Happy Autumn Equinox!

We had an amazing autumn equinox ritual at the shop! I hope you all celebrated in a way that helps you bring balance as we make the transition into the now darker half of the year. I would like to start posting our rituals to the blog to help others who may want inspiration. I am also adding the recipe for the pumpkin cornbread I make every year and our mulled cider. Enjoy!

Autumn Equinox Ritual

Materials Needed

Altar cloth in balanced hues (black, white, with orange/gold accents).
Harvest symbols: Cauldron (for reflection draws), autumn leaves, pumpkins/apples.
Candles: One orange central candle for harvest, one black and one white (LED alternatives for safety)
Ritual tools: Bell or chime for transitions, slips of paper with reflection prompts (see below).
Apples: One per participant (to hold and place around the circle’s edge)
Pumpkin cornbread and hot mulled cider (recipes below)
Cups, plates, silverware, etc.
Drum or recorded music.

Preparation

Arrange the space: Clear a central altar area. Participants form a circle, each placing an apple along the outer edge to define the boundary (apples remain there, not used in offerings). Designate a High Priestess (HPS) and High Priest (HP) to lead, rotating quarter calls.
Pre-ritual: Ground with deep breaths. Warm cornbread and cider nearby for immersion. Print the 25 reflection prompts on slips of paper and place them in the cauldron.
Safety: Ventilate well; keep water for flames. Move carefully in the small space.

Ritual

Opening

HPS: “As day touches night in perfect balance, we gather to celebrate the Autumn Equinox, the harvest, and the sabbat of Mabon! Together we shall honor our gods, this community, and what is to come in the darker days ahead. And finally, to partake in the gifts of the season. Blessed be!”

Grounding and Centering

HPS rings a bell. All stand in a circle, with their apples. Perform grounding and centering and charging the apples.

Casting the Circle

HP: Hold up apples. "With these apples, we weave a circle of balance, uniting earth’s harvest with ancestral wisdom. May we now enter a time between time and a space between space as we walk in the realms of the Mighty Ones. May this circle protect and transform all within this magickal boundary on this sacred night of autumn. The circle is cast. So mote it be."

Invoking the Elements

Call quarters (rotate callers), starting east:

East (Air): "I call to the spirits of Air in the East, winds of change. Bring us clarity as you bless and protect this circle. Hail and welcome!" (Light candle.)
South (Fire): "I call to the spirits of Fire in the South, flames of transformation. Bring us strength as you bless and protect this circle. Hail and welcome!" (Light candle.)
West (Water): "I call to the spirits of Water in the West, seas of emotion. Bring us peace as you bless and protect this circle. Hail and welcome!" (Light candle.)
North (Earth): "I call to the Spirits of Earth in the North, roots of stability. Keep us grounded as you bless and protect this circle. Hail and welcome!" (Light candle.) All: "Hail and welcome!"

Invoking Deities

Light the black and white candles for balance.

Invoking the Goddess (High Priestess): HPS lights the white candle, saying, "Demeter, mother of the harvest, guide our balance with your nurturing grace. Hail and welcome!"
Invoking the God (High Priest): HP lights the black candle, saying, "Dionysus, lord of the vine, fill us with the joy of the harvest as we celebrate in your name. Hail and welcome!"

All visualize their presence, chanting: "Mother of grain, lord of the vine, join us in balance, our paths align."

High Priestess: "Demeter, mother of the harvest, we offer this cornbread, baked from the earth’s abundance, as thanks for your nurturing balance. Accept this gift and bless our circle." (Place bread on the altar.)
High Priest: "Dionysus, lord of the vine, we offer this cider, pressed from the season’s abundance, as a toast to your festive spirit. Accept this gift and lift our hearts." (Places cider on the altar)
Optional Offering Prompt: HPS asks, "If anyone has an offering for the Gods, feel free to place them on the altar now." Participants may step forward to place personal items on the altar, if desired, with a brief word of intent (e.g., "For Demeter’s guidance" or "For Dionysus’s joy").

