For modern pagans, each season holds a special significance. Paganism is typically built around old, sometimes ancient, concepts and belief systems. Since most of these older mindsets developed during times when life revolved heavily around agriculture, it makes sense that current practices follow suit. The autumn, for example, is a season of transition. This is the time of year when summer makes way for winter, and the landscape reflects this. It is also the time when pagans focus primarily on balance. Just as autumn balances two opposing seasons, so does the time of year offer opportunities to establish equilibrium.
Balance can take many forms. Use these tips to learn more about yourself during the autumn and see how transformative the time of year can be.
A Perspective of Growth
Autumn is when the final stages of growth tend to happen for the seeds planted throughout the spring and summer. The harvest is when this bounty is finally realized and appreciated, with people indulging in the fruit of their labors and storing away excess for the coming chill. Autumn makes you stop and take stock of what growth actually means. When something grows, it loses a part of what it was. For a seed, it means growing beyond its initial shell, breaking through the confines of the dirt, and experiencing the dangers that come from following sunlight and air.
Consider what this means for your life. As you have grown over the summer, what have you left in your past? For some, this can be something beneficial like a bad habit or a job that was going nowhere. For others, the losses of the past may be a bit more difficult. You might have endured the loss of a loved one or pet, the end of a relationship, or any number of tragedies. Don’t shy away from the pain. Autumn helps you reflect and understand how to best move forward with what you have lost or left behind.
A Promise for What Is To Come
Since autumn is about balance, you must use this time to counteract thoughts of the past with plans for the future. Unlike the spring, which is a season of transformation centered on the anticipation of the summer’s excitement, fall is predominantly about getting ready for winter. For many, this means getting used to longer stretches of time in the house and away from normal outdoor activities. Since the winter also tends to make people depressed, you may want to build routines that help you fight against seasonal sadness.
Make plans for the winter that you can look forward to. Whether this means scheduling a miniature vacation, organizing a dinner with people you rarely get to see, or indulging in some winter-based activity like skiing, peppering your calendar with such festivities will do wonders for getting through the colder months.
A Creative Opportunity
Above all else, the autumn is known for being a visually appealing time of year. It is hard to deny this when walking amidst trees that are changing from lush greens to the yellows and reds of fall. One way pagans play this to their advantage is by using the autumn as a way of expressing themselves creatively. Just as the trees don new, vibrant shades, so can you make something that is full of color, life, and passion. Paint, draw, bake, sew, or do whatever makes you feel accomplished.
Rituals for modern pagans are usually highly personal in nature. This means you have total control over how you honor the season. Dive deeper into the meaning and mentality of the autumn and see which activities and rituals catch your attention and help you feel connected to this time of change. Whether you follow a creative impulse, fill your planner with future activities, or reflect on what you’ve gone through in recent months, a little effort will help you find what works for you.