5 Autumn Rituals to Celebrate the Turning of the Season
Here on Witching Hour Farm, Autumn has arrived quietly—misty mornings, frostbit foliage, the sound of geese overhead. It’s a time of gathering and gratitude, of honoring what’s come to fruition and releasing what’s ready to return to the soil.
Here are five simple rituals to align with the season’s rhythm.
1. Build an Autumn Altar
Gather what the land offers. This could be acorns, seed pods, feathers, a few bright leaves, a sprig of mugwort or rosemary. Arrange them with care, giving thanks to the Earth for her continual cycles of growth and rest.
2. Brew a Hearth Tea
Blend herbs that warm and nourish: cinnamon, rosehips, apple, ginger, or bee balm. As the tea steeps, whisper your gratitude into the steam. Drink slowly and feel the warmth root down into your belly, the hearth fire within.
3. Honor the Harvest
Write down the things you’ve grown or tended this year—projects, relationships, lessons, even the things that didn’t go as planned. Place your list beneath a candle or near your altar, acknowledging the full story of the harvest.
4. Walk the Land at Dusk
Step outside as light fades. I like to do this when I get home each evening after supper and call it "Touring the Estate". Notice the scent of decaying leaves, the quiet hum of the Earth preparing for rest. Let the rhythm of your footsteps remind you that slowing down is a natural part of the cycle.
5. Practice a Ritual of Release
Write what you’re ready to let go of on small slips of paper. Bury them beneath a tree or burn them safely in a small fire. As the ashes cool, imagine that same energy becoming fertile soil for what’s to come.
Autumn invites us to return to ourselves. To shed, to soften, and to root.
What rituals are you tending this season?