Core Actions: Balance and Ancestral Reflection

Ancestral Reflection: The HP guides: "As day meets night on this Autumn equinox, we turn to the wisdom of our ancestors and the Gods. May they give each one of us a lesson to focus on during the dark half of the year. I ask each one of you to now take a reflection from the cauldron to guide your inner journey." Each participant takes a slip, holding it until the Cakes and Ale.

Cakes and Ale

HPS blesses cornbread/cider: "Gifts of earth and kin, nourish and enlighten us." HP passes (individual servings).

All share a toast: "May our hungers always be satisfied and our thirsts always quenched!"

After the toast, participants discuss their reflection prompts, sharing insights as they partake in the cornbread and cider.

Closing

Releasing the Deities:

HPS says, "Demeter, thank you for your nurturing balance—Hail and farewell."

HP says, "Dionysus, thank you for your festive spirit—Hail and farewell." Extinguish candles.

Releasing the Elements: Starting with East, HPS or designated callers release:

East (Air): "Spirits of the East, element of Air. We thank you for protecting us. —hail and farewell!"
South (Fire): "Spirits of the South, element of Fire.We thank you for protecting us. —hail and farewell!"
West (Water): "Spirits of the West, element of Water. We thank you for protecting us. —hail and farewell!"
North (Earth): "Spirits of the North, element of Earth. We thank you for protecting us. —hail and farewell!"

Opening the Circle: HPS asks everyone to lift their apples: "Our circle is now open, yet unbroken. So mote it be."

Ring bell. Ground by floor touch.

Sources Inspired By

Drawing from Jason Mankey’s Witch's Wheel of the Year for equinox balance and harvest reflection; Kristin Madden’s Mabon for feasts and cider traditions; Nyx DarkSky’s Everything About Samhain for ancestral themes, creatively woven for a fresh Mabon/Equinox focus.

Reflection Prompts

Your year's harvest. Look back over the year and acknowledge all the successes and accomplishments you've cultivated since the spring. What literal or metaphorical seeds did you plant that have now come to fruition?
Lessons from your challenges. Consider the struggles and difficult times you faced and reflect on what they taught you. Recognize that even the hard moments have contributed to your growth and wisdom.
The balance in your life. The equinox is a moment of equilibrium. Reflect on the balance of light and dark, work and rest, and giving and receiving in your own life. Where do you feel balanced, and where do you feel a bit lopsided?
The energy of the seasons. Contemplate how the energy of summer's activity is now transitioning to the introspection of autumn. How can you align your personal energy with this natural shift toward a slower, more quiet time?
Your spiritual growth. Think about how your spiritual journey has progressed over the year. What insights have you gained, and how has your practice deepened?
What you are ready to release. Just as the trees shed their leaves, Mabon is a time to let go of what no longer serves you. This could be a negative habit, a limiting belief, or emotional baggage holding you back.
Physical and mental clutter. Declutter your physical space, and reflect on the things that weigh down your mind. Clearing out the old creates a more comfortable and cozy sanctuary for the colder months ahead.
The duality within. Mabon invites reflection on the shadow and light aspects of yourself. Acknowledge both sides and seek to integrate them for a sense of wholeness and peace.
Your relationship to fear. As the darkness increases, reflect on your relationship with fear. How can you find strength and wisdom in the dark, rather than letting it overwhelm you?
The cycle of life and death. Nature's transition into dormancy is a reminder of life's cycles. Contemplate the constant process of endings and new beginnings in your own life.
The earth's bounty. Express sincere gratitude for the food you have and the energy that the earth and sun provided to grow it. This can be reflected in preparing and enjoying a seasonal feast.
Your personal blessings. Count your blessings, both big and small. Make a list of everything you are thankful for and write them in a journal or on small slips of paper for a gratitude jar.
Nourishing relationships. Think about the loved ones who have supported you throughout the year. What can you do to honor and nurture these important relationships?
The gifts of nature. Take a walk outside and observe the changing landscape. Reflect on the beauty of the season and the gifts nature provides, from fallen leaves to ripening nuts.
Abundance in all forms. Consider the concept of abundance beyond material wealth. This can include abundance of joy, love, wisdom, and supportive people in your life.
Your inner resources. As nature prepares for winter's stillness, reflect on your inner strength. Identify the qualities and resources within yourself that will sustain you through the coming darker months.
Intentions for the quiet season. What seeds will you be planting in the inner soil of your soul during the winter? This is the time to start forming new ideas and goals that will grow in the unconscious before emerging in the spring.
Connecting with ancestors. Mabon is a time when the veil between worlds thins. You can reflect on and honor your ancestors, seeking their wisdom and guidance as you move into the new season.
Protection and security. With the shift in energy, you can focus on strengthening your sense of safety and grounding. Meditate on what makes you feel secure and what protections you need for the coming season.
Your legacy. Consider the legacy you are building through your actions and intentions. What are you leaving behind for others, and what wisdom are you passing on, much like the harvest being preserved for the future?
Seeds for the future. Just as the harvest is gathered, think about what you want to cultivate next. What new ideas, goals, or projects do you want to start incubating during the quieter months to emerge in the spring?
Connecting to inner wisdom. With the thinning of the veil, Mabon is a good time for deep inner reflection. Ask yourself: What message does my inner wisdom or intuition have for me for the coming season?
Wisdom from the quiet. As nature turns inward, so should you. What practices, such as meditation, journaling, or quiet walks, can you commit to this season to nourish your spirit?
Preserving your energy. Trees pull their energy down into their roots to prepare for winter. How can you preserve your own energy for the darker half of the year? What needs less of your attention?
Rebalancing your focus. Take stock of your time and energy. Which areas of your life have received too much or too little focus? What is one small, intentional step you can take to rebalance your attention?

