Author: Caroline

Embracing the Longest Night: Celebrating Winter Solstice in the Southern Hemisphere

As the sun dips to its lowest arc in the sky and the night stretches to its fullest length, we in the Southern Hemisphere arrive at Midwinter—the Winter Solstice, typically falling around June 20th to 22nd. This sacred turning point in the Earth’s seasonal cycle marks not just the longest night of the year, but the quiet rebirth of the light.

Celebrated in cultures across the globe, the Winter Solstice is a time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with both inner stillness and ancient rhythms. For those of us in Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or South America, honouring this moment invites us to fully embrace the gifts of winter: introspection, rest, resilience, and hope.

In the dark heart of winter, life appears still. Trees stand bare, animals hibernate, and the land sleeps under a cold, quiet sky. But beneath this stillness, a shift begins. The sun’s light returns, ever so slowly, growing stronger with each passing day.

The Solstice reminds us that even in darkness, transformation is stirring. It is a time of renewal, rebirth, and trust in the cycle of life.

While modern life may push us to keep moving, winter asks us to slow down. To rest. To dream. To go inward and reconnect with the soul’s quiet voice.

The Winter Solstice offers a powerful reminder: the dark is not empty—it is sacred. It is the womb of creation, the cave of wisdom, the place where seeds sleep before they rise again.

Trust in the turning. Honor the stillness. Light your inner flame.

Yule Correspondence

Other Names: Jul (“wheel”, Old Norse), Yuletide(Teutonic), Midwinter, Festival of Sol, Solar/Secular/Pagan New Year

Deities: Great Mother, Befana (strega), Holda (teutonic), Isis(egyptian), Triple Goddess, Tonazin(mexican), Lucina(roman), St. Lucy (swedish),Bona Dea (roman), Mother Earth, Eve(Hebrew), Ops(roman Holy Mother), the Snow Queen, Hertha (German), Frey (Norse), Sun Child, Saturn(rome), Cronos (Greek), Horus/Ra(egyptian), Mithras(persian), Balder(Norse), Santa Claus/Odin(teutonic), Holly King, Sol Invicta, Janus(God of Beginnings), Marduk (Babylonian)Old Man Winter

Colours: gold, silver, red, green, white

Symbols: candles, evergreens, holly, mistletoe, poinsettia,mistletoe, lights, gifts, Yule log, Yule tree. spinning wheels, wreaths, bells

Foods: nuts, apple, pear, caraway cakes soaked with cider, pork, orange, hibiscus or ginger tea, roasted turkey, nuts, fruitcake, dried fruit, cookies

Drinks: eggnog, mulled wine

Things to do at Samhain

• Light a Solstice Fire (or Candle). Fire has long symbolized the returning sun. Light a bonfire outdoors if you can, or gather indoors with candles or a hearth fire. As you do, reflect on what you are leaving behind—and what new light you hope to nurture.
• Reflect and Journal. The Winter Solstice is perfect for inner work.
• Prepare a Seasonal Feast. Cook a warming, nourishing meal using winter produce: pumpkins, root vegetables, dark greens, and spices like cinnamon or cloves. Invite loved ones to share in the feast and toast to the return of the light.
• Create a Solstice Ritual. Set aside sacred time. Turn off lights. Sit in darkness and silence for a few minutes, then light a single candle. Speak an intention for the year ahead, or write it down and place it on your altar. You can also honour ancestors or the spirits of the land.
• Stargaze or Welcome the Sunrise. On Solstice Eve, bundle up and spend time under the stars—the veil of night is longest and often clearest. Or rise early the next morning to greet the returning sun, welcoming it with gratitude and hope.
•  Decorate with Natural Symbols. Use evergreen branches, pinecones, winter berries, and candles to bring life and meaning into your home. These symbols of resilience and renewal have been used in Solstice traditions for centuries.

What we’re doing

On Solstice eve our council is holding their second annual Solstice in the Square so we are planning on getting dressed up and spreading some pagan goodness. I’m hoping to have a basket of goodies to give out. I took part in a winter solstice headdress workshop so will be wearing that as well.

The 21st would have been my Mum’s birthday. During the day I’ll be spending time with my craft besties so will be taking Yule biscuits and some cake to share. Afterwards our family will have a special meal to honour Mum and celebrate all she meant to us. Then we’ll light some candles on our Yule log. I’ll do some journaling and depending on the weather may do some stargazing for awhile. If not I’ll sit by the fire and enjoy a warm beverage.

In closing I leave you with a Winter Solstice blessing –

May the long night bring you peace. May your dreams be deep, your rest be full, and your spirit be warmed by the fire within.
Blessed Midwinter. Blessed Solstice. The light will return.

Honouring the Veil: Celebrating Samhain in the Southern Hemisphere

As the days shorten and the air grows crisp in late April and early May, those attuned to the Wheel of the Year in the Southern Hemisphere begin to feel the deep pull of Samhain, the ancient Celtic festival marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. While Northern Hemisphere traditions place Samhain on October 31st, aligning the sabbat with our seasonal cycle means celebrating it around April 30th to May 1st—a time when the land truly begins its descent into darkness.

