5 Ways to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox

Celebrate the first day of fall and the ancient holiday of Mabon with these simple and magical ideas.

The Fall Equinox is a time of balance. The days and nights are precisely equal. Not only that, but the Equinox is when the sun moves into Libra: the sign of balance, harmony, fairness, and equilibrium.

Mythologically, this is the time when the harvest goddess Demeter bids farewell to her daughter, the springtime goddess Persephone, as she slips into the underworld.

The equinox is traditionally a harvest festival, so it’s also a time when it feels appropriate to assess and celebrate your accomplishments and blessings.

Acknowledging the holiday – even briefly – can provide an infusion of soul nourishment and a sense of satisfying connection to the bounty of the earth and the Wheel of the Year. Here are five simple ways to observe the Fall Equinox and celebrate the ancient harvest holiday of Mabon.

Autumn Equinox Idea #1: Clear out your kitchen.

Mabon is an excellent time to clear clutter from your kitchen. So go through your cupboards and fridge, and remove everything, one shelf at a time. Dispose of expired food and give away food that’s still good that you’ll no longer eat (i.e. donate it to a food bank or give it to a friend). You might also get creative and compose a delicious feast out of forgotten food that’s still good, such as pasta, rice, and frozen or canned vegetables. All of these activities can support you in creating harmony, reveling in abundance by sharing the wealth, and activating stuck energy…All of which will raise your vibrations and summon blessings.

Autumn Equinox Idea #2: Share homegrown and homemade food.

If you have extra fruits, veggies, or nuts that you grew yourself, Mabon is a great time to share gift baskets with family and friends. Or, distributing food that you made yourself – such as carrot apple muffins, pecan pie, or salsa – to loved ones would be wonderful way to show some Fall Equinox love by sharing the abundant bounty of the earth.

Autumn Equinox Idea #3: “Harvest” old photos.

Let’s face it: most of us snap way more photos than we actually need. This Fall Equinox, delete the photos you don’t actually want to keep. Then “harvest” the other ones by making collages online, turning them into greeting cards, scrapbooking with them, or just posting them on social media and tagging your friends. This mini-celebration of beloved memories will feel right at the Fall Equinox, which is famously cozy and nostalgic.

Autumn Equinox Idea #4: Perform this solitary tea ritual.

Light an orange candle, brew a cup of cinnamon spice tea, and celebrate your successes and accomplishments. Sit somewhere where you can see the beautiful Mabon sky. Breathe, relax, and make a list of every positive achievement you can possibly think of from the past year, no matter how tiny. Then just rest, smile, and enjoy each and every sip of your tea, recognizing how hard you’ve worked and how far you’ve come.

Autumn Equinox Idea #5: Build a fire.

All ancient harvest holidays are good times for a fire, and Mabon is no exception. Light a fire in your fireplace or outdoor fire pit. Then, alone or with a loved one or group, have a pumpkin martini (or another fall-appropriate beverage) and discuss your accomplishments and successes from the previous year. Make it a “negativity-free zone,” and be sure to respond with abundant admiration. Relax fully, and revel in the magic of the Fall Equinox and Autumn’s glorious first day.

Did you celebrate the Autumn Equinox with one of these simple ideas? What did you think?