The Autumn Equinox, also known as Mabon, is The Second Harvest, celebrated around September 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.
The word “equinox” means equal-night, referring to the way there are 12 hours of day light and 12 hours of darkness on both the Autumn and Spring Equinoxes.
At the Autumn Equinox, the long days are ending to make way for the darker, colder half of the year.
My favorite themes to focus on in the weeks surrounding the 20th of September are BALANCE, GRATITUDE and PREPARATION.
I invite you to join me for this artful video about how to embrace these themes to maximize your fulfillment this fall (as well as for the whole year overall).
Watch, read or listen:
Balance
Mirroring the way that the darkness and light are in a place of balance, this is the perfect time to pause from our daily shuffle and do some re-calibrating.
The checkpoints on the Wheel of the Year serve as reminders to periodically take stock of where we’re at in life.
Now is the time to look back upon what we’ve been up to over the summer, how we want to spend our winter, and which habits to bring in or cast out of our lives as we move into the next chapter of the year.
Some questions to ask yourself around the theme of balance this season:
Which areas of my life feel like they need to be balanced? What are some actionable steps I can take now to create more balance in these areas? Where can I celebrate having achieved balance?
I’ve recently learned from my friend Tenae that because of my Gemimi rising sign, summer is my “personal spring,” and fall is my “personal summer.” This makes sense, because I tend to be quite creative and ambitious during these times.
All summer, I’ve been very dedicated to updating just about everything in my life and business, and as we make the transition into autumn, I’d like to gradually begin slowing down more and shifting to more relaxed, cozy vibes for the late fall into winter ahead.
As my own boss, I typically I have a boundary with myself where I don’t work at all (other than perhaps filming things I’m doing) on Saturdays or Sundays. But since I had so many big goals over the summer (and knew it was a time in my personal energy cycle when I’d have the energy to accomplish a lot) I’ve temporarily allowed myself to bend that guideline when it felt like the ideal thing to do. So although I still have some goals for the end of the year, and some creative energy available, I’ll reinstate the weekend boundary beginning at the equinox.
That being said, I can definitely celebrate feeling a lot more balanced in my life overall compared to last year. Last year this time, I was feeling kind of disappointed with where I was at – Particularly around the theme of it being the harvest season.
With the rather bare patio with only some sad potted herbs from the grocery store and a few tattered tomatoes, there really wasn’t much of anything to “harvest” from my physical garden.
This also kind of served as a bit of a metaphor for how I felt about my life in general at the time – I felt like I had put in a lot of work on the “inside,” but wasn’t seeing anywhere near the level of abundance on the outside that I felt I deserved.
Literally speaking, I hadn’t put very much energy into my garden, because I didn’t have the time, energy or resources available while I was focusing so acutely on healing my financial, mental, emotional and spiritual health after a dark night of the soul that had lasted for nearly two years.
I was actively improving my health as well as the interior of my home, and even extended outward to updating my wardrobe and beauty regimen… But the actual exterior of my home didn’t end up being on the front burner with everything else that was going on.
Around the Autumn Equinox, I set the intention that by the following year that time, I would have a lot more to show for all of the work I’d put in in more tangible ways. I wanted to see more of an external “harvest” in ways that were more grounded in the Earth Element… Namely, in the areas of both tangible resources and garden plants to harvest in the fall.
I began re-balancing the elements – Both physically and esoterically speaking – To create the space and take the inspired action necessary to truly see different results in my immediate environment by the following harvest season. In that process, I’ve learned that my relationship with the Earth Element as a whole needed to be balanced between the physical realm and the energy realm.
I had been desiring more tangible resources so that I could experience more of the things that make me feel abundant in life… So rather than continuing to let lack of resources (like time, energy, money, support etc.) stop me from doing the things that made me feel abundant, I instead prioritized allowing myself to feel, act and experience as if I already were more successful…
So what WOULD I be doing with my life if I weren’t always so busy rebuilding my business and consuming educational content about spirituality and manifestation? Well, I’d be connecting with nature and the energy of home and hearth… So that’s what I leaned further and further into!
And I can happily say that in the past year, I’ve seen major tangible growth both in my career and financial goals, but also in my home and garden. Much like my personal and business goals, there’s of course still so much more that I’d love to experience, achieve and grow – But the development between where I was a year ago vs. now is clear, obvious and exponential.
Gratitude
Many refer to the Autumn Equinox as the “Pagan Thanksgiving.”
Its the second harvest on the Wheel of the Year, the time when the hearty crops are brought in to prepare for winter.
Long before the American Thanksgiving holiday, Autumn has always been a time to celebrate the abundance of the harvest, enjoying the fruits of our labor and sharing our fortune with friends and neighbors.
Those of us who are into conscious manifestation know that the first step to attracting more abundance into our lives is to be thankful for the blessings we already have… And to be generous with others.
Some questions to ask yourself around the theme of gratitude this season:
What are 10 things I’m thankful for in my life right now, and why are they so valuable to me What are 3 ways I can share of my abundance with others this season?
