Emma Kathryn Wild Witchcraft

As the wheel of the year trundles ever onwards, here we are at the autumn equinox (at least for those of us in the northern hemisphere).

The eqinoxes always have their own energies about them. In the spring, we might feel our energies rising and make plans for the coming light. The autumn equinox, though, is a great time for a bit of self care before we descend into the dark half of the year.

This isn’t going to be yet another blog post that lists all the correspondences and associations for the autumn equinox. There are already so many good ones out there. Instead, it is my reminder to slow down and bring some of the balance that signifies this sabbat and time of year into the microcosm of our own daily lives.

Being Mindful

Okay, so I used to hate anything related to mindfulness, thanks to working in a shop. Honestly, mindfulness became a bit of a buzzword and was marketed to death by the capitalist machine. Us staff would get fed up with mindfulness colouring books, mindfulness puzzles, and so on. It felt like manufacturers were just chucking the word ‘mindfulness’ in front of anything along with a few quid extra on the price to cash in.

However, in the last few months, my mind has been thoroughly changed. My day job is now in a school that takes wellbeing very seriously, so much so our headteacher booked all staff into an in person mindfulness course. Our mindfukness teacher used to be a neuro scientist, which was helpful in understanding stress and how we identify it as well as the effects on our bodies and minds, and I am now a mindfulness convert! And guess what, you don’t need to spend anything!

One of the practices that has been most helpful to me has been recognising small moments that bring pleasure, nothing major, just those moments that might occur. It might just be a moment of sitting in the sun and listening to the birds where you notice how pleasant and calm it was, or the cool freshness of the morning air and how refreshed it made you feel. I think this is the perfect activity for the autumn equinox.

Take a piece of paper, some coloured pens or pencils, and just sit and think of a moment in the day that has brought you some measure of joy. For me, it was the drive to work this morning, the cool and fresh air, the bright sun, and the autumnal colours already starting to appear in the hedgerows and trees.

You don’t need to write lots of words, just snippets, simple words or phrases that sum up that moment. You can draw or colour or simply write your words in colours. The point of this exercise is to bring the feelings you experienced then into the present moment. Done over time, you get accustomed to noticing those small but meaningful moments as they arise, allowing us to feel connected to the moment, our bodies, and the world around us.

Bodily Care

Taking care of our physical needs is also important, and so this morning, I decided to make an oat facial exfoliator. To make this you will need:

• 3 tablespoons of coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons of crushed oats
• 1 tablespoon of almond oil
• A few drops of lavender essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix thoroughly, ensuring the oats are evenly distributed. Use as you would a normal facial exfoliator and keep the rest in an airtight container in the fridge. It will leave your skin feeling smooth and hydrated!

I paired this with a relaxing bath this morning with bath salts by simply adding a tablespoon of lavender flowers and a few drops of lavender oil to 1 cup of Epsom salts. And if you felt like it, you can even make this into a full-blown self care ritual!

Light a candle and run a bath. Add the salts, and as the bath runs, bring to mind all you have achieved over the summer months. Say:

Autumn equinox, balance in me

All I have done and all I may be.

Equal dark and equal light

Before the wheel turns to night

A moment of peace, a time of calm

The coolness of a healing balm,

My power and grace, return to me

As I will it so mote it be!

Then enjoy your relaxing bath, knowing that it is okay to simply rest in this time of balance.

An Autumn Equinox Recipe

So I recently bought a cast iron cooking cauldron. I know, I know, I’m somewhat obsessed with cauldrons! And in true witch style, I used it to cook over an open fire. You don’t have to go that far, this one pot recipe is just as good in a pan on the hob.

You will need”

• 2 medium onions
• 3 or 4 cloves of garlic
• 1 tin of kidney beans
• 1 tin of butter beans
• 1 tin of chickpeas
• 1 tin of chopped tomatoes
• 1 bell pepper
• 300ml vegetable stock
• 3 tablespoons chilli powder
• 1 teaspoon of garam masala or cumin
• 2 tablespoons of oil

Heat the oil in a large pan over a medium heat and gently cook the onions, garlic and pepper until soft. Add the tinned ingredients along with the stock and the seasonings and simmer until the liquid has reduced to a nice thickness. You could even add rice with the stock for a sumptuous one pot meal.

Other Bits & Bobs

There you have it, just a few ideas to help you celebrate the autumn equinox in a way that soothes and heals rather than leaving you feeling bad you didn’t have the time or energy for a massive ritual, but that’s not all. There are many ways to quietly celebrate the season  including going for a walk simply to spend time out in nature, building those non-human relationships us witches always seem to bang on about. Sup a glass of spiced cider or burn your favourite incense as the day gives way to night. There is no right or wrong way to observe the sabbats, so long as they are meaningful to you!

Blessed autumn equinox witches!