Honouring Autumn: Embracing the Descent

Honouring Autumn: Embracing the Descent.

As we step further into march, we welcome the turning of the wheel—the descent into autumn, both in the land around us and within ourselves. The energy shifts, calling us inward, inviting reflection, and whispering of the cycles we are woven into.

Just as the trees begin to shed, preparing for the stillness of winter, so too does our inner autumn ask us to let go, surrender, and embrace the sacred transition. This is a time of reflection, recalibration and honouring the quiet wisdom of the season.

The Autumn Equinox: The Sacred Threshold

In just a short time, we arrive at the autumn equinox (March 20th), a potent point in the wheel of the year where light and dark find perfect balance before the descent into the darker half of the year. This is a threshold—a time of reflection, gratitude, and release.

For centuries, the equinox has been honoured as a sacred pause, a moment to acknowledge both the abundance of what has been and the surrender to what must now fall away. In the southern hemisphere, this marks the shift from the outward energy of summer into the deep wisdom of autumn and winter—a descent inward, into shadow, introspection, and renewal.

What is inner autumn?

In the sacred rhythm of the womb, inner autumn is the premenstrual phase, mirroring the season of autumn. It is the time when our energy naturally begins to wane, guiding us to slow down, reflect and prepare for the deeper inward journey of inner winter (our bleed).

Where summer is outward, expressive, and full of fire, autumn is the threshold—the space between abundance and release, creation and dissolution, light and shadow. It is the time of the wise woman, the wild one who knows what no longer serves, who stands in her power and makes space for what is true.

Inner autumn & the descent.

This phase is often the one most resisted in modern life. We are conditioned to push through, to ignore the call inward and to dismiss the emotions, sensitivities, and truths that rise here. But inner autumn is a gift—it is our body’s way of speaking, a sacred whisper from our intuition, a mirror of what needs tending before we step into the stillness of our bleed.

This is the time to tune in. To listen. To let yourself feel.

As the air grows cooler and the first cool whispers of change move through the trees, we too are called to honour these rhythms within ourselves. Autumn invites us into the transition, the descent and the powerful release that is necessary for renewal.

Questions to ask yourself in autumn: (seasonal and pre-bleed)

• What am I holding onto that I no longer need?

• Where am I feeling resistance?

• How can I honour my need for rest, solitude or deeper presence?

• What emotions are surfacing for me?

Ritual is a powerful way to work with this season, both within and around us.

Equinox & Inner Autumn Ritual: Releasing & Rebalancing

As we move toward the autumn equinox, we are gifted a moment of balance before the descent deepens. This ritual honours both the light and the dark—giving gratitude for what has been and releasing what must now be surrendered.

What you’ll need:

• a quiet space, either indoors or outdoors, where you feel connected to nature.

• a journal and pen.

• a small fireproof dish (if possible) or a bowl of water.

• a leaf or a small piece of paper (to represent your thoughts, feelings, or things you wish to release).

• a grounding crystal (black tourmaline or smokey quartz).

• a candle to represent the balance of light and dark.

Steps:

1. Create Sacred Space

Light your candle, symbolising the balance of the equinox. take a moment to breathe deeply, grounding yourself in the present moment. if you are outside, notice the subtle shifts in the air, the land, and the trees—witnessing nature’s transition.

2. Reflect on Balance & Transition

In your journal, reflect on both the harvest and the release:

• What have I gained, achieved, or cultivated in the last six months?

• What wisdom or experiences am I grateful for?

• What is asking to be let go of so that I may move forward lighter?

3. Release through Fire or Water:

Write what you are releasing on the leaf or small piece of paper. Hold it to your heart, acknowledging its presence and then place it in the fireproof dish (or bowl of water). As it burns or dissolves, visualise yourself surrendering what no longer serves, making space for renewal.

4. Anchor into the descent

Hold your grounding crystal in your hand or place it against your body. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths, feeling yourself rooting deeper into this transition.

Whisper (or write) an intention for the season ahead—something you wish to embrace during your inner autumn and winter.

5. Gratitude & closing

Sit in stillness for a few moments, feeling the weight lifted from your spirit. Blow out your candle with a breath of gratitude, sealing your ritual.

Optional closing affirmation:

“I honour the balance of light and dark within me. As the wheel turns, I release with trust, and I descend with grace. I surrender to the wisdom of the season, knowing that every ending is a new beginning.”

Deepening your Inner Autumn Rituals.

For those who feel the call to delve deeper into the descent, to hold space for the emotions and wisdom rising in this phase, i offer:

Ritualistic Space – an online sacred container where we tune into the rhythms of our wombs, honour our cyclical nature, and work with ritual to support our transitions.

Sacred Recalibration – a three-hour in-person journey of cacao, intention setting, and energy medicine healing—a space to shed, release, and realign with your truth as you prepare for your inner winter.

This is the season of refinement. The time to come back to self, to listen, and to let go of what is no longer meant to be carried forward.

I you feel called to honour your inner autumn in sacred space, join me inside ritualistic space or step into sacred recalibration.

A time of deep power.

Where inner summer is about being seen, inner autumn is about seeing ourselves—our depths, our truths, our shadows. This is where power lives—in our ability to hold ourselves through the descent, to embrace the sacred release, and to surrender into the cycle.

As the leaves begin to turn and the air grows cooler, let yourself listen. Honour what is shifting, what is ready to be let go of and what is whispering in the quiet spaces between.

Autumn reminds us that every ending is simply a beginning in disguise.

This is the path of the wise woman. this is the power of inner autumn.

What is autumn bringing up for you? Drop into the comments and share your reflections. If you feel called to be held in ritual, explore my offerings or email me.