Power of Autumn
It is clear that autumn’s most significant theme is that of harvest, but another important facet of this time is that of balance. Much like the spring equinox, the autumnal equinox is a time of (nearly) equal day and equal night and the return to balance makes possible the richness of opportunity which is the harvest; both themes are intertwined. Though this time is one of the balance of light and dark, heat and coolness, it quickly shifts into the decline of the sun’s energy and influence.
We can take this time to not only gather what we need to ensure a comfortable winter, but also to take stock of our current supplies. We can make sure that what we already have is readied, secured and properly accounted for so that we know what we have and what we need. Practically speaking, in our modern lives, this usually amounts to a thorough cleaning spree.
Spring Cleaning Again?
Not exactly spring cleaning but cleaning and storing our gardening tools, outdoor supplies, and recreational accessories readies our homes and lives for the abundance of harvest and a more efficient time navigating through winter. This is an excellent time to carefully clean garden shears, hedge clippers, lawn mowers, bicycles, sports equipment, and recreational vehicles; anything that will not likely be used though fall and winter. Having things cleaned before they are stored wards off rust and other damage and also ensures a smoother transition back to spring when you need these item again.
Reap Rewards
This is the final part of the long-term success magic that was begun near Beltane. It is the culmination; claiming our manifestation.
Bringing Together the Essentials of Life
Light the orange candle to represent the fire element, place it nearby. Preheat the oven to 450º F. In a large bowl, stir together flour, baking powder, and ½ teaspoon of the salt from the bottle. Cut in the butter with two forks or a pastry blender (or throw all this into a food processor and pulse) until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in the milk and water to make a soft dough. Turn dough onto a floured board and lightly knead until dough is no longer sticky. Roll out to a thickness of ½ inch and cut out biscuits with a biscuit cutter or a floured glass. With a sharp knife, cut a pentagram on top of each biscuit, charging them with prosperity. Place on a baking pan and bake for 10 to 20 minutes until golden brown. Cool on a wire rack. When the biscuits are ready, eat at least one while consciously taking into yourself the energy of abundance and acknowledging that you have created a physical manifestation of this process by turning the intention into this food. After you have eaten, bury at least one biscuit in the ground or a flowerpot as an offering of gratitude.
Holiday: The Witches’ Thanksgiving
The autumn equinox holiday occurs during the midst of the harvest when we are gathering vegetables, fruits, and grains so that we may survive during the barren season of winter—or at least that’s the standard tagline. For most of us, autumn means kids at school, cooler days, and getting home from work just before dark instead of at what feels like noon in the summertime. No matter which way of life we adhere to we are afforded the opportunity at the autumn equinox to pause for a moment and celebrate all that we have been given and reap the rewards of all our hard work throughout the year. This is the final holiday of the summer half of the year and the culmination of its power. The energy of balance and harvest are brought together at this point of power and the formulas given here help to channel these forces into our magic and our lives.
Simmering Potpourris
The warm spicy scent of this potpourri drifting through the air creates an atmosphere suitable for comfortable autumn evenings and harvest magic.
Autumn Warmth Potpourri
Warm the ingredients on the stove. Simmer for as long as desired, adding more apple cider or water if needed.
Brews
Though autumn helps to usher in the cooler time of the year, there is still much work to do and warm weather to experience, so a beverage that is ritually appropriate but still cold is a good choice. Two juices that are aligned with this holiday are cranberry and pomegranate, the latter being seen as an ancient fruit of the underworld.
Sparkling Autumn Brew
Blend together the juices and charge with intent. Add the club soda and serve over ice.
Incense
The scent of this incense captures the feeling of autumn in such a way that only a campfire in the woods could match.
Autumn Equinox Incense
Grind the ingredients together and charge with intent.
Oils
This oil recipe builds upon the incense formula to create “wearable autumn,” an oil that can infuse you with the season’s energy.
Wearable Autumn Oil
Combine the ingredients together in a pot and warm over low heat until you smell the herbs in the air. Remove from heat and allow it to cool before charging and bottling.
Powders
For the autumn season, grains of all kinds are a prominent ritual feature. This powder draws upon the power of the grains to form a protective powder that can be used in magic and ritual to protect from harm.
Harvest Powder
Blend the grains together and charge with protective energy. Bottle for use.
