21 Magical Ways To Celebrate The Autumn Equinox

From seasonal feasts to foraging walks and candle-lit evenings, there are many magical ways to celebrate the Autumn Equinox.

It’s a season to reap the harvest, celebrate its bounty and stock up for the long winter ahead.

The autumn equinox marks the end of summer and the start of autumn. It’s a time of sweater weather, pumpkin spice lattes and changing leaves.

It’s also a season to celebrate, get in tune with nature, reconnect to old traditions and bring in the start of a more introspective season.

The autumn equinox is a time of rest after the labors of the harvest. It’s also a time to complete projects and let go of what’s unwanted so that winter can be spent in peace.

When is the Autumn Equinox?

The equinox falls between September 21 and 24 in the Northern hemisphere. It’s the day when the sun sits directly above the equator – and the halfway point between the summer and winter solstice.

Equinox comes from the Latin for “equal” and “night” (or nox), meaning that the length of daylight and night are equal on this date.

Autumn equinox traditions

The autumn equinox is celebrated by many different cultures around the world.

It’s traditionally celebrated as Mabon in the Anglo-Celtic tradition, where it includes a seasonal feast and altar making.

In Japan, Buddhists honor their ancestors during a six-day holiday of Higan. In Judaism there’s Succoth, which falls on the autumn equinox and includes a seasonal feast. China and Vietnam celebrate the Moon Festival with mooncakes.

How to celebrate the autumn equinox:

Whether the autumn equinox is your annual tradition – or whether it’s your first time – here are some magical ways to celebrate.

1. Start a gratitude journal

The autumn equinox is all about giving thanks for a bountiful harvest after all the hard work of reaping and sowing.

Traditionally it’s a celebration of an abundant crop but it’s also about giving thanks for all of life’s blessings.

And it’s the perfect time to step back and reflect as you transition from the lazy days of summer to colder evenings.

Why start a gratitude journal?

From fighting depression to boosting your self-confidence, a gratitude journal is a life-changing habit with lots of incredible benefits.

A gratitude journal is scientifically proven to make you a happier and more productive person. It also lowers your stress and calms you at night.

A gratitude journal reminds you to stop worrying about the future and just appreciate the present moment.

But don’t rush through it. Write in detail about what you’re thankful for and let yourself feel those emotions and experience the sensations. Diving deep into a few things you’re grateful for is more beneficial than writing down a long list.

And don’t make your gratitude journal another thing to tick off your to-do list. Savor the experience and take your time.

Writing a gratitude journal once or twice a week makes a bigger impact than hurried everyday journaling.

Gratitude journal prompts:

• write about a person in your life that has changed you for the better.
• describe in detail something good that happened to you yesterday. It could be a major life event or as simple as watching a good film.
• describe in detail something you’re grateful for that’s near you right now, whether it’s the jewelry you’re wearing or the cushion you’re sitting on.

2. Light a candle

As the days get shorter, a candle-lit evening is a great reminder of the natural passage of time – and the balance between light and dark.

Before electricity, phone and TV screens lit up the evenings, there were slower and darker nights spent over candlelight. Evenings when darkness was embraced and accepted as part of life.

Light some scented candles and turn off all your screens to remind yourself that darkness is natural. It’s part of the changing seasons and something to be enjoyed.

A quiet evening over candlelight, bonfire or fireplace gently calms you after a long day and gets you ready for a deeper sleep.

It attunes you to larger forces and the rhythms of nature.

Activities for candlelit evenings:

• do a guided meditation
• do a long and gentle yin yoga session
• eat a slow meal and savor every bite
• listen to some of your favorite music or a relaxing playlist

3. Go foraging and leaf picking

Get more in tune with nature during this gorgeous season of golden sunsets and yellow leaves.

Slow down and notice the changes: the chill, brisk air, the longer evenings, the changing leaves and acorns on the ground.

Whether you live near a forest – or just a local park – take an afternoon to wander and collect any interesting tidbits. These can include leaves and stones, or fruit and wildflowers.

If you’re in a city where foraging is difficult, visit a local nursery or a plant shop and stock up on some herbs, pumpkins or yellow and orange-leafed plants to bring some nature into your home.

Or just take a long walk around your neighborhood and slow down to notice the details. Try to identify the plants and trees you see – and look up what grows in your region.

Take a moment to appreciate your natural landscape and the nature that’s often passed by in your daily routine.

Use the pieces you’ve gathered for your altar or home decor. Press any leaves you find or sketch them in a nature journal.

4. Visit a farmers market

Load up on seasonal fruits and veggies at your local farmers market or harvest festival.

Eating seasonally helps you appreciate the changing seasons and celebrate all the gifts that nature provides.

