acknowledged but was criticized by the government as being folksy witchcraft. In the 1980s, there was a resurgence of interest in Santería, and today it enjoys widespread appeal throughout much of Cuba. It’s estimated that up to 80 percent of the Cuban population follows some Santería practices.
Fidel Castro is even rumored to be a believer. That may be in part due to an auspicious event that happened during his victory speech on January 8, 1959. While Fidel was addressing the crowd, two doves flew over the podium, and one of them landed on his shoulder. Doves are symbols of Obatalá, the son of God in Santería. Not surprisingly, many people took this as a sign that God wanted Fidel to lead Cuba.
The combining of concepts and terminology from different religions – in this case, from Catholicism and the Lucumí religion – is called religious syncretism. In the minds of many Cubans, the two religions parallel one another, rather than existing as one unified religion. They also don’t see contradictions between the two faiths. Practitioners attend Catholic mass and might even baptize their children, while also practicing forms of Lucumí in their home. In the house of a Santero, you might find statues of Catholic saints alongside orisha symbols.
One common ritual during the autumn equinox is the making of an altar or shrine dedicated to the harvest and abundance. This altar may include fruits, vegetables, and grains, symbolizing the bountiful harvest and the importance of gratitude. Witches may also use this time to reflect on their own personal harvests, both in terms of physical and spiritual abundance.
Beliefs
Santería followers believe that one God created the universe and that the world is cared for by lesser divine beings known as orishas. Similar to ancient Greek gods, the orishas represent various forces of nature along with certain human characteristics—for example, Yemayá is the orisha of the sea and motherhood.
The orishas are thought to perform miracles for adherents, and can also be blamed for unfortunate events. If an individual has consistently bad luck, they must appease their orisha to achieve harmony and balance in their life. The followers, however, can’t communicate directly with these divine beings. Santería priests, known as babalawos, act as intermediaries in the religion. They interpret the will of the gods using divination, which involves an elaborate ceremony that often includes rum, drums, cigars, and animal sacrifice. The relationship with the Santeros is also beneficial to the orishas—they only continue to exist if humans worship them. The orishas are thus not immortal, but depend on human devotion and sacrifice to survive.
Strolling through the streets of Cuba, you’ll occasionally come across people wearing all white clothing—chances are these people are going through their Santería initiation. People of all ages can choose to follow Santería, with an initiation process that sets the follower on la regla de ocha (the way of orishas). The initiations are ritualistic and involve elaborate ceremonies. Followers are required to stay inside at night for an entire year and only dress in white. No one is allowed to touch the follower aside from family members or lovers.
Every follower is assigned to an orisha who will guide him or her throughout life. There are around 400 orishas, but only 20 are regularly worshiped in Cuba. There’s Ochún, who wears yellow and is associated with the Virgen de la Caridad (the Virgin of Charity). If you visit the El Cobre Cathedral, you’ll see followers sporting yellow clothes and wearing yellow and white beads in homage to Ochún. Changó is another popular saint. The saint of fire and war, he is often seen carrying a double-headed axe and is associated with red and white. His Catholic avatar is Santa Barbara.
Obatalá, the goddess of creation and peace, dresses in white and associated with the Virgen de la Merced (the Virgin of Mercy). Yemayá rules the ocean and is the goddess of motherhood. Not surprisingly, she wears blue and white, and is associated with the Virgen de Regla. Santeros often have statues of saints in their home, and may even have an altar where pastries, candles, fruits, and coins are offered to their orisha.
There are no official churches or temples in the religion. As such, ceremonies and rituals are usually performed at home or in public.
And because Santería lacks scriptures, the whole faith is passed down orally. This is why ceremonies and rites are so important.
Another practice often associated with the autumn equinox is divination and prophecy. Witches may use various divination tools such as tarot cards, pendulums, or scrying mirrors to gain insight into the coming months and to connect with their intuition. This can be a powerful time to set intentions and seek guidance for the future. In addition to these rituals, witches and pagans may also engage in spellwork during the autumn equinox. Spells focused on balance, abundance, and protection are common during this time. For example, spells may be performed to bring harmony and balance to relationships, promote financial abundance, or protect against negative energies as the days grow darker. Overall, the autumn equinox holds a special place in witchcraft and pagan traditions. It is a time of balance, reflection, and gratitude as the energy of the Earth begins to shift. Through rituals, divination, and spellwork, witches and pagans can harness the power of this season and align themselves with the natural cycles of the Earth..
Reviews for "Connecting with the Element of Air on the Autumn Equinox in Witchcraft"
1. Emily - ★☆☆☆☆
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3. Jessica - ★★☆☆☆
As someone who enjoys reading about witchcraft and the occult, I was excited to dive into "Autumn Equinox Witchcraft." However, I found the book to be lacking in substance. The characters felt underdeveloped, with their actions and motivations often inconsistent. The writing style was also unremarkable, failing to evoke any sense of magic or mystery. While the premise had potential, the execution fell flat and left me feeling unsatisfied. I would recommend looking elsewhere for a more engaging and authentic witchcraft read.