Pumpkin Cornbread {with Cinnamon Honey Butter}

Original recipe here: Cooking Classy Pumpkin Cornbread

The perfect fall cornbread! Flavored with pumpkin and autumn spices. It's moist and tender and extra delicious when served with cinnamon honey butter!

Servings: 24

Ingredients

Cornbread

2 cup (140g) all-purpose flour
2 cup (170g) cornmeal
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cinnamon
0.5 tsp ground ginger (original recipe is 1tsp, if you like ginger)
0.5 tsp ground nutmeg
0.5 tsp ground cloves
1 cup (110g) packed light-brown sugar
0.5 cup (56g) unsalted butter, melted
2 cup (244g) canned pumpkin
1 cup (122g) sour cream
4 large eggs

Whipped Cinnamon Honey Butter

1 cup (113g) salted butter
0.67 cup (105g) honey
0.5 cup (30g) powdered sugar
2 tsp ground cinnamon

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Spray an 8 by 8-inch baking dish with non-stick cooking spray.
For the cornbread: In a mixing bowl whisk together flour, cornmeal, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves for 20 seconds. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture then set aside.
In a separate mixing bowl, add brown sugar and break up sugar with fingertips until no clumps remain. Add in melted butter and pumpkin and whisk to combine.
Mix in sour cream and eggs until well blended. Pour mixture into well in flour mixture then fold with a rubber spatula just until combined and no streaks of flour remain.
Pour batter into the prepared pan. Spread batter into an even layer.
Bake in a preheated oven until the toothpick inserted into the center comes out free of batter, about 25 - 30 minutes. Cool slightly on a wire rack then cut into squares. May take 40 minutes with gluten free flour
For the cinnamon honey butter: In a mixing bowl (or using a stand mixer) whip butter with an electric hand mixer until smooth.
Add in honey, powdered sugar and cinnamon and mix on low speed until combined, then increase to high speed and whip until light and fluffy, about 2 - 3 minutes.

Mulled Cider:

Ingredients

1 gallon fresh apple cider or unfiltered apple juice
1 medium orange
1 (1 1/2-inch) piece fresh ginger
5 (3-inch) cinnamon sticks
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 large orange, sliced

Add all ingredients to a slow cooker and simmer for a few hours before ritual