Season Of The Soul | Autumn Equinox
Oh, can you feel the excitement of slowing down, or does it perhaps feel like a loss or grief for you after summers warmth?
The drop of the sun, longer shadows and calm, cool nights are upon us, and this week we greet the Autumn Equinox, Mabon(23rd September at 1.04 am).
Yesterday I held space for 5 wonderful folk in the studio. A warm cocoon, filled with candles, aromatherapy, and softness… the whole afternoon felt like a journey; I realise after 4 years of holding these retreats that I’m guiding people down a path, knowing deeply that it takes time to truly soften, rest, and let go. Especially when transitioning through seasons and significant moments on the cyclical calendar.
Today's article is hopefully a little reminder or sign to slow down. I want to honour some of the teachings and insights that I shared yesterday and give you some practical tools to support you during this period of transition; from expansion into reflection.
The Season Of The Soul
Summer is expansive, outwards, full of distraction, energy, heat and power. At this point in the year, the equinox is about slowing down, and reflecting inwards, taking the time to do the sometimes difficult practices of meditation, mindfulness, sitting quietly and reflecting. This Autumn is a mirror to the Spring next year, things don’t just happen over night(even though we currently live in a world of immediate gratification and distraction). So the work you do this Autumn and winter is in preparation for Spring next year.
So, where do you want to be next Spring? What can you envisage or dream up for yourself?
Let your mind wander; do not squash your dreams and meandering mind with the ‘but how ’; now is not the time for details and practical control.
Balance.
The Equinox is a perfect time to look at balance. As the dark and light get caught in perfect balance, you can take a moment to reflect on where you might need more balance in your life. Where has your energy been, and is it serving you? What does your heart want more or less of.
You can also apply this to the greater good and set things in motion for your community and those you love. This might sound like the opposite of quiet reflection, but our journey and path should also be with others in mind.
Crossing The Threshold
In this moment, we are starting the descent towards the darkness. The veil is thinning; we might be reminded more of those we have lost and our relationship with letting go and releasing control.
IN TCM the metal element is significant this time of year, linked to the lungs and the heart. lungs release grief, loss or sadness, which in turn is reflected in nature. The light is weaker; the leaves blossom into colour before they drop and fall. Nature reminds us constantly of the full experience of life, and that it is ok to feel it all. From the joy and expansion of a bright sun, to the grief and sadness of the darkness. If nature can drop it leaves and settle into winter, then we can learn to do the same too.
Perhaps make a little alter and think of how you might be able to honour Mabon into Samhain(halloween) with gratitude, memories, photos, beautiful things from nature. lighting a candle, to signify gratitude, hope and light in the dark..
Main Chakras
A quick rundown of what to focus on this month:
Muladhara, Root: Grounding practices. Walk in the woods, stay close to nature. Deep Long breaths, journalling, and build a solid and dedicated routine to combat ‘Vata’.
Svadhisthana, Sacral: Thinking on flow and movement and creation, this period can be filled with day dreaming and flexibility of thought. Try to release control and keep your body moving, whether that's through yoga, dance, swimming or somatics.
Anahata, Heart: Both the Chakra system and TCM focus on the lungs/air/breath/loss this time of year. The lungs represent the heart(often why people might cry during breath work). When we find a fuller breath, a softer belly and a genuine rhythm our body will drop into rest and digest and hopefully inturn feel safe enough to emote. It’s not about breathing deeping and hoping we cry! It’s about finding a full breath, listening to our lungs, and tuning into the heart, with open receptivity.
A few extra witchy things.
Sprinkle Cinnamon on your doorstep before sunset on the equinox, invited warmth and well mannered people(and spirits in!)
Bake with apples(recipe below!), gords, sweet potatoes, butternut squash.
Set up/renew your altar, elements like pumpkins, acorns, colorful leaves, pomegranates and pinecones. Incorporate the season’s colors of reds, oranges, golds, and browns,
Candle ritual to represent the energies of light and dark. Place one white candle and one black candle side by side on your altar or workspace. Light both.
