Autumn Blessings and Happy Mabon!

This is my favorite time of the year. The shift from summer season into Autumn has always been a time of year where I feel magic at its height. Perhaps it’s the chill in the air, watching the leaves change color and the traditions that are celebrated this time of the year. On this first day of Autumn there is perfect balance between day and night. This is wonderful time to apply this balance to life as we prepare for the coming seasons. The days will begin to shorten as the night will extend, offering us the invitation to let go a little more with kindness and compassion and trust. Trusting in Mother Nature and her cycles of death into rebirth.

Whether you are a devote celebrant to this season or it’s your first year of intentionally being present with the magic of Autumn, there are some simple, practical ways to get started. Here are a few ways to flow into this Autumn season:

Start a gratitude practice. Every day, sit down and write down a few things you feel grateful for. This is a mind changer. The more often we practice gratitude and appreciation, the more our mindset will shift to start automatically noticing all that is working in our lives. Suddenly our cups will not only feel half full but overflowing to share with others.

Celebrate your harvest. This was often the time of year where the crops that have been harvested out of summer season were celebrated as this would feed and nourish families into the winter season. If you have a garden, farm, big or small this is a wonderful time to celebrate and share this with family and friends. Or maybe the seeds you planted in the summertime were of another variety of substance to feed your mind, body and soul. Celebrate this too. It’s important to acknowledge our growth weather from your external or internal garden.

Take a nature walk, collect leaves and acorns. I just love being out in nature especially around this time of year. I will often collect souvenirs from my walks as a token of my love, placing at my alter or in a place to be reminded of the magic all around us. Or use the leaves and acorns and anything else that moves you to get crafty and create a wreathe. And as John Burroughs so eloquently stated, “I go to nature to be soothed and healed, and to have my senses put in order.”

Do a deep clean of your home, letting go of items you no longer feel connected to for donation. This is a great time to cleanse your space. I love preparing my environment for the next season. As we clean, cleanse and clear our space we make room for the sacred and peace as we move into the next season of winter.

I leave you with a poem I have written in reflection of coming into this season. May you blessed today and always.

Into Autumn I flow
to connect with my heart
and my soul
By learning the art of letting go
And for this I must start
By saying…

Thank you Summer, Fiery Sun
For your bountiful energy
To play and have fun
And accomplish the work
That needed to be done.

It is time now to go inward
And rest.

As we move closer from
The long days of light
To the darker times of night

I pause and pray
Giving Thanks
For this perfect balance
On this Autumn Day

April Martin
September 22, 2022