Balancing Light and Dark on This Special Day
How to celebrate the autumn equinox
You can feel it even before the equinox arrives - the sun dipping lower and lower in the bruised-peach sky, the chill of the air between the chattering branches, and the scent of dampening rot in the undergrowth. Small creatures rustle in the fallen leaves, plump berries begin to darken, and at this time of year, I can’t help but feel that the air is alive with tension, an atmosphere thick like smoke, a sense that something is beginning.
The wheel of the year turns on, and as we begin to move into the colder months, it often has me reflecting on what has taken place in the year so far, and on the movement of life itself, of time slipping away. Today is the autumn equinox in the northern hemisphere; a moment when light and dark hold hands in perfect harmony. This is a sacred turning point, a time when we can choose to honor the cycles of the earth and reflect on the gifts of the harvest season.
The equinox whispers to us: slow down, listen to the rustling leaves, and appreciate the bounty of mother nature. In this post, I wanted to share with you some ideas for how to celebrate the equinox around this time.
1. Take a Nature Walk
If you’ve read any of my posts or watched any of my YouTube videos before, you’ll know that I always start with this suggestion. In my opinion, there is simply no better way to connect with the earth than to get out there and see it for yourself. At this time of year, we can see the seasons beginning to shift, and a reflective walk to take note of these changes can be magical.
Whether it’s a forest, park, or even just a street outside your home, there is always something to find, so go out there with a flask of tea and look for the subtle changes in the season. Perhaps the air is cooler, the scent of pine, soil and decay is in the air, or you can see the flowers begin to wilt and the berries ripen.
2. Watch the Sunrise or Sunset
The equinox is the moment when day and night balance, and watching the sunrise or sunset can be a powerful but simple activity that allows you to feel a deeper connection with the seasons and the world around you. Rise early tomorrow to greet the sun as it ascends over the horizon, painting the sky in soft hues of pink and gold, or wait until dusk today to see it sink beneath the horizon, casting long shadows and igniting the clouds. As you stand in the presence of the sun’s journey, reflect on the balance in your own life—the times of growth and retreat, action and rest. In this moment, let the sun's light remind you that all things have their time, and the darkness, too, holds its beauty.
3. Decorate Your Home
In recent years there has been somewhat of an explosion of pumpkin spice-flavoured consumerism, plastic gourds, toxic candles, and many items that we simply do not need. Now, I enjoy a pumpkin spice latte as much as the next autumn lover, but to decorate your home you can simply gather things from nature or get creative yourself. As the outside world transforms, bring these changes into your home too.
Gather acorns, dried flowers and fallen leaves, and weave them into your home’s décor. Fill bowls with apples and pears, or light candles with scents of cinnamon, clove, and wood smoke. You could even create your own autumn wreath with leaves, berries and branches, or simply create a small space in your home for a few special items. Craft a seasonal wreath with branches and berries, or string together garlands of orange and red leaves.
4. Harvest and Forage
Autumn is the time when the earth shows us just how generous she is. It’s the time when the garden is bursting with fruits and vegetables, and hedgerows are filling with apple trees or blackberry bushes. If you have a garden, gather a harvest and make a new recipe or learn how to preserve your produce. If you don’t, head out into nature and see what you can find.
At this time, mushrooms have begun to pop up, and you should be able to find fruit to gather. I recently went out and picked some wild blackberries growing around where I live, watch the video below to see that and more about connecting to nature.
This act of gathering connects you to the ancient rhythms of the earth, to a time when people lived in harmony with the land and honored its seasonal gifts. As you harvest, remember to offer gratitude to the earth for its nourishment and abundance, taking only what you need and leaving the rest to continue the cycle of life.
5. Host a Harvest Feast
What better way to honor the harvest than by sharing a meal with loved ones? Host a harvest feast, rich with the flavors of the season: roasted root vegetables, freshly baked bread, apples, squash, and warm spiced cider. Let the table be a reflection of autumn’s abundance, decorated with candles, dried flowers, and harvest symbols like wheat or corn.
As you gather around the table, take a moment to offer gratitude for the food, the hands that prepared it, and the company with whom you share it. This feast is more than nourishment for the body—it is a celebration of community, a time to honor the connection between people, the earth, and the cycles of life.
6. Practice Gratitude
The autumn equinox is a time of reflection, a moment to pause and look back on the year’s journey. In the spirit of gratitude, take time to acknowledge the blessings, both large and small, that have come into your life. You could take it a step further and create a gratitude jar, or write a letter of gratitude to someone you love. Gratitude is a powerful way to ground yourself in the present, to remember that even in times of challenge, there is beauty to be found
Through the autumn equinox, we’re reminded of the passing of time, the wheel of the year ever-turning, and the balance of light and dark. By celebrating with nature walks, sunrises, harvests, and feasts, we honor the delicate beauty of this season of transformation. In these small, sacred acts, we align ourselves with the eternal rhythm of the seasons, finding peace in the turning of the earth. I hope you have a lovely day <3
P.S. I know I’ve been a little quiet on here recently, feel free to check out my YouTube videos where I give a bit more of an update on what’s been going on. The good news is that things are on the up now and I will be back to normal soon, thank you for sticking around!
Lovely ideas thank you, we just had a nature walk & picked some blackberries ✨
So glad to see you back on Substack. I’ve been loving your videos over on YouTube. We had a bit of a quiet equinox here after a bit of a hectic couple of weeks. I made some chutney with some produce from the garden and gave thanks. I agree about sunrises and sunsets. We watched the sunset from Glastonbury Tor on the summer solstice and vowed to do it more often. This week we watched the sunset and then the full moon rise over the Tor. It was so magical.