Charms
In some of the older harvest traditions, when the crops were being brought in, the last sheaf of grain to be reaped was kept and turned into a corn dolly. This was seen to embody the Cailleach (kal-yach) as the power of the harvest. Though we may not have ready access to a sheaf of grain from the local market, we can create a similar charm out of easily accessible ingredients. This charm can be used to preserve the prosperity of the family through the dark half of the year.
Cailleach Sheaf Charm
Bless each of the ingredients to be protective of prosperity. Lay two squares of cheesecloth over each other. Place the spoon with the bowl of the spoon in the center and the handle pointed to one of the corners of the cheesecloth. Carefully pour the whole wheat kernels into the bowl of the spoon. Gently fold the cheesecloth down over the spoon to capture the grains and bowl of the spoon. Use the twine to tie under this bundle where the bowl meets the handle. This forms the head of the Cailleach. You can leave this as is or embellish by tying a popsicle stick across to form arms and using such items as corn husks to dress her up.
Bless the completed dolly to be a protective charm for the fortunes of your family and keep her safe throughout the winter. When spring arrives, you can bury the Cailleach (removing the spoon) in the earth with thanks to release the power back into the world so you can build upon the prosperity.
Foods
This colorful side dish is a delicious addition to an autumn feast.
Succotash
Sauté the onion and garlic in a pan with the olive oil until the onion is translucent. Add the red pepper, zucchini, and the butter, stirring to blend. Next, pour in the lima beans and corn, stirring once more. Season with the herbs and salt and pepper, cook for 10 to 15 minutes until the mixture thickens slightly and the colors are vibrant, then remove from heat. Charge with intent and serve.
Bath Salts
This bath salt draws in the energy of autumn and also the magic of protection.
Fruits of Harvest Bath Salt
Combine the dry ingredients and then stir in the juices. Use the 100 percent juice blends or make your own. Charge with intent and bottle for use.
Witch Bottles
During the harvest time, it is paradoxically appropriate to release things, patterns, and behaviors which no longer meet our needs. While this does not amount to an actual banishing, we can instead send them away with our blessing to find new purpose.
Sacrifice Ash Bottle
On the pieces of paper, write what you would like to release and then burn each paper separately in the flame of the candle, dropping them in the bottle to burn to ash. As each one burns, visualize the item being out of your life. Once all of the papers have been burned and cooled, place the lid on the jar. Keep the jar and use the ashes to mark symbols for other releasing or banishing work.
Ritual
The autumn equinox ritual is a time to give thanks for blessings received. A time of abundance, this ritual should be filled with good things; delicious food, good company, warmth, and happiness. The foods normally associated with the American Thanksgiving holiday work perfectly at this time: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, apple pie, rolls, etc. Prepare as many favorite foods as feels appropriate for this ritual, blessing them as you make them.
Receiving the Blessing of Autumn
On a larger, preferably round table, place the three candles in the center with the green one on the left, the orange one in the center and the brown one on the right. Another option besides the orange candle is a dark cranberry color. These candles not only symbolize the waning light of the sun, but also the shifting focus of nature and the changing leaves. If you cannot find these colors, three white candles will do.
Arrange the plates of food around the table and place the wine toward the center. Bless the cup of wine by lowering the athame into the cup (holding the cup over the bottle if necessary to bless it all), sending energy into it. Say:
Vessel of creation, elixir of life,
union of spirit and flesh combine;
liquid charged through cup and knife,
pierce the veil and bless the wine.
If the liquid is instead apple cider, the same blessing can still be used, holding the cup over the bottle to bless it all. After the beverage is blessed, each person is poured a cupful. When all the items have been placed on the table, everyone can sit down for a feast.
When everyone has prepared their plates, hold up the cup of wine in a toast and say:
Through the year we’ve worked hard and can now reap the fruits of our labor. I ask that we can fully claim the blessings of nature and good favor. Blessings to us all. May we thrive even through the time of decline and emerge renewed in the spring. So mote it be.
Now eat the meal in reverence for the blessing of this abundance, reserving a portion to be buried in offering after dinner. At the conclusion of the feast, extinguish the candles with the intent that as the light goes out, we are walking freely into the dark half of the year, keeping our strength and abundance intact.
Witchy Ways
Any form of gourd has naturally protective qualities. If you buy decorative gourds and charge them to be magical protection, you can place one or more of them in each room to make a festive, inconspicuous magical ward. If you choose the hard gourds that dry out over time, these gourd wards can last for several years. To charge them, simply hold each gourd in both hands and visualize it charging with protective energies to guard your home.
Autumn Shopping List