Autumnal Equinox
ALTERNATE NAMES & SIMILAR OBSERVANCES:
Harvest Home, The Second Harvest Festival, Wine Harvest, Feast of Avalon, Gwyl Ganol yr Hydref (Welsh), Alben Elfed (Druidic), Cornucopia, (also known more recently as Mabon)
circa September 20-23
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 and 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 and 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 and other plants. We animals are collecting and 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 and peace by realizing that all of our experiences are lessons in the big circle of life. Our lives follow a cycle of Life, Death, and 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 and 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.
Correspondences
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:
cornucopias bountiful with seasonal foods and nature findings, acorns, oak sprigs, colored leaves, gourds, corn stalks, corn dolls (sacrificial "Wicker Man"), indian corn, vines, vine wreaths, seasonal foods and 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 and grains, wine, cider, ale, beer.
GODS & GODDESSES:
Mabon ap Modron (Welsh), John Barleycorn (Scottish), Cerridwen (Welsh), Gaia/Gaea (Greek), Demeter (Greek), Kore/Persephone (Greek), Ariadne (Greek), Dionysus (Greek), Tera(Roman), Ceres (Roman), Pamona (Roman), Corn Mother (Native American)
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:
Crow, Blackbird, Owl, Eagle, Rooster, Turkey, Salmon.
GEMSTONES:
yellow topaz, carnelian, yellow agates, sapphire, lapis lazuli, amethyst.
TAROT CARDS:
Judgment, The World
© 2004 GypsyJaguar
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:
cornucopias bountiful with seasonal foods and nature findings, acorns, oak sprigs, colored leaves, gourds, corn stalks, corn dolls (sacrificial "Wicker Man"), indian corn, vines, vine wreaths, seasonal foods and 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 and grains, wine, cider, ale, beer.
GODS & GODDESSES:
Mabon ap Modron (Welsh), John Barleycorn (Scottish), Cerridwen (Welsh), Gaia/Gaea (Greek), Demeter (Greek), Kore/Persephone (Greek), Ariadne (Greek), Dionysus (Greek), Tera(Roman), Ceres (Roman), Pamona (Roman), Corn Mother (Native American)
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:
Crow, Blackbird, Owl, Eagle, Rooster, Turkey, Salmon.
GEMSTONES:
yellow topaz, carnelian, yellow agates, sapphire, lapis lazuli, amethyst.
TAROT CARDS:
Judgment, The World
© 2004 GypsyJaguar
References:
Starhawk, The Spiral Dance
Mike Nichols, The Witches' Sabbats
Raven Grimassi, The Wiccan Mysteries
Janet & Stewart Farrar, A Witches' Bible
D.J. Conway, Celtic Magic
Silver RavenWolf, To Ride a Silver Broomstick
Scott Cunningham, Wicca: A Guide for the Solitary Practitioner
Cunningham's Encyclopedia of Magical Herbs
Henry I. Christ, Myths and Folklore
Cliffs Notes on Mythology
Also see:
Magic - Wheel of the Year - Imbolg - Vernal Equinox - Beltane - Summer Solstice - Lughnassadh - Autumnal Equinox - Samhain - Winter Solstice - Days of the Week - Elemental Correspondences - The Moon - The Sun - Altars and Ritual Tools - A Basic Spell - True Love Spell - Ideal Career Spell - Protection - Herbs and Oils for Protection - Symbolism - Colors
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