“If we see nature as pausing, immediately all mortifies and decays; but seen as progressing, she is beautiful.” –Henry David Thoreau
The Autumn Equinox encourages us to celebrate the magical change in seasons—a beautiful moment filled with potential and tranquility. This unique energy portal is accessible to everyone, providing an opportunity to connect with ourselves and the world around us.
In this post, I warmly invite you to join me in the Alchemical Equinox Ritual, a continuation of Part 1: Autumn Equinox Magic. I am excited to take you on a journey through the phases and steps with purposeful intention, mindful breath, and the powerful sacred symbol of the Flower of Life, enhanced by the healing properties of Flower Essence Aromatherapy tools.
Let’s fully embrace this alchemical moment together in a sacred pause, being present and open to the cosmic energies coalescing around us.
Be Intentional as You Prepare
As we prepare for the upcoming season, the Autumn Equinox signifies a threshold, a gateway, as we transition from the heat of summer to the productive preservation of life and the needs that sustain us. By simply pausing, we reconnect with the mystery of the unknown through the breath and honor the transition of this year’s cycle.
Select a quiet space, either indoors or outdoors, where you will not be disturbed by other people, pets, or loud noises for approximately 30 minutes.- Create a small altar by placing the elements that symbolize the sacred wheel on a black cloth.
- East – a lit candle
- South – apples, flowers, fall leaves
- West – a glass cup of spring water and tokens of your accomplishments this year
- North – a clear quartz crystal
- Gather your Flower Essence Aromatherapy Support tools (see Part 1) so they can easily be accessed during your ritual.
- Place your glass of spring water within reach.
Write an Intention for your Ritual
An intention is a way to align your heart and mind. It serves as a clear and thoughtful signal to the universe, as well as to your subconscious and conscious mind, inviting in the experiences you desire. It powerfully conveys your intention to authentically connect with and harness the alchemical energy of your ritual.
Example:
“May I open my heart to connect with the energy of love and support, allowing myself to commune with all aspects of my being.
As I enter the portal of the Equinox, may I do so with soft allowance, open to receiving the universal energy of love.
May I honor the sacred pause of the equinox moment with my own breath, the inbetween of inhale and exhale.
May that which does not serve my higher purpose fall away.
In this way, may my experience empower me through the next season of my life.”
Performing your Ritual
The best time for your ritual is during the golden hour before sunset on the equinox. It is a potentized “in-between” time when day and night are balanced, the world paused on the threshold of change.
Phase 1: Begin your Ritual
Step 1
Position yourself to face west, directly towards the setting sun.- Place six drops of Gateway Ritual Essence on the top of your head at the crown.
- With closed eyes, visualize a golden Flower of Life sacred symbol, before you
- Feel the sun’s light energizing the sacred symbol, harmonizing the energy of the equinox portal.
- Please take a deep breath to fill your lungs, pause at the top to hold it, and then exhale slowly. Repeat three times.
Step 2
- Under your tongue, place six drops of Earth Wisdom Ritual Essence.
- Once again, with your eyes closed, visualize the Flower of Life before you.
- Feel your connection to the Earth’s wisdom and the primordial imprint of the flower of life in balance with the cosmos.
- Again, please take a deep breath to fill your lungs, pause at the top to hold it, and then exhale slowly. Repeat three times.
Step 3
- In your glass of water, place six drops of Acceptance Ritual Essence.
- Take a sip of your water and envision it sparkling like diamonds as you swallow, carrying with it a deep sense of self-acceptance.
- Again, close your eyes and visualize the golden Flower of Life before you.
- Touch your palms to your chest to connect and transfer the energy of the essence to your heart.
- Feel the harmonizing effect of a deeply felt acceptance of your earth-life.
- Again, please take a deep breath to fill your lungs, pause at the top to hold it, and then exhale slowly. Repeat three times.
Phase 2: Calling your Spirit Helpers
Step 4
- Mist Calling Your Spirit Helpers around your head and body, breathe deeply of its aromatic and vibrational essences.
- Close your eyes and invite your Spirit Helpers and Guides to join you during your ritual.
- Take another deep breath, enjoying the fusion of Palo Santo and Rose Otto scent, which will ground and anchor you in your heart.
- Sense, feel, intuit, hear, or visualize your ally’s loving presence and wisdom offered to you.