1. I am grateful that I’ve developed a healthier and more abundant relationship with my current home, because I deserve to feel supported to grow into my best self regardless of where I am or what’s going on around me.
2. I am grateful for my partner, because not only is he a walking reminder of my ability to manifest, but he’s also supported me to expand my capacity to receive in every area of life.
3. I am grateful for my family, because even though we’re not perfect, we’ve come a long way in learning to not only respect each other despite our differences, but also to better appreciate one another as the very different people we’ve all grown up to become.
4. I am grateful to myself that I’ve been brave, determined and resourceful enough to do the difficult work of healing through a dark night of the soul, rather than letting the darkness of the world take away my inner spark.
5. I am grateful that my cat, Mowgli has been healthy, happy and cancer-free for three years after his amputation, because I knew intuitively that he was meant to live, and I’m so glad I listened to that inner knowing rather than letting things like money and discouragement from others stop me from making the right choice for him.
6. I am grateful that I’ve prioritized using some of my creative energy this year to create some things that were just for me – Like fully redecorating my bathroom as a shrine to the Divine Feminine Water Element. And finding a new hair routine that’s both healthy for my hair and perfectly suits my personal style.
7. I’m grateful that all of the seemingly enormous challenges that got thrown at me this year have panned out in my favor – Not only because that’s a relief in general, but just as much because all of these things have been clear evidence of how following my intuitive wisdom always works out in my favor.
8. I’m grateful that I surpassed my monthly goal on Patreon as soon as I listened to the intuitive nudge to start doing seasonal journaling challenges again… But this time, only for those who are supporting me financially.
9. I’m grateful that I’ve been healthier physically, mentally emotionally and spiritually this year, and have experienced almost a complete 180 from the dark place I’d been in the previous few years.
10. And of course I’m immensely grateful for how much my YouTube channel has grown this year, and for all of the lovely people who have taken the time to watch, comment and subscribe. It’s so satisfying to know that there are so many other people out there in the world who care about things like seasons, elements and personal development – And who appreciate the energy I put out into the world.
Three ways I intend to share of my abundance with others are:
1. To post more conversational podcast episodes where I chat with my magickal friends and colleagues about their perspectives on living seasonally – Because I’m blessed to be connected to some of the most wise people in the world, and I want more people to hear their message and generate more mutual support for the ideas and causes I believe benefit the world most.
2. To host seasonal living challenges for all eight seasons in the year ahead, so that my patrons on Patreon can benefit from tapping into the healing energy of the plant-tend-harvest-compost cycle – And can connect with other magickal people whether or not they have access to witchy friends in person.
3. To offer extra-affordable options to work with me for tarot readings and creative brainstorming for the year ahead to those who have been along for the journey thus far, before raising my prices this fall.
Preparation
In the midst of celebrating the abundance of the harvest, we must also accept that winter is coming.
This time of year, we acknowledge the duality of nature. It’s a reminder of the Law of Polarity.
For every summer, there’s a winter. For every day, there’s a night. For every flow, there is an ebb. For every life, there’s a death. For every full moon, there’s a new moon. For every ovulation, there’s a menstruation. For every element, zodiac, and modality, there’s it’s opposite. And for every action, there is required rest.
Its a great time to do some fall cleaning, making our lives cozy and comfortable for the colder, darker seasons ahead. As we’re preparing to spend more time indoors, so too do we begin to turn our gaze inward, spiritually.
The Autumn Equinox, being the transition from Virgo to Libra season, contains the same themes as the September “back to school” concept. This amidst these signs related to being analytical, organized, and open-minded is an excellent opportunity to begin an academic endeavor!
Some questions to ask yourself around the theme of preparation this season:
Which areas of my life could use some preparation and improvement? In which subjects am I choosing to delve deeper into in my studies? What can I do to make my home more cozy this fall?
One very specific area of my life that could use some preparation and improvement is my office / studio. I’ve made a lot of progress in designing other areas of my home to better reflect who I am and the life I’m choosing to live… But the office has kind of been neglected in some ways.
To give myself credit where credit is due, it’s been a hugely transitional couple of years for me when it comes to my business and creative process. And so I’ve given myself a lot of well deserved grace and wiggle room as things were getting rearranged and sorted out… But it’s time to get things organized, cleaned up and perhaps most importantly leveled-up.
In the past, I’ve done a better job of keeping my work area neat, organized and aesthetically pleasing, because I lived in spaces where my workspace had to double an entertainment area. But one of my non-negotiables in manifesting this current apartment was that it was a proper two-bedroom where one whole room with a door on it could serve as my office / studio.
It’s been a huge blessing to be able to strengthen my work-life balance with this separate room… But the downside has been that I could easily let this room be a totally mess that I was then enabled to walk away from and close the door upon when I needed to escape.
And, admittedly, this has been the last part of my home where I’ve continued to procrastinate about decorating and upgrading, functionally speaking… You see, I had always intended for this apartment to be a temporary stepping stone on the way to something far more compatible and more permanent… Which it is! But since life threw a lot of curve-balls at me since moving in, I’ve ended up living here for longer than I had originally intended.
