Autumn-num-num! Fall. Possibly the witchiest season EVER. We just passed the Autumn Equinox, when light and day are equal, and we are slowly descending towards Samhain, the Witches’ New Year and the festival of death. This fall season is such a magical time and though everything is dying, I feel so ALIVE: the cool air, the sublime sunsets, the cold, star-studded nights.
You know me, I like to keep my spiritual practice as grounded as possible. Here are some fabulous ideas, recipies, craft activities and spiritual ideas of how to root into and celebrate the season this year.
1. Get Cooking!
Oh my god, I love autumn food. I love being in the kitchen cooking pumpkins and squashes at this time of year – there is nothing witchier than mixing a big tasty meal together, peppering it with loads of herbs and spices, and waiting for it to finish off in the oven. Here are some of my favourite recipies for this time of year:
– Butternut Squash and Sage Risotto is pretty much my cold weather staple. Easy and delicious. Works nicely with Sweet Potato too for when your partner has had enough of butternut squash.
– Spelt Salad with Squash and Fennel is pretty much the most delicious thing ever. Mouthgasm. (the Vegderee on this page is pretty damn good too.) I use Pearl Barley instead of spelt, which is super cheap and easier to find than spelt.
– Udon Noodle Mushroom Soup – This one isn’t really autumnal at all, I’m just really excited that it’s cold enough to eat it again! It seems unseasonal to eat it in the summer. It’s the simplest easiest most delicious lunch for lazy people who like mushrooms.
2. Make an Autumn Mandala Altar
This is so easy at this time of the year when nature has so much stuff kicking around! Go for a walk, pick up loads of interesting leaves and twigs and rocks and berries, and make a big nature mandala in your back yard or in the park in honour of the season.
(Hint: If you make one, please be sure to tag #RockstarPriestess or #BeMoreMermaid on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter so I can see it and coo at your awesomeness!)
3. Be Grateful
This season isn’t called the Witches Thanksgiving for nothing! Mabon, the autumn harvest, is a wonderful time to give thanks for all you have in your life, the people, the things, the food, the love.. all of it.
Here are some ideas:
– Start a Gratitude Journal
– Send cards and letters to faraway friends, reminding them of how much you treasure and value them. I’ve got obsessed with notecards this season: so lovely to be able to send tiny physical messages to friends around the world! I like these adorable notecards on Etsy at the moment from OliveAndRuby.
– Have all your friends over for a thanksgiving dinner and/or bakeathon.
4. Make a Wreath
This is something I found on Pinterest that I am DESPERATE to make (though I don’t have a doorknocker so I am totally stumped on where to put it). You can make a leaf wreath that will slowly crisp, brown and decay as we get towards Samhain (pretty cool, huh?!) or you can preserve all the beautiful leaves in glycerine so they will stay beautiful and supple forever (hopefully!). The glycerine version is a bit hit and miss and takes a couple of days, but an everlasting autumn wreath? Mmmm.
I wanna make one. I am already leaf collecting.
Click here for a link to vintage Martha Stewart explaining, kinda poorly, how to do it.
5. Share the Abundance
Since this is the season of plenty, it’s lovely to give a little extra to those who might be struggling at this time. It’s a wonderful time of year to help out and here are a couple of easy ideas of how to do this;
– Donate to your local Food Bank (or whatever the your-country equivalent is). Lots of food banks have handy donation boxes at the supermarkets: just do a quick Google for how you can help your local food bank and get people fed.
– Donate food to your local animal shelter: like the food banks, they often have donation boxes at supermarkets so you can help your local animal shelter feed all the abandoned animals they look after.
6. Autumnal Baking
In preparation for Samhain’s Pumpkin festivals! Here are some amazing recipies I am desperate to try out.
– American-style Pumpkin Pie – I’ve never tried or made pumpkin pie. This is shocking and must be remedied.
– Pumpkin Passion Cupcakes – I’m not much of one for cakes or sweet things, but these spiced pumpkin cupcakes look awesome.
7. Release and Let Go
I found this wonderful mini releasing ritual on Jess Carlson’s site that’s pretty Equinoxy. The whole Autumn season is about gratitude, release and recieving, so this is a perfect, beautiful, easy ritual to pop in your practice this autumn. Click here to see it.
8. Motherfreaking PINE CONES
I pretty much think this is the coolest thing ever. Ombre Pine Cones! Gorgeous and easy. Totes doing this. Also, would make good Christmas tree decorations for later in the year…
9. Watch documentaries that focus on Autumn.
Do you live in a city and find it hard to spend time in this spectaculor colour-changing earth-scented autumn that everyone is talking about?
Thank god for the magic of TV!
I’m putting this in really just so I have a change to plug this amazing BBC documentary series called Yellowstone: it charts the creatures and landscape of yellowstone through the seasons. It’s so good I think I have watched it three times: the cinematography is just so beautiful (especially in the Autumn section, that’s how this is relevant :D) and its so facinating to learn about the lives of the wolves, bears, bison and elk who live there, and the insane amazingness of the park itself.
It’s on Netflix if you are in the UK: It’s literally one of the best nature documentaries I have ever seen. Otherwise, here is a link to a YouTube clip of it to get you excited.
10. Go for a walk, you!
Yes, I say this every season. Get out there and experience the season! I love walking in nature, and my favourite thing to do is to see how many animals I meet: how many dogs want to say hello, if I can bump into some horses or cows or swans. Maybe you could go on an autumn instagram trail and take photos of the most beautiful things you see. Stick on your hiking boots, bring a jacket and go rambling: just be back home in time to watch the sunset.
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Phew! I hope you are all fired up for ways to play with the season. Have the most wonderful autumn ever!