The fall equinox, also known as Mabon, is a pagan holiday that celebrates the arrival of autumn. It is considered a time of balance when day and night are of equal length. The traditions associated with the fall equinox are rooted in ancient pagan practices and reflect the importance of harvest, gratitude, and honoring the changing seasons. One common tradition during Mabon is the creation of an altar or sacred space. This space is typically adorned with symbols of the season, such as pumpkins, gourds, colorful leaves, and various fruits and vegetables. It is a place to honor and give thanks for the abundance of the harvest and to connect with the earth's energy.
Autumn Equinox Ritual | September 23rd 2023
It is a place to honor and give thanks for the abundance of the harvest and to connect with the earth's energy. Another customary practice during the fall equinox is the sharing of a meal or feast. This feast often includes foods that are in season, such as apples, squash, corn, and nuts.
Celebrate the Balance of the Seasons this Autumn Equinox
Saturday September 23rd is the Autumn Equinox, the time when summer transits into the next season and we have an equal balance of light and dark. Autumn, similar to the energy of Spring, has a feeling of change, of something new, reminiscent of that back to school feeling from childhood.
As the Autumn Equinox approaches, the quiet drawing within the time of Winter this is the season to prepare, to plant seeds that can grow roots and mature in readiness for the next burst of new energy in Springtime. It’s a time for acknowledging all that has happened so far this year and be thankful.
In a woman’s cycle just before her period starts this is also known as the time of Autumn. It’s a time when we feel our most real, there’s an earthy feel, we speak our truth the most, we won’t tolerate things that we might have let slide before, and our hunger is more (getting us ready for our hibernation of Winter/the bleed). Embrace this, it’s known as the “Wild Woman” time!
The Autumn Equinox is an opportunity to acknowledge and welcome in the new season, to embrace it. We are part of nature and as the seasons change so do we.
Here are a few ideas for ritual at Autumn Equinox:
1) To start your Autumn Equinox ritual, light a candle to acknowledge the light within the dark.
2) Next take some time to write down all you are grateful for so far this year. Acknowledge the blessings and the lessons you have learnt. Acknowledge yourself.
3) Then, take a look at where your life might be out of balance at this Autumn Equinox. A few suggested to consider; Are you mainly doing things that fill you up energetically or drain you? Is life full of variety or has it got dull? Is there too much change and some routine would help to calm things down? Are you feeling connected to others, isolated or in need of some alone time? Do you receive equally as much as you give?
4) Ask, how are your goals going that you set for this year? Are any changes needed this Autumn Equinox? Any new to ones add? Is there anything you haven’t started yet?
5) From this questioning on 3 pieces of paper write down
a) What you are letting go of?
b) Your intention moving forward.
c) Your gratitude list.
Finally, burn them on the candle. Visualise being able to send it to the light and let Grace bless you. Fully, trust all will come when the time is right for you.
One important thing to consider when setting goals/intentions around Autumn Equinox is our need for rest over the Winter period. Now it the time for creativity, for new ideas and to start to plant some seeds but remember to allow your self to slow down over Winter, factor this in so come to Springtime you will be full of energy to power ahead.
To join us for the Autumn Equinox and immerse yourself in this energy of renewal, we will be in Bali and Sardinia. Our wonderful yoga teachers will guide you through these calming rituals to help you embrace this new season!
How to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox
In this blog, I’ll be exploring what the Autumn Equinox is, its spiritual significance, how we may experience its energy at this time, and how to celebrate the Autumn Equinox. I’ll also be looking at how we can connect with ourselves, our communities, the divine and the nature in the world around us at this time, in both the northern and southern Hemispheres.
As we all live in different climates, some ideas shared here will resonate more than others, depending on your location. Adapt these suggestions to your own environment and use them as a starting point for connecting more deeply to the energy of the natural world around you.
Autumn equinox at the Chalice Well
WHAT IS THE AUTUMN EQUINOX?
Equinoxes occur twice a year; one in the Spring and one in the Autumn. You can check out my blog about the Spring Equinox here.
The word ‘Equinox’ is derived from Latin, meaning ‘equal night’. The equinoxes are solar festivals in the Wheel of the Year, and happen at the times of the year when day and night have become approximately equal length all over the world, with roughly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.
THE WHEEL OF THE YEAR
The Wheel of the Year is celebrated by many spiritual seekers all over the world, including pagans, Wiccans, witches of all kinds, and also nature-lovers who do not follow a specific spiritual tradition. It celebrates the turning of the seasons, and those who follow its rhythms mark its seasonal festival days or ‘Sabbats’.
The Autumn/ Fall Equinox (also known as Mabon) and the Spring Equinox (also known as Ostara) are two of these days. The Autumn Equinox occurs between the 20-23 September in the Northern Hemisphere and the 20-23 March in the Southern Hemisphere. The Spring Equinox falls between the 20-23 March in the northern hemisphere and between the 20-23 September in the southern hemisphere.
For more information about and rituals to honour the Wheel of the Year, you can join my membership here.
WHAT DOES THE AUTUMN EQUINOX MEAN SPIRITUALLY?
The Autumn Equinox is the second of three harvest festivals. It comes six weeks after Lughnasadh and six weeks before Samhain. Harvest festivals are common to many different cultures around the world, and are traditionally held to celebrate the bounty of the earth at this time of the year and to give thanks for the generosity of nature.
These special celebration days are the perfect time to take stock of our own ‘harvest’. We may wish to consider the things that we have been working towards during the last six months since the Spring Equinox. What in our lives feels like it has come to fruition, what have we achieved, and what perhaps hasn’t worked out as we intended?