For a long time, I continued my old pattern since college of avoiding putting too much energy into making a space my own, knowing that I’d be moving soon enough, and wouldn’t want to have too much stuff to move, or any noticeable wear and tear that might compromise my security deposit – Or make it at all difficult to just pack up and go at any time…
But I’ve gradually learned over time that all manifestation (and life experience) happens in the present moment. And by continuing to push my success into the future by telling myself I’d have a proper office / studio one day when I have my own house to build onto and decorate as I please, I was perpetuating the energy of “not being there yet.”
So this fall and winter, I’ve set the intention to start treating my office / studio more like I would if I owned my own home… Which comes along with some shadow work which of course crosses over with other areas of my life as well.
For example, it’s helping me shine light on the shadow of always feeling like I don’t really belong anywhere, and therefore shouldn’t put down roots (or, you know, drill screws into the walls). This is also intrinsically linked to the lack-mindset of feeling like I don’t have the energy, resources or support needed to compromise my security deposit, get help with building and repairs, or have enough pairs of hands to help me move.
And of course, this all also comes back to the shadow of trust. On a literal, tangible level, I have to update my beliefs, habits and patterns to reflect that I’ve manifested people and resources into my life that offer help and supposrt in these areas- And that I can trust them to follow through…
And on a more subconscious, energetic level, this is a metaphor or a microcosm of my ability to trust in myself and in the Universe – To truly believe that when the time does come to move, I will be an energetic / vibrational match to the money, tools and support I need to make that transition much smoother than what I’ve experienced in the past.
In short, I’m finally extending the notion of “grow where you’re planted” into this last room of my house where I’ve been resisting accepting what is and making it my own for whatever remaining time I have left here.
And as for what subjects I intend to delve further into for back-to-school vibes, I’ve definitely been feeling called toward astrology. As you may know, I’ve been somewhat passively interested in astrology for many years, and had a functional knowledge of certain aspects of it. But I’ve never dove fully into it until this year.
I’ve been taking courses on it, and am now beginning to finally step into my long awaited intention to start including astrology more in both my behind the scenes projects and my outward work in the world.
That’s why I’ve now structured our Patreon discussion prompts to include information on both the phases and zodiac signs of each new and full moon – Along with actionable invitations on how to utilize their energy to experience more freedom, flow and fulfillment as we go about our seasonal living and manifesting ventures.
Astrology is one of those things where there’s always so much more to learn, so I’ll be continuing my studies both within courses I’m taking and through other resources – And incorporating what I’m learning into both my free and paid content more and more in the year ahead… And the fall season with all the Virgo and Libra energy is the perfect time to cozy up to learning more about this vast subject of astrology.
So, what are your favorite things about the Autumn Equinox season?
Are you planning to journal on the topics from this video?
If so, I would love to invite you to join me for a seasonal journaling adventure this fall! Here’s how:
You can download the printable PDF files of the grimoire pages you saw in the video from the Writing Witch Shop. Your download will include all of the Autumn Equinox information discussed in this video as well as journal prompts and space to write about your relationship with the season.
You also get access to four different printing options – Color and black and white (the black and white version is great for saving on ink and getting to decorate the pages yourself) and full page binder sheets and a smaller folded book template for junk journaling.
You get to print these out as many times as you want for your own personal use, so if you want to do binder pages in color this year for an instant option, you can… And then next year, if you decide you want to get more crafty with your grimoire, you can print the junk journal template versions.
Doing these same journal prompts each year in different journals or as binder refills has helped me and my Writing Witch members to up-level our capacity to experience fulfillment each year, and I want you to get to experience this magick too!
Are you also looking to connect with myself and other magickal mavens as you embody your most fulfilling version of yourself this season?
If so, I would love to invite you to join me on Patreon!
If you choose to join any tier during September, you’ll get access to Autumn Equinox pritable pages!
And we’ll be doing our Early Autumn Seasonal Living Challenge and connecting with kindred spirits with discussion prompts. This challenge is for the Grimoire Goodies tier, Magickal Mavens tier and the Writing Witch Subscription Box tiers on Patreon.
Every Wednesday for the five weeks around Mabon, I’ll be posting a prompt to help you maximize your fulfillment by harnessing the themes of the sabbat.
Patrons who post a response to every discussion prompt will be entered to win a package of paper craft goodies from my shop!
All you need to do to participate is be aware that…
- The challenge begins on the first Wednesday in September when the first post goes live. There will be one challenge post per week for five weeks leading up to the final post which will come out in early October.
- Challenge prompts will always be posted on Wednesdays around 11AM EST.
- A winner will be selected randomly one week after the 5th and final prompt is posted.
If you’re not already an eligible patron, I invite you to sign up now! I’m so excited to get to know you better as we share our experiences with the seasons! I hope to see you there!
Autumn Equinox blessings to you!
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Looking for more Autumn Equinox vibes?
Here is another episode you may enjoy:
The Writing Witch 