Fall Equinox 2023–Harvesting

I clothe my soul in the
mantle of creation,
heavens of light,
earth of life,
seas of love,
surround and support my
Autumn-wakening soul.
Preserve my soul in compassion,
may it shine forth
with the rich Autumn sunlight.*

Autumn Equinox occurs on Friday, September 22^nd at 11:49 pm PT.

I grew up thinking that Fall Equinox marked the beginning of Fall, but in the Celtic circle of the year, Fall Equinox is the midway point, with Lughnasadh, August 1^st, as the beginning and Halloween (Samhain) being the end.

This year, living here in the Pacific Northwest, I got it. Even though we can still get some summer heat in August, there is a change in the air and the nights begin to get cooler.

If I think of it as the beginning of harvest season, it makes more sense—in August, the summer fruits and veggies are beginning to be ready for harvest—beans, tomatoes, peppers, zucchini, grains, plums, apples…

The same elements that are growing and ripening the plants are also growing and ripening us—earth-air-fire-water—creating the tissues and bones of our bodies, breathing us, firing our digestion and heartbeat, moving nourishment and flushing out toxins and juicing our cells.

We, like the plants, can also turn towards harvest. We bloom and fruit, shapeshift, and mature.

Autumn Equinox invites us to consider our harvest:

• What is maturing and coming into fruit?
• What is still ripening?
• What harvest abundance can be shared with others?

One thing that is ripening in me is the ability to not push against life as much. The gardens and all the tending asked of me, the support of my parents as they age, our dog Sammy’s dying process… it all has its own timing which I can participate in, but I’m learning that I don’t need to push any of it.

Pushing—trying to do too much all at once, moving too fast, thinking I know the right way—just creates anguish and pain. I’ve done that too much and it’s finally beginning to shapeshift…

What about you? What will your harvest be this Autumn Equinox?

I go forth under the
mantle of earth:
clarity of glaciers,
silence of deserts,
beauty of mountains,
sweetness of valleys,
mystery of forests,
flow of rivers,
depth of oceans,
equity of plains,
homeyness of hills.
Earth-Mantle cover me,
keep and preserve me,
from strike of spark
till fall of dark.

* from Celtic Devotional, Caitlin Matthews, p. 98 & 104