Fall Equinox: A Time of Balance & Gratitude
The Fall Equinox, also known as Mabon, is one of the eight sabbats in the Wheel of the Year, celebrated around September 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. This sacred time marks the midpoint between summer and winter, when day and night stand in perfect balance before the nights grow longer.
It is a season of harvest, gratitude, and reflection — a chance to honor the abundance that has come forth and prepare for the quieter, inward months ahead.
Traditional Celebrations
Historically, the Fall Equinox was celebrated as a second harvest festival, honoring the fruits, vegetables, and grains gathered at this time. Communities gave thanks for the earth’s generosity while preparing for the darker half of the year.
Spiritually, this is a time of balance and transition. Just as light and dark are equal in the sky, we are called to find equilibrium in our own lives. The equinox also invites us to release what no longer serves us, much like the trees shedding their leaves.
Many traditions honor harvest deities such as Demeter, Persephone, or Dionysus, and give offerings of wine, apples, bread, or corn.
Modern Ways to Honor the Fall Equinox
You don’t need a farm or a big feast to connect with Mabon’s energy. Here are simple ways to celebrate:
🍎 Create a gratitude altar with seasonal fruits, autumn leaves, and candles.
🍂 Cook a harvest meal using apples, squash, corn, or root vegetables.
🕯 Light a candle to reflect on balance in your life — what needs more light, and what needs rest
🌿 Give back to the earth by composting, planting bulbs for spring, or taking a mindful walk in nature.
Meditation and Ritual Practices
Here are some practices to help you connect with the equinox’s energy:
🌅 Morning meditation on balance — ask where in your life you need more harmony.
🍞 Bread-breaking ritual with loved ones to honor community and shared abundance.
📓 Journal reflection: “What am I ready to release as the season shifts?”
🔥 Leaf or fire ritual (safe + symbolic): write down old patterns on paper, then burn or bury them as a sign of letting go.
🍵 Herbal tea meditation — Brew your favorite earthy herbal tea (think chamomile, rooibos, nettle, or dandelion root). Hold the warm mug to your heart, close your eyes, and feel its soothing energy. As you sip, do so with intention — journaling or listening to your favorite music while letting the tea ground you in the season’s energy.
The Fall Equinox reminds us that balance is not about perfection, but about honoring cycles. Just as the earth shifts from light to dark, so too can we release what no longer serves and prepare to nourish what truly matters.
Take this season as an invitation to pause, give thanks for the abundance around you, and plant seeds of intention for the months to come.