09/22/2026
🍂 honoring the autumn equinox: balance, harvest, + reflection 🍂
it’s september 22nd and we have reached the autumnal equinox. day and night are of equal length. the days continue to grow shorter, the nights cooler, and the descent into the next seasons begin. it’s the second of the three harvest festivals on the wheel of the year and serves as a time to gather what we’ve sown, give thanks, and begin letting go.
you might hear this sabbat called mabon, though it’s worth noting that this name is a modern addition. the term was introduced in the 1970s by Aidan Kelly while shaping a standardized Wheel of the Year. he chose “Mabon” (a figure from Welsh mythology) somewhat arbitrarily, without direct historical links to equinox celebrations. because of this, some pagans prefer to simply call it the autumn equinox or fall harvest. this is why you’ll see us using this terminology 🍂
🍎 so what is the autumn equinox?
it’s a turning point. traditionally, communities would celebrate the gathering of nearly the last of the grains, fruits, and vegetables, storing them for the winter months ahead. this is a time to honor both gratitude and release, the bounty of harvest, and the coming shift toward the quiet coldness of winter.
🌾 themes of the autumn equinox:
• balance & transition
• gratitude & abundance
• harvest & completion
• release & rest
🍇 ways to celebrate:
🍎 build an altar – with apples, acorns, fallen leaves, w**e, corn, and warm earthy colors.
🍞 feast mindfully – enjoy seasonal foods like squash, root vegetables, apples, and bread.
💨 release – write down what you’re ready to let go of, and burn it safely or bury it.
🌖 reflect – what have you harvested this year? what lessons came with your growth?
📚 read myths – explore the story of Persephone and Demeter, or the Welsh tale of Mabon ap Modron to learn about the actual figure versus its relation (or lack thereof) to the holiday.
🎴 pull cards – ask: what have I gathered? what must I leave behind?
