Venus in Auburn Flames and Charcoal Autumn Days

Seeing as it was the Autumn Equinox the other day, it only seem right to write a post. As I’ve settled into my new home I’ve had a surge of energy and a compulsive need to write. I always love this time of year.

The equinox also marks the first year anniversary of my blog. That feels crazy to write. One whole year since I started this space. The madness it has brought to my world.

My post had many titles before I finally decided on this one, including The Harlequin Nightmare, The Helix Heroin and there was one about a nebula I think, but non of them quite fit my frame of mind.

I was going to share some thoughts on darkness with you, but then I got distracted by Greek mythology and I found this tale so I thought I’d share that with you instead:

The Greek Goddess of the harvest, Demeter who was responsible for the fertility of the land was supposed to have suffered with depression.

When her daughter Persephone was stolen by Hades, God of the underworld, her distress (or depression) while she was searching for her daughter is supposed to have caused a famine.

Persephone ate pomegranate seeds whilst she was in the underworld and as such became eternally bound to it.

When Demeter finally found her daughter, she could only take her back to earth for half the year before she had to descended into the underworld once again.

Autumn was supposed to represent the start of her traveling back to the underworld.

There are many intriguing stories about the Autumn Equinox. But I liked this one the best. It seemed rather fitting. First of all I love that the ancient Greeks recognised depression. Secondly, I wonder how many pomegranates I’ve eaten…

Of course, the autumn equinox marks that moment between day and night, where there is an equal amount of each, before we transition into more darkness in the day than there is light.

Many people see the transition into autumn as a chance to change, it marks the end of the vibrant life in the summer and the beginning of death that will be brought about by winter- sorry to sound morbid.

It is meant to represent the end of old habits, patterns and toxic behaviours but also the start of new beginnings.

Older cultures recognised the four stages of the year- the winter solstice, the spring equinox, the summer solstice and the autumn equinox as a representation of the soul journey we all take.

They illuminate the cycle and spiritual path we must walk to know ourselves, truly. It’s pretty deep really.

I think a lot of spiritual mysticism has been lost over the years. Gone are the times where we sat around fires and spoke of knowledge about healing, wisdom, self love and growth.

I suppose they had to no time to marvel at the pretty colours of Autumn. It was the season to prepare for winter. It was a time for preservation. The darkness and the cold was approaching.

Just as the golden summer sun was a time to explore with long days and have adventures deep into the night, autumn sees us change. We long for cosy nights in and comforting meals. A lot like wild animals. It’s like we contract and the flow of life begins to change.

The ebb and flow of life is always changing, don’t you think? Or maybe I’ve just had too many psychedelics.

Autumn then, is a time for self reflection, rest and spiritual healing. As the world around us begins to wilt and the leaves begin to fall, we must go within and grow. We must mirror the world.

So here I am, I embrace my shadow side and the darkness within. Here’s to another year and another chance to walk my path. Happy autumn equinox you delicious pagan.