- Again, please take a deep breath to fill your lungs, pause at the top to hold it, and then exhale slowly. Repeat three times.
Phase 3: Embodying your Ritual
“The human body is beautiful. It is such a privilege to be embodied. You have a relationship to place through the body. It is no wonder that humans have always been fascinated by place. Place offers us a home here; without place we would literally have no where.” – John O’Donohue
This phase of our ritual is a devotional offering to “the one who protects what is most sacred.” It is intended for those who feel called to navigate and transform the forces that seek to compromise and weaken unity consciousness. Embodying our ritual serves to ignite our inner power and fulfill our responsibilities, harnessing the profound gift of body, mind, and spirit.
Step 5
- When you are ready, mindful of the moment and the sacred equinox hour, “feel” the energetic transitional shift from summer to autumn.
- Close your eyes. Pause and breathe deeply. Allow.
- Feel into the pause between your breaths: what’s opening, what’s closing, what’s falling away as you step into the portal of celestial energies coalescing in this moment.
- Sink into the moment. Notice the space opening within.
- Allow your awareness to expand, and then, with kindness, invite yourself to be fully present in this moment.
Phase 4: Untangling What is Ready to be Released
For something new to emerge, the old and outdated must make way.
Step 6
- Mist Release Spray and breathe deeply of its aromatic and vibrational essences.
- Close your eyes. Pause and breathe deeply the invigorating aroma of Palo Santo and Lemongrass.
- Notice the subtle untangling of energetic patterns and habits no longer helpful for your growth and evolution.
- Be mindful of the assistance your guides and spirit helpers provide.
- Pause and breathe deeply. Allow.
Phase 5: Reflection & Introspection
In this sacred space of the Equinox portal, be present with all that is. There is no better time of year to review your life, to reflect and acknowledge what has changed and what you have grown into, as well as reflect on the blessings you have experienced.
Step 7
Begin to reflect on the dreams and intentions you have achieved or not achieved this past year.
- Close your eyes. Pause and breathe deeply. Allow.
- Ask yourself:
- What has given shape to my becoming over this summer growing season?
- What am I learning that is changing me?
- What can I no longer unsee?
- What am I shedding? What is falling away?
- What is finished?
- What is nearing completion?
- What is hidden in the depths of my soul?
- Are my beliefs and choices aligned with my values?
- What is the story I have told myself about my experience this year?
- Is there a theme? (lack, abundance, struggle, loneliness, identity, etc.)
- What frightens me most?
- In what areas of my life do I need courage?
- What am I avoiding?
- What habits (of the mind or body) do I cling to?
- What distractions do I excuse?
- What must I cut away and leave behind?
- Where am I still holding back?
- What fruits or soul lessons am I harvesting and bringing with me into the dark time as a source of sustenance?
- Fully open yourself to receive what is being offered.
- Continue to take deep breaths. Let your answers come naturally.
Phase 6: Harnessing New Moon Energy
Your body’s wisdom holds the essence of water. Water is deeply connected to our feeling body, emotions, intuition, memory, and the subconscious mind, as well as the genesis of new ideas and spiritual exploration.
The energy of the new moon promotes emotional healing, calmness, and clarity. It helps us to create new space for deep feeling and processing before the energy shifts to more outward expressions later in the cycle.
Step 8
- Pause, take a deep breath, and acknowledge that the new moon is activating exactly what you need during this ritual.
- In this moment of receptivity and openness, focus your attention on your feeling body.
- Allow any emotion to become present.
- Allow them to flow freely and take shape in your body..
- Observe them without judgment.
- Name them. (Glad, sad, mad, scared, or numb)
- Allow them.
- Pause, breathe, feel.
- Notice the hidden places where you may feel resistance.
- Pause, breathe, feel.
- Ask yourself:
- What areas of my life do I need more flow?
- What areas in my life need greater balance?
- What actions do I need to take?
- What habits support effortless wellbeing?
- What are the self-care practices that sustain me?
- Where can I improve?
- What fundamental values shape the direction of my life?
Phase 7: Ignite the Power of Forgiveness
Releasing grudges and healing from past hurts liberates our hearts and minds! Embracing forgiveness not only empowers us but also allows us to tap into our profound inner strength with the frequency of loving acceptance..
