A pause on the autumn equinox 🍁

welcome to the wsc autumn series - day 1

Autumn has arrived! Through the end of September, I’ll be celebrating the official beginning of autumn with mini-letters to you every other day. The autumn series is part of my Sacred Days series, which follows the four major solar events of the year - the autumn and spring equinoxes, and the winter and summer solstices. During this year’s autumn series I will write four letters that will hopefully help us be filled with all of the cozy, warm, autumn feels before October begins. Oh, there is magic in the air, my friend.

Hello, you. And Happy Autumn Equinox!

The season of the soul, of magic and mystery, of nighttime and shadows, quiet and inward reflection, melancholy and nostalgia, warmth and fire, and dark, moody moments begins today. And that is just what this old soul craves - the official return of autumn!

The equinox occurs twice every year, in March and September, six months apart, marking the astronomical beginning of spring and autumn, respectively. On both of these days we experience 24 hours when daylight and darkness are in perfect balance, giving us equal amount of light and dark. For those of you in the southern hemisphere, Happy Spring, by the way!

Since the autumn equinox is now upon us, and it is the day to kick off the most magical of the seasons, it is now time to dive deep into the medicine that this threshold brings; for once we cross over, we step into a whole new energy that will be with us until the spring equinox.

From now until mid-March the hours of dark will surpass the hours of light. But, from now until the winter solstice in December, we slowly slip even deeper into the darkness, losing light with every single day.

It may not feel great to fall deep into the darkness, but every year at this time, I know that I need it. We all need this season of surrender. To remind us that life is cyclical. To release our need for control. To allow that which is not serving us anymore to simply fall away and return to the earth. To allow ourselves to follow nature’s pace and the way of the earth, slowly surrendering and then finally resting during the dark months of restoration.

For me, the actual day of the equinox, today, is like that space between breaths. You know, that little moment that just hangs there - just after you have deeply, mindfully filled your lungs and belly, and just before you exhale slowly and with intention. It’s that short little pause of magic between between the two sides of breathing. That’s the equinox. The one day, between the abundant, growing, beautiful season of light - and the magical, inward, silent season of the dark.

A moment of culmination. A pure and complete balance of light and dark. A moment of quiet and contemplation.

So, yes, after today, in the northern hemisphere, we turn towards the dark. We descend into the darkest half of the year… the days now becoming shorter, dark ruling over the light, for the next six months. From now on, there will always be more nighttime hours than daylight hours. And, I know that for many people this marks the beginning of a tough season. It can definitely be a real challenge to face the darkness. There are real struggles with depression and seasonal affect disorder when it comes to the darkest half of the year.

Now, I am no expert in complex seasonal difficulties, so I absolutely recommend seeking professional help if the dark half of the year leads you to feelings of hopelessness and depression, as I am not a licensed therapist. But, I am a theologian and a spiritual guide, which gives me a unique perspective and way of interpreting and exploring some deeper truths of the dark season. And, hopefully, some of my thoughts and reflections on embracing the dark half of the year resonates with you in some way.

For me, celebrating and recognizing the autumn equinox is one way to honor the changing of the seasons, which keeps me in alignment with the rhythm with the natural world. The cycle of life that I see in the earth, especially this time of year, reminds me that there is constant change and evolution. Both in nature, and in myself. The seasons and rhythms of the year teach me that, like nature, I am in constant evolution, a constant state of becoming who I am; and that I need both the season of light and growth, along with the season of dark and of rest in order to continually become who I am.

So, I use the equinox as a marker, a turning point, to allow myself to prepare and sink into the darkness so that I can then rise higher next spring. So that I can dive deeper into my soul, knowing that from the dark comes life again. And, after the winter, both the flowers and I will bloom and become a newer, transformed, evolved versions of who we are created to be.

But, for now, on the autumn equinox, I pause for just a day, in perfect balance between light and dark. And I find the perfect energy for looking back and looking ahead. The vibes of the day of the equinox inspire me to simply reflect and breathe.

What are the seeds I planted back in the spring?

How have they grown?

What am I harvesting right now?

I need the slow medicine of the autumn equinox to give me space and energy to ponder these questions all autumn long. Because there is so much to soak in, to understand, and to learn from the season of autumn.

Light surrenders to the dark. Leaves fall from the trees. The earth begins to turn inward. Death looms. We return home and settle inside with candles, blankets, and food. The quiet season arrives. And, though it may be uncomfortable, suddenly, there is space to feel, intuit, listen, plan, prepare, create, write, wonder, trust, believe, and hope. The next six months are magic for our souls, if we tap into the energy of the earth, follow the rhythm of nature, and understand the deeper, spiritual lessons calling to us.

To drop into the magic and medicine of this autumn, I intend to spend some time in nature. I’ll most definitely do a little baking with apples + autumn spices such as cardamom, rosemary, nutmeg, and cinnamon. But, I will most definitely journal and write and meditate.

And then, I think I’ll also make an autumn bucket list. Not only is there so much spiritual energy swirling around this season, but it’s also just so unbelievably cozy and beautiful in the autumn. I want to make sure to stay slow and soak it all up. So, from now until Halloween, I will be enjoying warm drinks, reading under blankets, making soups + stews, practicing magic, reading oracle cards, using crystals, meditating, connecting with spirits, drinking red wine, wearing sweaters and scarves, lighting candles, honoring nature, howling at the moon, and doing whatever comes my way as I drop way down into the soul-inspiring season of surrender and darkness.

With the arrival of the autumn equinox, the season of the witch and the season of the soul, is upon us. It’s time to draw downward. The earth is calling us home. With this season, we can let die all that has been causing us pain and suffering and worry. We can release all of the old habits and thoughts that have been holding us back or that we have outgrown. Letting go is not easy, though, and returning to the dark may feel frightening. But it is in this season that we can listen, observe, feel, and discover the medicine that just might inspire us as we continue on into the next phase of our life.

Honestly, the darkness and death that surrounds us during this time of year is just what we need to cleanse, purify, and begin again.

So, let’s root down, turn inward, return home and prepare for the long, dark season ahead. It may be filled with uncertainty, fear, and long nights of not knowing what lies around the corner. But, this is how we evolve. For, after the dark, the light returns again. From death, comes new life.

For now, though, let’s settle in and make peace with the night. These are the days of magic, intuition, mystery, and deep wisdom. These days and weeks will be just the medicine we need to carry us through.

Wishing you a blessed equinox, my friend. Rest the balanced energy of the equinox today. It is the perfect pause before we move into the dark. So, for just a few hours, settle into the magic of today… all together, all of us, all over the earth. We are all in a global, communal moment of equilibrium as the whole earth is filled with equal parts light and dark. Something about this day, this moment of balance, even as fires burn, wars rage, and hate reigns, gives me hope for our humanity. The cycles of the seasons remind me that there is constant movement, evolution, and I cannot ignore the fact that light always returns after the darkest of nights. It is the darkness that teaches us who we are and who we want to become. And, today, the whole earth pauses in complete balance for just a second.

Be still and feel the deep medicine of autumn. Welcome the season into your soul. And, know, that you are not alone. Together, we move forward to continue to cycle of life and to bring hope and purpose into the dark.

I give deep thanks for you, my friend, for being here with me to honor the sacred cycle of life and the turning of the seasons. Blessed Autumn!

xoxo. liz.

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