Summer is coming to an end. Celebrate the seasonal change with a little practical magic.
The autumnal equinox — the start of autumn, also known as Mabon — is Friday, Sept. 22, at 4:02 p.m. EDT. It marks the astronomical start of fall. The Old Farmer’s Almanac explains the day gets its name because the sun crosses the “celestial equator” from north to south and the amount of nighttime and daytime are roughly equal to each other. And, as we all know, the beginning of autumn marks the start of cooler weather, when temperatures begin to drop and daylight becomes shorter.
Although many people begin to feel sad when summer ends, I tend to look forward to this calm, cooler time. To me, autumn and winter are times of rest and renewal; also, seasons of great beauty.
Summer tends to get all the praise for its seasonal flowers and lush, green trees. But autumn leaves, as well bright orange pumpkins and gourds, mums and crisp, fiery sunrises and sunsets are their own kind of beautiful.
If you’re looking for a bit of a rebirth — or just a fun ritual you can do with your friends or fans on cam — here are a few simple suggestions to help you and your acquaintances celebrate the burgeoning autumn season.
Season of the witch
Although autumn is a time of change and for reflection, it’s also a time for spooky and spiritual fun.
Witches, pseudo-witches and people who simply enjoy doing fun rituals under the moon with incense, candles and tarot cards tend to spend the first day of autumn with friends, familiars (a person’s pets) and the changing Earth.
We’ve got a few suggestions to help you get witchy if you feel like setting some spells and intentions this coming first day of autumn.
Autumn celebrations
Bri, known on the internet as The Hoodwitch, explained the autumnal equinox is a time to give thanks; it’s considered the “Witch’s Thanksgiving.” This is the time to harvest the herbs, vegetables, fruits and flowers that are growing in your garden, set a table, cook a meal and celebrate. Before you head outside to gather your harvest, start planning how to set the scene.
Make an alter
An alter can be anywhere in your home. Make it as big or as small as you’d like. My alter resides in my home’s second common room. It contains my tarot cards, candles, crystals I’ve collected over the years, dried flowers, my familiars’ fur and items — personal and from my family members — that hold a special place in my heart.
If you’re starting from scratch, the following items are perfect for an autumn alter:
- According to the Hoodwitch, brown, orange, and yellow candles are perfect. Brown candles represent stability and grounding, orange represents vitality and energy, and yellow represents warmth, friendship and creativity.
- Feathers.
- Fall leaves.
- A cauldron.
- Stones, including smokey quartz, bloodstone, carnelian, quartz and garnet.
If you’re able, take time out of your evening or afternoon to celebrate the equinox and Earth.
“Spend time meditating on what you have accomplished in the past months, and write out a list of all you have to be thankful for,” Bri suggested.
Although your alter should be in a private space where you do rituals intended to benefit yourself, others and the world, feel free to set up a second alter in your cam room. Adding a spooky, seasonal vibe to your show could excite your fans and inspire your own creativity.
Take some personal time
If you can, turn off the cam, unplug, and go to your private alter sometime during the day and do the following:
- Ask for blessings from the Goddess — something like a meditative prayer.
- Listen to music that gets you in a seasonal mood.
Connect with like-minded people
If you’re able to remain logged off on Friday night, ask some friends and family over to enjoy the bounty you harvested.
Don’t have a garden? Don’t sweat it. Head to a local farmers’ market to pick up some seasonal produce, local wine and brews, and start cooking. If you need recipe inspiration, the following recipes look great and easy to tweak (you can add meat, cheese, etc.):
Vegan Quinoa-Cranberry Stuffed Acorn Squash
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Abbie Stutzer is a writer and editor from Lawrence, Kansas. Find her on Twitter at @abbiestutzer and on Insta at @abbiestutzer. Email her at abbie@ynotcam.com.
Look! A fun holiday calendar just for you:
Lead image © Melinda Nagy.
[…] Last year, we told you how to set your own shrine and the materials you need in which to cast spells. So, simply bring these items in your room. […]