Autumn, especially September, has always been the time of year I anticipate the most. I love the crispness in the morning air, the stunning sunsets, moon and stargazing, and I have the perfect excuse to eat lots of pumpkin bread while sipping tea and reading a good book. All of these elements make me feel warm, snug, and more magical than any other time of year. And by observing nature as she begins to prepare for the upcoming Winter, it reminds me of my own need to slow down and get ready for the darker nights.
Our ancestors lived in harmony with the natural rhythms of Mother Nature, but in our busy modern world, many of us have lost sight of the significance of aligning our lives with the changing seasons. While shorter days can feel challenging, with a little bit of magic and thoughtful preparation, you can embrace the season with a sense of comfort, balance, and ease.
While this post includes suggestions I personally find useful in navigating the longer nights in the Northern Hemisphere, I encourage you to follow your intuition and engage in the activities that bring you joy, balance and comfort.
When is Autumn?
It really depends on your own personal beliefs and what feels right for you!
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In Celtic traditions, Autumn begins on 1st August. This is known as Lughnasadh (or Lammas) and marks the beginning of the harvest season ~ this is when my family observe the beginning of Autumn.
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The Meteorological Autumn begins on 1st September, coinciding with the Gregorian calendar.
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The Astronomical Autumn is defined by the Earth's axis and orbit around the Sun, and begins on the Autumn Equinox which occurs anytime between the 21st and 24th of September. This year (2025), the Equinox is on 22nd September.
Mabon - The Autumn Equinox
The 'main event' during this season is, of course, the Autumn Equinox, when day and night are equal. If you celebrate the Wheel of The Year, this Sabbat is known as Mabon. The second of three harvest festivals, Mabon is a time to give thanks for the Autumn harvest, to honour Mother Earth and the Gods, and reflect over the year - evaluating what did, and didn't, grow in all aspects of life. This Sabbat reminds us of the cyclical nature of the world and our lives. As we slowly begin the transition into Winter, we must let go of what no longer serves us and prepare for the darker half of the year.
Celebrating the Autumn Equinox isn’t exclusive to Pagan or Wiccan practices, it dates back throughout many ancient civilizations who enjoyed acknowledging this special time of year by marking it with festivities, joy & merriment.
You can acknowledge the occasion with a special meal, lighting a candle, sitting by a bonfire, or simply taking time to be still and reflect over the over year so far. There is no right or wrong way to celebrate, so do what feels right for you.
Autumn Planning
Autumn encourages us to begin slowing down where we can and prepare for the upcoming longer nights. If you are someone who dreads the darker evenings, try to view them as opportunities to indulge in the activities you don’t often get the chance to do throughout the rest of the year. Planning ahead helps create a sense of comfort, balance, and ease so try and make time to sit down and create a to-do list that will support you through the Autumn.
Some ideas
Reading List
Create a manageable selection of books that evoke a sense of comfort and cosiness for the darker nights ahead. Aim to make time to read at least a few pages every night.
Autumn Playlist
Curate a few Autumn playlists you can listen to depending on the energy you want to invite in - chill out music for relaxing & reading, upbeat tracks to help you clean & tidy.
"Granny" Hobby
If you haven't already started a "Granny" hobby like knitting or crochet, now is the perfect time to begin. These hobbies are ideal for the longer nights or for the days you can’t get out due to bad weather. And you never know, you might even be able to craft a few Christmas gifts!!
A few other ideas for Autumn activities
Try to mark your chosen activities in your diary or planner as non-negotiable days or nights for relaxing, winding down or having some family fun.
- Watch a sunrise and / or sunset
- Enjoy a bonfire (marshmallows are a delicious optional extra!)
- A mindful forest walk
- Clean & declutter your home
- Pumpkin picking
- Autumn jigsaw - you’ll be addicted to this in no time (also classed as a “Granny hobby”)
- If you have one, prepare your garden for Winter.
- Make plans for a few self-care treats (however that looks for you) such as an afternoon to yourself, lunch with friends, going for a massage, taking a long luxurious bath
My personal to-do list looks like...
- Working on my Magickal Herb Journal (I'll be sharing inside this soon)
- Reading List:
- The Wedding Witch by Erin Sterling
- A Witch's Guide To Fake Dating A Demon by Sarah Hawley
- Hex Appeal by Kate Johnson
- Completing a blanket I started knitting in January
- Autumn baking including pumpkin breads (recipe below)
- Listening to 'Autumn' music - we love YouTube for cosy Jazz with rain sounds, Dean Martin and few other 'oldies'
- Cosy walks through forests
- Fire 'wombles' on dry nights with hot chocolate or tea, marshmallows and a few oracle cards (not sure when we started calling the fire pit a 'womble' but it has stuck for years!)
- Making a few jigsaws
- Decorating the house
- Lighting our special candles
Autumn Decor
Autumn offers a stunning, magical array of colours providing inspiration for decorating your home, garden, or workspace. With beautiful hues of gold, copper, red, orange, yellow, rust, brown, and green, you are spoiled for choice.
Let your imagination loose and have fun creating Autumn decor that feels like you. While shop bought decorations are great (and time saving!), there is nothing quite like crafting something from scratch yourself such as:
- Fabric pumpkins
- Witchy Brooms made from the branches and twigs you found on your forest walk ;)
- Buntings or rag garlands made from fabric scraps
Below is one of our favourite crafts for all seasons.....
Twiggy Pom Pom Display
This fun decoration creates an eye-catching display when hung from a ceiling and can be updated with seasonal pom poms. To make it, gather a twig/branch of your desired length, wool/yarn in Autumn colours and a pom pom maker. Clean the twig, create your pom poms in various sizes, remembering to leave a tail for hanging. Attach the pom poms to the twig and hang it up for everyone to enjoy.
Pumpkin Bread
Pumpkin Bread is a must for the Autumn season, and if you haven’t tried it, then why not give it a chance this year? It can be enjoyed warm or cold, on its own, or with custard or cream.
Ingredients
1 x can pumpkin puree
180grams softened butter
2 x eggs
300grams self raising flour
380grams caster sugar
1 x tsp ground cloves
1 x tsp ground cinnamon
1 x tsp ground nutmeg
1 x tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ x tsp baking powder
½ x tsp salt if not using salted butter
Method
- In a large bowl, combine all of the dry ingredients.
- Melt the butter, then add it to the dry ingredients along with the pumpkin puree and eggs.
- Mix together until well combined.
- Transfer to a lined (deep) baking tray or loaf tin and bake at 180c for approx 45mins or until cooked through.
Enjoy, and share if you must!
Taking time to connect with Autumn is such a wonderful experience - whether it's being outdoors and witnessing the stunning hues of golds, browns and reds of the trees, or you are inside feeling cosy and snug with a good book and a hot chocolate. If we learn to live in tune with the seasons just like our Ancestors did, it will nourish our mind, body and spirit in such a beautiful way.
Wishing you a blessed Autumn!
Fiona
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