The Autumn Equinox is more than just a shift in seasons. It can offer a pause, a threshold moment between light and dark, between the outward busyness of summer and the inward quiet of autumn. This turning point invites us to release our old leaves, welcome new harvests, and ground ourselves in practices that honor both personal and collective transformation and prayers for positive change.
The Power of Letting Go
Just as the trees release their leaves, we too are called to let go. The Equinox offers us an invitation to notice what no longer serves, which “leaves” of our own lives are ready to fall away.
These may be habits, identities, or old stories we’ve outgrown. When we allow these aspects to be released, we create fertile soil for the new possibilities waiting to emerge. In this way, letting go is not an ending but creating space for a beginning.
Receiving the Gifts of the Season
Autumn is also a season of harvest. Corn ripens, pumpkins swell with abundance, and the natural world offers its bounty in preparation for the quiet of winter. The Equinox reminds us to celebrate our own harvests: the projects we’ve nurtured, the inner growth we’ve cultivated, and the joys that have ripened in our lives.
To pause and acknowledge these blessings grounds us in gratitude. It also opens us to receive the deeper nourishment of the season, both in body and in spirit.
Rituals of Renewal and Prayer
At this year’s Equinox, I am hosting a community gathering to support The Woman’s Rite project, which explores the wisdom and empowerment of elder women. As part of our ceremony, we will create a blessing tree, also called a prayer tree.
Each person will write a prayer or intention on a small piece of fabric and tie it to the branches of a tree placed at the center of our circle. These prayers might be as simple as “Protect nature” or as profound as “Embrace the divine feminine.” Together, they weave a collective tapestry of vision and hope.
Even if you cannot be present in person, you might wish to try a similar ritual at home. Create a simple prayer flag, write your intention on it, and hang it where you will see it often. These small acts anchor your prayers into the fabric of daily life and remind you that your energy matters.
Embracing the Beauty of Change
The Equinox also reminds us of the beauty found in change. For women especially, this project invites us to honor the journey into elderhood with grace. Letting go of youthful appearances, such as blonde hair or smooth skin, becomes less about loss and more about stepping into an inner radiance that shines from the soul.
This is one of the many intentions of The Woman’s Rite film: to celebrate the resilience, beauty, and wisdom of women entering the final third of life. It is a call to all of us, at every stage, to embrace the cycles of change with courage and self-love.
Walking Forward Together
Perhaps the most powerful message of the Equinox is that we are not alone. Just as the earth turns through its cycles, we walk together through our own seasons of growth and transformation. By gathering in community, offering our prayers, and supporting each other’s light, we add our energy to a greater stream of possibility.
More than ever, the world needs this collective cultivation of love, compassion, and harmony. Each of us contributes uniquely, and each contribution matters.
Closing Reflection
As we welcome the Autumn Equinox, may you feel supported by the beauty around you and strengthened by the wisdom within. May you find courage to let go of what is finished, gratitude for what has come to fruition, and openness to the new season ahead.
If this reflection resonates with you, I invite you to stay connected. Join our monthly Soul Stream Illumination Card Reading for guidance at the start of each month, or sign up for our Ezine to receive inspiration directly in your inbox. Together, we can continue walking this path of presence, purpose, and possibility in touch with what matters most.