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Bitesize Blogs - Autumn Pt.4 - Season of the Witch
Autumn From a Pagan Perspective
For me, as well as letting go, the Autumn is a time of aiming for balance, and gratitude. The Harvest Mother offers her bounty. The God has sacrificed himself with the final grain cut. But he will return. The eternal cycle of life, death and rebirth.
For witches and pagans everywhere, this is a time to:
Celebrate the harvest
Rest and reflect
Share food and gratitude with loved ones
Acknowledge your achievements
Recognise the balance of light and dark
By applying the action of the seasonal shift of Autumn, letting go, to those things that no longer serve us well, such as unhappy emotions or relationships, old physical and energetic clutter, we can look at the things that cause us pain, that hold us back, and really begin to let it go – and do it with gratitude! Yes it feels uncomfortable at first – and you may need support from friends, family or a therapist as you bring awareness to the action, but it is a really healthy thing to be able to do for yourself. As we move into the more reflective energies of Autumn, we can begin to bring attention to our own healings, how we can be grateful for the teachings and let things flow freely.
Moving into the Dark Half of the Year
This shift is also known as the dark half of the year, and is associated with the Crone, the Wise Woman, Feminine (the Yin) energy. She, like the darkness is often feared and shunned, but I welcome this time to embrace that aspect of myself. It is time to reclaim our connection with that wild untamed element of darkness that is within us. There can be no light without darkness, and that is the message of the Autumn Equinox, all things must be in balance.
Persephone & the Autumn Equinox
One of the Myths that resonate for us witches at this time is the story of Persephone.
In Greek mythology, the Autumn Equinox is deeply connected to the story of Persephone’s descent into the Underworld. This ancient myth explains the turning of the seasons and the dance between light and dark.
The story goes like this; Persephone was the beloved daughter of Demeter, goddess of the harvest. She was taken by Hades, god of the Underworld. In her grief, Demeter let the earth grow barren, and crops failed. Nothing would grow until her daughter was returned.
When Zeus intervened, Hades agreed to Persephone's return, but not without a twist. Persephone had eaten pomegranate seeds, whilest in the Underworld, binding her to the Underworld for part of each year. And so the rhythm of the seasons was born.
However, as the patriarchy falls and we, the Feminine, reclaim our stories, just as we did with the story of Blodeuwedd, we know that all is not as it seems - Persephone was not a helpless victim in her tale. What if she willingly went to the Underworld, as part of her growth from childhood to womanhood, and chose to be with Hades as her lover, deliberately eating the pomegranate seeds, to rule as Queen of the Underworld by his side?
This puts a whole different perspective on the story. Yes, Demeter still mourns the loss of her daughter, as a mother does grieve when her children leave home, but for Persephone, the journey into the Underworld gives her the chance to step into her power as a sensual woman in her own right, to leave the trappings of her childhood (and possibly over bearing mother?) behind.
When Persephone is below, from the Autumn Equinox through winter, the earth lies in stillness and darkness. We enter the time of descent, dormancy, and deep reflection. When she returns in spring, the world bursts back into life, growth, and renewal.
This myth is more than a story, it is a sacred allegory. Persephone’s descent mirrors our own cycles of life, death, and rebirth. It reminds us that just as the leaves fall and the earth quiets, we too can release, rest, and trust that light and growth will return, and that we have sovereignty and power over how we do this - we can use this time to explore our darker natures', to heal, and grow, in the dark.
"The greatest growth happens in the darkness"
The Autumn Equinox is her threshold moment, the balance point before she journeys below. It’s a powerful time to honour what we are ready to let go of, to sit with our shadows, and to prepare for the darker half of the year.
Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox or Mabon
As I always say, there are no 'rules' - you don’t need to celebrate on a specific date. That's the beauty of following the seasons.
Between September 1st and Samhain (October 31st), you can honour the seasonal shift in simple or elaborate ways. And just do what feels right, honouring the season can just be as simple as enjoying a quiet pumpkin spiced latte while you read your book!
If you fancy doing something a bit more (or as well as) that, here are some things you can do to celebrate the season;
Create an Altar (or two!): Set up an altar with symbols of the season, such as colourful leaves, acorns, pinecones, and apples. You can also include candles in autumnal colours – red, orange, and brown. You can also create an outside altar, by way of honouring the spirits and elementals that live on your land and have helped in bringing the harvest and bounty to fruition. A small area where you can place a small candle lantern, a crystal maybe, a stone where you can lay an offering, a token of your appreciation, as that is the focus of this time, gratitude and appreciation.
Have a Feast: Prepare a special meal using the fruits and vegetables of the season. Apples, squash, pumpkins, and root vegetables are all excellent choices. Consider making dishes like apple pie, roasted root vegetables, or a hearty soup.