It also gets you in touch with your local community and the local farmers who’ve just harvested their crops.

Use your haul of fruits and veggies to prepare seasonal salads and stews – or to decorate your home.

What to shop for:

• squash
• pumpkin
• apples
• pears
• berries
• corn
• carrots
• potatoes
• radishes
• zucchini

5. Bake an apple pie

The apple is a symbol of the harvest and it signifies renewal and wholeness.

Bake an apple pie to celebrate this traditional symbol of the autumn equinox – and to warm up your home with the fragrant scent of spices.

Apples are traditionally picked during harvest time and used in equinox feasts. Baking with apples puts you back in touch with these old seasonal traditions.

Apples are symbols of abundance in many folklore traditions and a hearty apple pie is a perfect desert for your autumn feast.

And if apple pie isn’t your thing, try whipping up a hearty pumpkin pie. If you don’t really enjoy cooking, get a pie from the bakery. The autumn equinox should be enjoyable and not another obligation.

6. Declutter your closet

As you fold away your summer t-shirts – and pull out your sweaters and cardigans – take a moment to declutter your closet for the new season ahead.

Donate any items that don’t fit well or make you feel great. And get rid of anything you haven’t worn in years.

A good clean-up streamlines your closet, gives you extra space and boosts your energy.

Decluttering is more than just getting rid of unwanted items. It benefits your life in unexpected ways. It makes you more organized and saves you time getting dressed in the morning.

Decluttering also lets you get rid of the guilt that comes with piles of clothes you never wear. Donating or selling unwanted clothes ensures they go to a better home.

And a good declutter motivates you to streamline other parts of your home, like kitchen junk drawers and stacks of unread books.

You create more space for better things and let go of stress-inducing clutter.

A smaller, more streamlined closet also gets you in touch with your personal style. It highlights items that you love wearing and teaches you about what just doesn’t suit you.

7. Do some autumn crafts

Fill up those longer autumn evenings with crafts that let you unwind and get creative – instead of reaching for your phone.

It’s tempting after a long day to relax with your social media feed or to binge-watch the latest TV series. But that won’t invigorate you as much as a slow living hobby and making something with your hands.

And while an evening of arts and crafts doesn’t seem very plausible when you’re tired, you’ll be amazed at the energy it gives you afterwards.

Just don’t put too much pressure on yourself to create something that’s perfect. Let yourself experiment and enjoy the process.

Projects to try:  

• create a framed collage of leaves that you’ve collected and pressed flat
• make a centerpiece for your dining table with fall leaves, acorns, apples, miniature pumpkins and autumn-colored flowers
• wrap cinnamon sticks around a candle for a fragrant, fall-inspired centerpiece
• use a wreath form to create an easy pinecone wreath

8. Decorate your home in autumn colors

You’ll be spending more time at home now that autumn is here and the evenings are longer and darker.

Create a cozy space that you’ll love spending time in with fairy lights, cozy blankets and autumn flowers.

Clear away any mess to make your home comfortable. And make space for a vase of fragrant eucalyptus, a new auburn tablecloth and other touches that bring in the fall colors indoors.

Autumn colors include deep greens and purples, burgundy, warm oranges and yellow ochres. Use these colors in throw pillows, vases and other accessories to accent your home with seasonal decor.

Hang an autumn wreath in your living room and add a bowl of miniature pumpkins to your coffee table to bring more of the outdoors inside.

9. Do a digital detox

Go into the colder season with a clear mind that’s unburdened by the constant pings of notifications and social media feeds.

If you spend hours scrolling, take stock and get aware of exactly how much time you’re really spending online.

Social media is well-known to cause depression and anxiety. And if you’re racking up hours of screentime a day, chances are you’re more impatient and depressed than you need to be.

The autumn equinox is a perfect time to step back and take control of your time.

Start by unsubscribing from any unnecessary newsletters. Declutter your inbox and create folders to organize your emails by topic.

Take a phone-free evening and put all your devices out of reach. Disconnect and spend some time with a good book, take a bath, flip through some magazine or listen to music.

Notice if you feel anxious and unfocused without your phone.

Your concentration deteriorates the more time you spend scrolling fast-paced social media feeds. And it takes time to build your concentration back up again.

Schedule a weekly phone-free evening and you’ll be surprised how good it feels to put your phone away – and how quickly you get your focus back.

10. Read an autumn-themed book

The autumn equinox is all about celebrating the harvest and getting back in touch with nature. And a great autumn-themed book makes you aware of the changing seasons and nature’s shifts.

Curl up with a good novel set in the autumn. Or read some nature writing that vividly describes natural phenomena and helps you better identify types of trees and plants.

