Today is the Autumn Equinox, one of my favorite days of the year, since it ushers in my favorite season.
Today was stunningly beautiful here on the Olympic Peninsula in the far northwest—blue skies, vivid colors of turning leaves and late dahlias, distant puffy clouds, crisp temps and a steady breeze. I celebrated by making an altar on a flat rock in the middle of a stream in the woods near here. I love to watch leaves float down a little stream—probably because it’s a classic meditation brought to life. In fact, it is the very meditation I did this morning—before I knew I’d do my equinox ritual at a stream.
autumn equinox altar......click to enlarge
Since I took the photo in the deep shade, it’s difficult to see everything on the altar, so here’s a list. I love to create altars from the natural materials I find in a place, but since this was a special occasion, I also brought a few things from home.
• Fertility Goddess statue
• Candle—element of fire
• Shell with incense—element of air
• Shell with water—element of water
• Cattails—element of earth
• Bone, crab claw and crow feather—animal allies
• Jasper and other stones—mineral allies
• Blackberries, wild cherries, dill blossoms, dahlias, liquid amber leaves—plant allies
• Rowan branch and berries
rowan tree
A BLESSING FOR THIS DAY
Today we move from the high energy of summer toward the peace of winter as we pass through the balance of autumn, the balance of equal day and night. Blessed be the day, for in the day we see clearly what we must change. Blessed be the night, for in the night we confront ourselves in all our beauty and imperfections.
Harvest time is here. May the bounty of the season keep us strong in spirit, mind and body. I invoke the Great Mother in her aspect as Demeter, Goddess of the Grain. I thank Her for ripening the grapes and nuts and fruits of our earth. I also thank Her who makes us ripen as well, with experience and wisdom. This is the season in which the wise hazelnut teaches us contained knowledge: in the seed is hidden new life—once it is returned to sacred earth and nurtured. We, too, prepare to turn inward, to nurture ourselves through the coming darkness. May we always live in hope.
CONTEMPLATIONS
- What is more vivid in your life right now?
- What is you personal harvest this year?
- What leaves are ready to fall from your life?
- What is your healing vision for autumn?
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Try some blue new moon magic here.
October 1st, 2008 at 1:22 pm
The altar touched me deeply. The play of light and shadow reflects the play of light and dark on this transitional day. The shadows drew me in, beginning the journey as a fallen leaf along the stream into the dark season. We don’t know where this stream will take us or what we will experience in the dark of winter. We can only have faith that we will emerge into the glory and promise of spring when the wheel of the year turns six months time.
We also know that the spirits of nature- the other fallen leaves, the floating seed pods, the winter birds, the small and large creatures of the woods, and the divine energy of the universe journey with us through the slow and quiet times.
Find your warren, your burrow. Store your seeds and nuts, your energy for the lean times. Revel in each remaining day of sunlight and warmth.Collect soft and warm things to line your winter bed of dreams- dreams that will turn into the buds of spring.
Yes, this is what your post evokes in me, Liliana. The colors in the photos are stunning. These are the leaves we all eagerly collected as children, pressing them in books and wax paper.