As the flames burn, spend a few quiet minutes reflecting. What habits, fears, or thought patterns are you ready to release as the days grow shorter? What strengths, values, or goals do you want to carry with you through the darker months? Write your answers down, or speak them aloud as a form of release
Ayurvedic tips:
Air is the dominant element in a vata constitution, which means that the seasonal changes occurring during autumn, where wind increases and the weather becomes cooler and drier, can really aggravate this dosha. Vata is at risk of becoming out of balance during the autumn months. Like a sudden gust of wind can cause you to lose your balance, the vata constitution is also at risk from losing their stability.
A balance of vata in the body brings comfortable movement, regular breathing, a consistent appetite, normal bowel function, positive enthusiasm, healthy desire, good energy, a calm mind and inspirational creativity. If your vata becomes tipped out of balance you may lose weight, have increased dryness of the skin, hair and bowels, feel dehydrated, have excessive bloating, erratic digestion and suffer from insomnia and anxiety.
You can balance vata’s cold, airy and dry tendencies by increasing its opposite qualities and introducing more warmth, earthiness and oily nourishment into your life. This includes staying warm at all times, keeping a regular sleep pattern, and enjoying earthy spices and foods.
Eat at regular intervals and don’t over-eat or forget to eat. Relax and spend time with your food
Practice relaxation methods such as yoga and mindfulness. Yoga postures that are particularly suited to vata types are those which are more grounding and strengthening such as the corpse and lotus poses
Keep yourself moisturised with warming, unctuous oils such as sesame
Emphasise foods that are warm, soupy, heavy and oily. Increase your intake of natural oils
Favour foods that are sweet, sour or salty
Reduce foods that are cold, dry or hard
Reduce foods that are very spicy, bitter or astringent
Avoid refined foods, stimulants and processed foods
Journalling
What are you grateful for?
Challenge yourself and write down at least 21 things on a list.
What are you carrying that you do not want to cross into the next threshold?
What is no longer serving you, what can be fixed, resolved or released.
Where and how can you create more balance?
Rest vs action. Work vs life. Control vs softening.
What values and promises can you gift yourself for autumn and winter, to keep fear at bay?
acts of self care, making plans with those you love. rituals. moments. nature.
Happy Equinox you lovely lot.
Lastly, the MOST delicious vegan apple cake. (Honestly a game changer)
Delicious and warming, this dessert is great straight from the oven with vegan custard, cream or ice cream.
Ingredients
1 lb (445g) cooking apples, peeled and sliced
4 oz (115g) vegan margarine
4 oz (115g) raw cane sugar
4 oz (115g) sultanas
2 oz (57g) candied peel
2 level tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbs boiling water
8 oz (225g) wholemeal flour
½ tsp ground cinnamon
½ tsp ground cloves
½ tsp ground allspice
Method
Cook the apples in the minimum of water. When they are soft, mash to a puree and drain very well.
Cream together the margarine and the sugar, then add the apple purée to make a thick mixture. Stir in the fruit.
Mix the bicarbonate of soda with the water and add this to the mix. Sift together the flour and spices and mix in.
Pour it into a very well greased cake tin, smooth the top and bake at 350ºF/180ºC/Gas Mark 4 for 45 mins to an hour.
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Why not join me in the studio soon:
23 Oct 2026, 19:00 – 20:15
Echo Retreat Centre, 19 Biscay Close, Littlehampton, BN176SW
Join Josephine for an evening of relaxation, sound and connection.
Using sound, rhythm and vibration, Josephine will guide you through a calming experience designed to help you slow down, switch off and take some time for yourself.
21 Nov 2026, 17:30 – 20:30
Echo Retreat Centre, 19 Biscay Close, Littlehampton, BN176SW
Join Josephine for an evening to escape the noise, rush and pressure.
A whole evening ritual of slowing down and being cared for. An immersive evening created to help you slow down, reconnect and deeply unwind.
19 Dec 2026, 13:00 – 16:30
Echo Retreat Centre, 19 Biscay Close, Littlehampton, BN176SW
As the seasons turns to darkness, this gentle afternoon retreat offers space to pause, reflect, and reconnect with yourself. Honouring the cycle of year and celebrating the quiet of winter.
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