The more you learn about nature, the more you’ll appreciate your landscape – whether that’s the roaring countryside or a busy city block.

Nature has lots of stories to tell once you learn how to listen.

Best novels for autumn vibes:

• Night Circus is a winding love story set amid a mysterious carnival with plenty of seasonal atmosphere and chilly nights.
• The Secret History is a dark academia classic set at a New England college. It’s a perfect spooky mystery with rich descriptions.
• Death by Pumpkin Spice is a cozy mystery involving a bookstore cafe owner and a Halloween costume party gone wrong.
• The Simplicity of Cider is a love story set in a family orchard that’s a great cozy read for a cold night.

Read more: :27 Ways To Read More Books (And Make It A Habit)

11. Meditate

The autumn equinox is traditionally a day of giving thanks for a bountiful harvest.

And it’s a perfect time to give thanks for all of your blessings – even if you’re not a farmer toiling the fields.

Do some gratitude meditation to slow down and give thanks for everything in your life, including the small things that are easy to take for granted.

A quiet meditation session lets you enter the new season refreshed and hopeful about the future while appreciating what you have.

It also lets you appreciate the present moment and tap into the restorative power of stillness and silence.

And if you don’t meditate regularly – or if you find it difficult to sit still – try a guided meditation that will walk you through the process.

Guided autumn equinox meditations to try:

• A Time for Balance ~ Autumn Equinox Meditation is a beautiful guided session that paints some gorgeous natural scenes.
• Fall Equinox Guided Meditation is a calming and reflective session that gets you ready for the new season.

12. Do some sunset yoga

If you spend most of your day hunched over a computer, the autumn equinox is a great chance to start fresh.

Give your body a restart with a slow yoga session full of back stretches and breath work that lets you welcome the new season with calmness and energy.

If you haven’t done yoga in awhile, then refresh your body and use the muscles that have laid dormant for weeks.

And since the autumn equinox is all about restoring balance, a gentle yoga session is a great reminder of the importance of nurturing your mind and your body.

Move your body to get more energy, stamina and optimism to face the darker autumn season. The body is often neglected, but it plays a crucial role in keeping you positive and motivated.

Try these autumn equinox yoga sessions:

• Fall Equinox Yoga – Slow Vinyasa Flow to Honor The Seasons is a gentle session that includes the flowing motions of vinyasa and deep stretches to energize your body.
• Fall Equinox Restorative Yoga Sequence is a restorative class with poses to warm you up and prepare you for autumn. It’s perfect if you’re a beginner or haven’t done yoga in awhile.

13. Wrap up unfinished projects

As you enter the new season, let go of all the unfinished work that’s been laying on your backburner.

If your work has piled up, cross out anything that’s not essential and focus on a few key tasks going forward.

Let go of any busywork and cross out any tasks that aren’t absolutely essential. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, then focus on a few things and do them with more focus.

Cancel anything that you don’t really look forward to and streamline your schedule to include more of what you really love.

Now is also the time to fix that leaking sink, renew your passport and get a dentist checkup – aka all the things you’ve been putting off.

You’ll feel calmer going into the new season when you don’t have errands hanging over your head.

14. Host an autumn feast

The autumn equinox is traditionally a time to gather crops and celebrate the harvest with a feast of seasonal foods, apples and wine.

Revive this beautiful tradition and host an autumn feast of your own. Whether that’s a gathering with friends or a solo slow food meal, honor this time of year by appreciating all of nature’s bounty.

Cook up a soup or stew with seasonal root vegetables, potatoes and squash, or bake a quiche with whatever looks good at your local farmer’s market.

Include some wine or apple cider that’s traditionally accompanies a harvest feast. And end it with a desert of apple or pumpkin pie.

And if you don’t enjoy cooking, stock up on seasonal foods at your local deli or treat yourself to a meal at a local restaurant.

15. Create a Mabon altar

Create a small altar in your home filled with leaves, seasonal offerings and anything that reminds you of the sacredness of this season.

Your altar is a reminder of nature’s blessings – and a space for meditation, journaling and reflection.

You can create an altar just about anywhere in your home where there’s enough space – whether that’s your windowsill or your kitchen table. It should be a place you’re comfortable sitting in.

Items for a Mabon altar:

• harvest fruits and vegetables like apples, corn, pumpkins and pine cones
• colors like gold, red and brown
• spices and scents like cinnamon, apple and orange
• crystals in dark, green and brown colors
• candles to celebrate your blessings
• any items that hold personal meaning to you during this season
• flowers like sunflowers and marigolds
• herbs like rosemary, sage and cinnamon

16. Make a wreath

Bring the fragrant outdoors into your home with a simple autumn wreath filled with colorful leaves, pine cones and cinnamon sticks.

