'Tis The Season of Witches & Spooks- Autumn is Here!

The days have begun to get chillier, and the nights are longer.
Summer's abundance has given way to Autumn's decline.
The Sun God has died, and the Goddess is mourning;
comforted only by the knowledge that His offspring sleeps within Her womb.

The tides of the year have turned; what was waxing is now on the wane.
Leaves of gold, russet and auburn flutter in their final descent to the ground.

As the sun loses it's power & strength;
the long hot days turn into long cold nights.
The people of the world turn inward, towards hearth & home.


Scents of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg & pumpkin beckon us to feast;
and the crackle & roar of the hearth flame entices us to come close to one another,
and snuggle beneath sweaters & blankets & furs.

The prosperity of Summer has left a bounty in her wake,
squashes, and gourds, fruits, berries and nuts abound.
The flowers and herbs in our gardens,
are now sagging, laid heavy with the weight of their seeds.
The tasks of Summer are now abandoned for Autumn activites.
Closing up, turning in, gathering & securing what one has grown & created.
Bustle & outward energy is now conserved & preserved;
this now becomes the inward hibernation & planning for the next season's growth.

This is the Season of Autumn.

It is the funeral march of the natural world.
The time of Death & Regeneration.

A time of honoring Ancestors, and giving thanks for what once was-
While gathering in & making preparations for what is soon to be.

A celebratory time; of home, family & friends.
As well as a time to honor the dark forces of the world- not evil-
but the darkness that compliments & balances the light. Darkness that is still, rich & full of mystery.
Darkness that allows us the time to slow down-
enough to feel the subtle energies that are lost to the bustle of te day.
The darkness that nurtures the world of dreams, the realm of the soul.
Darkness that allows us to peirce the veil, that separates us from the astral.

Autumn is the time of the Crone.
She, who represents the gifts that come with only with age-
gifts of wisdom, elderhood, ripening into one's full potental;
knowlege that has been gathered & gleaned from a lifetime of experience.
She posseses a power that is refined.

The Crone is the gift of freedom.
Freedom from the petty concerns of youth.
Freedom from the burdens of false vanity.
The Crone is the very esscence of Autumn.

These are the gifts of Autumn; this most wonderful time of year.
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The month of October is a time of anticipation, preparation and creativty for many of us. It is a time of closing down the activity of the Spring & Summer; and turning inward towards hearth & home for the Fall & Winter months.

I enjoy the turning of the seasons, and Autumn is my favorite time of the year. I am always so grateful for the gifts of the previous Spring & Summer; and I am excited to begin the process of turning in for the year. I love feeling he weather change, donning boots, coats and gloves; as the chill sets in. I find myself watching for the arrival of seed pods, where flowers once bloomed; of watching the leaves turn colors, and then float silently to the ground.

This beautiful season brings with it preparaton & anticipation of the many holidays & celebrations to come. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years and (in my own case family birthdays, as well as my own Winter Soltice birthday.)

There are family visits, dinners, holiday parties, school pagents & plays, church events and vacations to enjoy. Parties to plan, homes to decorate, feasts to prepare.

For myself, it is a time of intense creatvity- as I plan, craft, and prepare a plethora of Autumn crafts, decorations, treats and props- that all culminate in our annual Halloween Potluck Party.

And the Autumn Equinox is what kicks off this flurry of Autumn activity.

So,I know that I am not alone, as I say that I am so happy that Autumn is finally here!

'Tis the Season of Witches & Spooks!

A MOST HAPPY OCTOBER TO ONE & ALL!