We can then choose to learn from the things that have not worked out, celebrate our achievements, and give thanks for the abundance in our lives and the things that are now bringing us contentment and making us feel fulfilled.
Another theme of the Autumn Equinox is balance. We become aware of the need for balance in our lives as we notice the balance between the light and the dark at this time of the year, and begin to prepare for the darker days of winter ahead.
This preparation could be practical; getting our home ready to be a cosy refuge during those darker winter months, and storing food and resources for the winter, or metaphorical; making sure we have spent enough time in the energies of summer, enjoying the lightness and warmth of this season.
Solar festivals involve a holding of opposites. At the Autumn Equinox we are celebrating the abundance of the harvest and the bounty it has given us, but we are also aware that the nature around us will soon start to decay, and that we are moving from the light of summer into darker nights and days.
THE FEAST OF AVALON
The Autumn Equinox is also known as ‘the Feast of Avalon’ or ‘the Festival of the Apple Harvest.’ Some believe Avalon was a physical place, others believe it to be a mystical place of healing, and others believe that it still exists in another realm today.
I was fascinated to learn about this alternative name for the Autumn Equinox as I live in Glastonbury in Somerset, England, and many believe that this town is one of the locations where Avalon existed, with other communities also existing in Cornwall, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Avalon was mentioned in Geoffrey of Monmouth’s History of the Kings of Britain (1100–1154), which, while it is a work of fiction, is believed to be based on Celtic folktales and Authurian legends, and the Celts are said to have seen Avalon as the “otherworld”.
Avalon was popularized more recently by Marion Zimmer Bradley’s 1983 book The Mists of Avalon , a retelling of the Arthurian legends from the perspective of the female characters who influenced him. The word Avalon means “the isle of apple trees”, and if you visit Glastonbury today, you will read a sign that says “Welcome to Glastonbury, Ancient Isle of Avalon”.
If you visit around the time of the Autumn Equinox, make sure to visit Glastonbury Abbey and take a walk around the beautiful apple orchards in its grounds. Their abundance gives us a perfect visual reminder of what we are celebrating at the Autumn Equinox.
WAYS TO CELEBRATE THE AUTUMN EQUINOX
1. AUTUMN EQUINOX SOUL INQUIRY
Your soul is always calling, every moment of every day. One way to hear its whispers is to do a practice called Soul Inquiry. Soul Inquiry is a form of intuitive writing or voicing out loud that involves asking your soul a question and writing down the answer that comes. Below are my Soul Inquiry prompts for the Autumn Equinox:
6 Fall Equinox Rituals and Activities for Adults and Kids to Celebrate the New Season
Fall is just around the corner which means that all things cozy and soul-nourishing are within reach. To celebrate the much-anticipated time of year, perhaps you’d like to engage in some fall equinox rituals and activities. While there are many, many ways to lean into the autumn mindset—with cozy sweaters, snuggly slippers, warm beverages, great books, and moments in nature—some autumn activities date back hundreds of years. Whether you’re looking for a historic take on fall equinox rituals or more modern means for embracing the season, ahead, find six autumn equinox activities to make time for in the upcoming days and weeks.
It is an opportunity to gather with loved ones and appreciate the bountiful gifts of nature. Some pagan traditions also incorporate rituals or ceremonies into the meal, such as offering thanks to the gods or performing a gratitude ritual. In addition to feasting, many pagans engage in outdoor activities during the fall equinox. It is a time for nature walks, hikes, and connecting with the natural world. Some people may also participate in rituals that involve bonfires or fire ceremonies, symbolizing the transformation and release of the old to make way for the new. The fall equinox is also a time to honor and connect with deities associated with the harvest and the changing seasons. In pagan traditions, this may include offerings, prayers, or rituals dedicated to specific gods or goddesses, such as Demeter in Greek mythology or Cernunnos in Celtic mythology. Overall, the fall equinox pagan traditions are centered around gratitude, abundance, and embracing the cycles of nature. It is a time to celebrate the changing seasons, honor the harvest, and give thanks for the blessings in life. Through rituals, feasting, and connection with nature, pagans seek to align themselves with the energy of the earth and find balance in their lives..
Reviews for "The Role of Music and Dance in Fall Equinox Pagan Celebrations"
1. Sarah - 1/5 - I was really disappointed with the Fall equinox pagan traditions. As someone who is not very familiar with pagan practices, I was hoping to learn more and have a meaningful experience. Unfortunately, it was a complete letdown. The event felt disorganized, with no clear instructions or direction. Additionally, the activities seemed shallow and superficial, lacking any depth or spiritual significance. Overall, I left feeling like I had wasted my time and money.
2. John - 2/5 - I attended the Fall equinox pagan traditions event with high hopes, but I left feeling underwhelmed and unsatisfied. The whole experience felt contrived and inauthentic. It seemed like they were just going through the motions, trying to recreate pagan rituals without truly understanding their significance. The organizers also failed to create a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere, making me feel like an outsider. I would not recommend this event to anyone looking for a genuine pagan experience.
3. Emma - 2/5 - I had heard great things about the Fall equinox pagan traditions, so I was excited to participate. However, I found the event to be disorganized and chaotic. There was a lack of clear communication about the schedule and what to expect, which left me feeling confused and frustrated. The activities themselves felt shallow and lacking in substance. Overall, I left feeling like the event did not deliver on its promises and I was left wanting more. I would not attend again.