Wreaths aren’t just for Christmas – and they’re a great tradition to add some fall atmosphere to your doorstep and living room.

Make your wreath seasonal by adding autumn colors like reds, yellows and bronzes. Add some dried orange slices, eucalyptus and a few drops of essential oil to fill your home with the aromas of the season.

Or make a simple wreath with a wreath form and pine cones gathered from your backyard.

Items to add to your fall wreath:

• olive branches or wheat
• dried orange slices and yellow flowers
• colorful leaves
• pine cones and acorns
• cinnamon sticks
• scented candles
• burgundy and gold ribbon
• corn husks
• apples and miniature pumpkins

17. Bake a loaf of bread

A loaf of bread made from the wheat gathered from the fields is a traditional symbol of the harvest.

Honor this timeless tradition and bake a loaf of your own to warm your home with the scent of yeast and grain.

And if you’ve never made bread before, you’ll be surprised how few ingredients go into a loaf – and how easy it is to make a dozen rolls or a loaf of rosemary bread.

Serve your bread with some garlic butter or fry it in olive oil for toast. Homemade bread is also great with a hearty autumn stew or diced and toasted into croissants.

A loaf of bread is a simple yet stunning centerpiece to any autumn equinox feast.

Super easy bread roll recipe:

Ingredients:
1 tbsp instant yeast
1 tbsp sugar
2 cups warm water
2 tsp salt
6 cups flour

Directions:
Mix the yeast, sugar and water together in a bowl and let it sit for 10 minutes.

In another bowl, mix together the salt and flour. Add the liquids in and mix everything well. Take the dough out of the bowl and knead until it becomes firm (but not too tough). Let it rest for 1 hour in a covered bowl.

Roll the dough into a long strip and cut it into 10 pieces. Roll those pieces into balls and place them on a greased and floured baking tray. Let the rolls rest for 30 minutes.

Preheat the oven to 180 degrees. Bake for 20 minutes or until the rolls are golden brown on top.

18. Do some nature journaling

Create a nature journal to raise your awareness of the nature around you – and the seasonal changes that are often easy to overlook.

A nature journal is an incredible tool that teaches you to be more observant, to slow down and notice all of nature’s breathtaking details.

Even if you live in a big city, you’ll be surprised how much natural phenomena – from birds to changing colors on the leaves – you can observe when you take notice.

Use your nature journal for some simple sketches of the leaves, animals and trees around you. Make some notes about what you observe, and how the seasons change over time. Include personal reflections on how the surrounding landscape makes you feel – and how you interact with it.

If you’re in the city, explore your local parks and nature reserves. Take your journal to make quick sketches and study the flora and fauna native to your area.

19. Prepare for winter

The autumn equinox is a time to gather the bounty of the fields and orchards and bring them inside for storage.

It’s a time to can foods into jams and preserves that last throughout the long and cold winter.

Try your hand at canning to continue this tradition and appreciate seasonal produce in the months ahead.

And although modern grocery stores now stock just about everything year-round, canning and preserving foods makes you appreciate the changing seasons. And it lets you take a more natural approach to food.

Dry some herbs or make preserves and jams if you don’t have much experience with canning. These are great activities that let you appreciate and savor robust flavors without the sugars and additives of factory-made cans.

20. Deep clean your home

Enter the cold and slow autumn season with peace of mind that’s unencumbered by chaos and clutter.

Clean your windows to let in maximum light and dust any corners of your home that have been neglected.

Do some decluttering when you come across any junk piles you’ve forgotten about, like the space under your kitchen sink or the depths of your pantry.

Sweep under your furniture, dust off your crown molding and launder your curtains. These areas are often passed over but they will make your home gleam – and bright and airy for the darker season ahead.

Spray a mix of essential oils and water to freshen up tired rooms and textiles.

21. Try something new

Whether it’s an online course or a new hobby, the autumn equinox is a great time to start something new – or to get back into a neglected hobby.

If you’ve been wanting to try your hand at some gardening or watercolor painting, schedule in an afternoon on a weekend (an hour or two is plenty) to indulge your interest.

But don’t wait for inspiration to strike. Scheduling in your hobbies and interests into your weekly routines – and then turning them into habits – makes you far more likely to stick with them.

Don’t aim for perfection and don’t try to turn your hobby into a profitable side-hustle. Just enjoy the process and create something that’s only for yourself (and not for your social media feed).

Read more: 21 Slow Living Hobbies For A Happier, Less Stressed You

Read next:

16 Essential Tips For Slow Living in the City

14 Life-Changing Slow Living Tips (You Can Start Today)

10 Inspiring Books On Slow Living

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