Go Apple Picking: Visit a local orchard or park and pick your own apples. It’s a fun way to connect with nature and gather fresh produce for your equinox feast. Apples have long been associated with witches and magic, and are one of the many fruits that are coming into abundance this time of year. If you cut an apple around the middle you will see the 5 pointed star that we pagans and witches honour as the pentagram, or pentacle if within a circle, (the circle of the apple!) that represent the Elements of Nature that make up the world around us, Air, Fire, Water, Earth and Spirit.
Take a Walk in Nature: Take a leisurely walk in the woods or a nearby park to appreciate the changing colours of the leaves and the fresher autumn air. Collect fallen leaves or pinecones to use in your altar.
And catch a falling leaf!!
An old folk witches tradition is to go out into the woods and catch a falling leaf - the stories go if you do this you will have good health all Winter! When you have the last fire of the season in early Spring, burn the leaf and release the energy.
Make Mulled Apple Cider: Using cider and or apple juice, add spices like cinnamon and cloves and gently warm.
Bake Bread and cake: Baking bread is a great way to connect with the harvest season and honouring the grain that has been gathered in, even though we may not do these things ourselves anymore, it is still done by someone! One of my favourite things to see at this time are the tractors and combines gathering in the harvest. Try making a loaf of hearty, whole-grain bread to enjoy with your meal, or a delicious apple cake or blackberry crumble!
Crafts and DIY: Get creative with autumn-themed crafts. You can make wreaths, decorate pumpkins, or create your own autumn-inspired artwork.
The Rowan tree is a beloved tree of protection - and her berries are coming into their own at this time of year. It is traditional to hang sprigs of berries over the doors and thresholds to keep out any wandering dark spirits or negative energies over the dark half of the year, and a meditative pastime on a dark evening is to thread them onto red thread to wear, carry and hang for personal protection.
If you don't have the time to do that, you can buy them in The Green Witchery Shop, linked below - but I highly recommend having a go yourself - it's a lovely seasonal mindful exercise, and of course you weave your own energy magic into them!
Give Thanks: Take a moment to express gratitude for the harvest and the abundance in your life. Reflect on the things you’re thankful for and consider ways to give back to your community or nature (I pick litter whenever I go out for a walk)
Share with Others: Share your harvest with friends, family, or neighbours. You can give away some of the apples you picked or share a portion of your feast with loved ones.
Have a clear out, and a good 'Autumn clean': the equinoxes are great times for having a good clear out of the cupboards - and you may find yourself doing it intuitively! We're all familiar with the term 'spring cleaning', but it makes sense to do it in the Autumn, to make space for the harvest, clear the freezers and the cupboards, have a good clean so we can hunker down for the Winter feeling cleared - donate to charity at the same time to keep that feel good energy flowing!
Light a Bonfire or Candles: Fire is a traditional element of many equinox celebrations. Light a bonfire in a safe location or simply light some candles on your altar to symbolise the warmth and light of the season.
Meditation and Reflection: Spend some quiet time in meditation or reflection. Consider your goals for the upcoming season and how you can align yourself with the changing energies of autumn. Ask where you can bring more balance into your life. Start a shadow work journal.
Rituals and Ceremonies: Connect with like minded friends and meet in nature to honour the elements and seasons – share food, drum, sing, do card readings. Come to one of my nurturing events or retreats.
Attend a Festival: Check if there are any local autumn festivals or events happening in your area. These can be a fun way to celebrate with the community.
Make Medicine for Winter: The hedgerows are bursting with berries, elderberries, blackberries, sloes, rowan, hawthorn berries, and rose hips, all of which are filled with immune boosting vitamins and antioxidants. It’s easy to make a heart healing tea or tincture with hawthorn berries, or a delicious syrup with elderberries and rose hips, or a healing healthful vinegar with blackberries.
Final Thoughts
The Autumn Equinox is a time of balance, reflection and gratitude. It’s an opportunity to connect with the natural world and celebrate the changing of the seasons and the fullness you have in your life in a way that resonates with you.
You can tangibly feel the evenings drawing in, the mornings have the smell of damp Autumn leaves, and nature prepares for her greatest show before settling down for Winter.
One of my favourite sayings at this time of year, and shows us wonderfully how to get our cues from Nature is;
“As the leaves turn from green to red and gold, Nature shows us how beautiful it is to let go.”
However you choose to celebrate, I wish you much abundance, good health, peace and blessings of the season,
With love and green, orange, and Pumpkin Spiced blessings,
Sam AuroraStar Green Witch XXX
© 2026 Sam AuroraStar, The Green Witchery. All rights reserved. Thank you for walking the Wheel of the Year with me. This blog is written by a human witch. Al occasionally used for research and SEO purposes only.
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