Step 9
- Place six drops of Refuge Ritual Essence on the top of your head at the crown. Gently massage a few drops onto your sternum, near your heart.
- Pause, breathe in self-love.
- Ask yourself
- What regrets am I still holding onto that are keeping me from achieving my full potential?
- Name them aloud.
- What resentments are you holding toward any other person? Toward yourself?
- Name them aloud.
- From whom do you seek forgiveness?
- Name them aloud.
- Who else can you forgive?
- Name them aloud.
- Continue to take deep breaths. Pausing to give space for your answers to come naturally.
- With closed eyes and hands on your heart, visualize the Flower of Life sacred symbol before you.
- Receive and take refuge in the transformative frequency of this moment.
- Breathing deeply. Allow your breath to expand to all your cells.
- Then release your breath and forcefully exhale, emptying your lungs completely.
- Pause, take deep, full breaths, and ground yourself to accept and forgive yourself for any mistakes or transgressions.
- Direct the following prayer toward yourself, the center of your heart:
“I’m sorry, Please forgive me, I love you, Thank you.”
- With your eyes closed, feel it resonate deep inside your being as you breathe in your prayer.
Phase 8: Gratitude Shifts
At the Autumn Equinox
May we recognize and give thanks for
the blessings of the summer harvestand the fruits of our gardens.
As we mark the equinox let us wonder at the Mystery that is Life,
We open ourselves to the blessings of both dark and light.
As we mark this alchemical transition the Equinox portal.
May we find the balance we desire and need in our lives:
– being and becoming
– spirit and body
– mind and soul.
Ah Ho
Step 10
To truly recognize and value the incredible gifts, support, and insights we received can profoundly enrich our lives.
- Ask yourself:
- What achievements this year fill me with pride and accomplishment?
- Name them aloud.
- What incredible blessings and valuable gifts have I been fortunate enough to receive this year?
- Name them aloud.
- What am I most grateful for?
- Name them aloud.
- Who are the wisdom keepers in my lineage that connect me to the past and the future?
- Name them aloud.
- What is the one constant always with me as I travel around the sacred wheel, each day?
- Name it.
- As you listen to your heart, breathe.
- Thank yourself for showing up – for engaging in a transformational process, anchored in intentional ritual.
- Thank your body, the body of Earth, and all of the forces of love who have joined you this evening.
- In appreciation, thank your guides and spirit helpers for their inspirational guidance.
- Thank the Earth for the abundant harvest in many forms: food that nourishes us, the water that keeps us alive and cleanses us, the air we breathe …
- Pause, breathe, feel the gratitude expand from your heart.
- In closing, take a moment to express your gratitude to your loved ones, family, and friends, and those strangers in our community.
Thank you for joining me. Together we can be the change.
Phase 9: Trusting Your Process & The Gifts of Insight
Here, the generous nature of the infinite unfolds, inviting us to rest in the gentle truth that we are part of an unending flow of giving and receiving.
Closing our Ritual
- We conclude our transition through the Autumn Equinox portal by misting Trust Spray around our head and body, marking the end of our ritual.
- Pause and take a deep breath, inhaling the grounding scents of sandalwood and pine.
- Allow these aromas to ground you in trusting yourself as you move into the next season of your life, making choices that bring you vitality, joy, love, and purpose.
- Please take a deep breath and acknowledge that the potent alchemy of our ritual together provided you with exactly what you need.
- Allow the Flower of Life symbol to fade into the ether as the sun sets and night approaches.
- Offer yourself the gift of momentary silliness.
- Take a few deep breaths to return your awareness fully to the here and now.
- Open your eyes.
Equinox Magic Light
As I opened my eyes, I was greeted by a luminous rose-colored light as the sun sank below the horizon.
In that breathtaking moment, I was enveloped by the profound harmony of the magic around me, flooding my soul with an exhilarating sense of gratitude.
Every ritual journey has its moment of introduction and conclusion—a clear beginning and a powerful end.
Just as leaves gracefully fall to make way for fresh growth, your journey is a continuous and transformative process. Embrace each step, each breath, as it leads you to new possibilities throughout the Autumn season.
A breath,
a breaking open,
a fragile beauty rising—
not tomorrow,
but now,
within us,
through us,
the new world waiting.–Paul Engler
All my aromatic Love,
Vidya