Autumnal Equinox

When the Sun enters Libra on its journey South, around September 20-23, we reach the Autumnal Equinox. Once again, as during the Vernal (Spring) Equinox, Day & Night are equal in length. But this time instead of Day growing longer, Night is growing and the days are getting shorter. We are preparing for Winter, the resting time.

All of Nature has already begun to prepare for its rest under the snow & cold until the cycle of Rebirth begins again in the Spring, as we see in the changing of the leaves, the seed pods from the plants emerging, and the growth slowing down of the grass & other plants. We animals are collecting & storing our last supplies for the Winter before Nature closes off its resources. We are entering a dormant state.

We now have entered the sign of Libra, an air sign, symbolic of BALANCE, HARMONY, ORDER, JUSTICE, PEACE.

This is our time of giving thanks to the Earth for the bounties we have received throughout the year, as well as thanks to the individuals in our lives that have given us a great deal of themselves. We strive to reach our own harmony & peace by realizing that all of our experiences are lessons in the big circle of life. Our lives follow a cycle of Life, Death, & Rebirth several times throughout each lifetime. Remember that as some things end, there will be something new to take its place. As we follow the cycles of Nature & the seasons, we incorporate it into our own lives, living one (BALANCED) with Nature, for we are composed of Nature ourselves.

This is the time, according to Celtic myths, when Llew/Lugh is able to be defeated by his dark half....dark conquering light. In Greek myth Persephone is taken by Hades to the Underworld until Spring. It is the embodied spirit of Light taken over by the Dark, Day conquered by Night, Life conquered by Death...

...only to be reborn later, for no energy can truly die, only change form, to be reborn renewed.

HERBS/FLOWERS/INCENSE:

Aster, chrysanthemum, coneflowers, marigolds, hydrangea, rose, thistle, vines (grape, ivy, etc.), maple, cedar, cypress, oak, hazel, hops, mint, sage, myrrh, tobacco, milkweed.

COLORS:

All shades of Browns, Orange, Golds, Reds,
reddish-purples, indigo.

SYMBOLS/DECORATIONS:

cornicopias bountiful with seasonal foods & nature findings, acorns, oak sprigs, colored leaves, gourds, corn stalks, corn dolls (sacrificial "Wicker Man"), indian corn, vines, vine wreaths, seasonal foods & plants.

FOODS:

corn, cornbread (Johnnycake), breads, nuts, apples, pears,
root foods:onions, carrots, potatoes,
vine foods:tomatoes, peppers, squash, beans, grapes, raspberries,
seasonal fruits, vegetables & grains,
wine, cider, ale, beer.

GODS & GODDESSES:

Mabon ap Modron (Welsh), John Barleycorn (Scottish), Johnny Appleseed, Demeter (Greek), Kore/Persephone(Greek), Dionysus (Greek), Pamona (Roman)

RITUALS/ACTIVITIES:

preparing for winter, prayers/rituals of thanks, making corn dolls, making grapevine wreaths, collecting harvests, preserving, canning, drying herbs/fruits, collecting leaves, acorns, nuts, & cones, seeking balance.

ANIMALS/CREATURES:

predator birds; Crow, Blackbird, Owl, Eagle,
Salmon.

GEMSTONES:

yellow topaz, carnelian, yellow agates, sapphire, lapis lazuli, amethyst.

TAROT CARDS:

Judgement, The World.

written by GypsyJaguar 2004