Samhain (pronounced sow-in) is one of the four Gaelic seasonal festivals. It marks the final harvest, the end of the light half of the year, and the beginning of the dark half. It is also a time when the veil between the worlds is thinnest, offering us a powerful opportunity to honour ancestors, spirits, and the mystery of death and rebirth.

In the Southern Hemisphere, the Wheel of the Year spins differently. Celebrating Samhain in autumn rather than spring aligns us with the true energetic rhythm of the land. Trees shed their leaves, the nights grow longer, animals begin to retreat, and we are called inward—to reflect, release, and remember.

Aligning the sabbat with the actual seasonal cues around us honours the original purpose of Samhain: to acknowledge the changing of the Earth’s cycle, the wisdom of impermanence, and the beauty of death as part of life.

Samhain Correspondence

Other names: The Great Sabbat, All Hallows Eve, All Saints/All Souls Day(Catholic), Day of the Dead (Mexican), Witches New Year, Celtic/ Druid New Year, Shadowfest (Strega), Martinmas or Old Hallowmas (Scotttish/Celtic) Lá Samhna (Modern Irish), Festival of the Dead, Feile Moingfinne (Snow Goddess), Hallowtide (Scottish Gaelis Dictionary), Feast of All Souls, Nos Galen-gae-of Night of the Winter Calends (Welsh), La Houney or Hollantide Day, Sauin or Souney ( Manx), oidhche na h-aimiléise-the night of mischief or confusion(Ireland), Oidhche Shamna (Scotland)

Deities: The Crone, Hecate (Greek), Cerridwen (Welsh-Scottish), Baba Yaga (Russian), Bast (Egyptian), Persephone (Greek), Hel (Norse), Kali (Hindu), all Death & Otherworld Goddesses, Horned Hunter (European), Cernnunos(Greco-Celtic), Osiris (Egyptian), Hades (Greek), Anubis (Egyptian), Coyote Brother (Native American), Loki (Norse), Dis (Roman), Arawn (Welsh), acrificial/Dying/Aging Gods, Death and Otherworld Gods

Colours: Purple, black, orange, silver

Symbols: Pine cones, autumnal flowers, wheat stalks, acornsApples, autumn flowers, acorns, bat, black cat, bones, corn stalks, colored leaves, crows, death/dying, divination and the tools associated with it, ghosts, gourds, Indian corn, jack-o-lantern, nuts , oak leaves, pomegranates, pumpkins, scarecrows, scythes, waning moon

Foods: Apples, pomegranate, pumpkins, nuts, meat (especially pork), potatoes,

Drinks: Cider, mulled wine

Things to do at Samhain

• Create an Ancestral Altar
• Light a bonfire or a candle
• Cook a feast of remembrance, using seasonal produce
• Reflect and release
• Connect to the spirit – it’s a great time for divination work
• Embrace the darkness – take time for silence, solitude and inner reflection. Journal, meditate or walk at dusk

What we’re doing

I made a couple of batches of soup and this delicious potato and bacon soup was our tea with cheesy toast. I light a candle to remember loved ones who have passed. I’ll also do some journaling. If you’d like to grab the journaling prompts I’m using, you can grab them here.

Celebrating Samhain in the Southern Hemisphere invites us to honour both tradition and place. It is a time to pause, remember, and reconnect with the natural cycle of life and death. As the Earth sleeps, so too can we dream more deeply, tend to our inner world, and prepare for the rebirth that will come again.

May this Samhain bring you peace, clarity, and connection—to your ancestors, your spirit, and the sacred rhythms of the land.

Blessed Samhain.

Resources

• Cassie Uhl
• Pagan Pages

As the world turns, the equinox arrives, marking the perfect moment when day and night are equal in length. While many people associate this time of year with spring in the Northern Hemisphere, the autumn equinox in Australia ushers in a different kind of magic. Here, it signifies the shift from the scorching summer heat to the more temperate and mellow days of autumn.

What Is the Autumn Equinox?
The autumn equinox occurs when the Earth’s axis is neither tilted toward nor away from the Sun, causing the Sun to be directly above the Equator. This results in approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. In the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the start of autumn, and for many, it’s a time to reflect, relax, and enjoy the natural beauty that unfolds during this gentle transition.

Autumn in Australia: A Season of Colour and Change
Unlike the usual images of autumn with golden leaves in places like the United States or Europe, Australia’s autumnal colours are unique. In the southern states, especially Tasmania, Victoria, and parts of New South Wales, the trees begin to show off their rich, warm hues—think fiery reds, oranges, and browns. It’s the perfect time to visit national parks or take scenic drives, such as the Great Ocean Road, where autumn leaves create a breathtaking landscape.

In contrast, many parts of northern Australia, including Queensland, have a subtropical climate where the seasonal changes are subtler. While it’s still warm, the temperatures become more bearable, and the humidity starts to drop. The air feels fresher, making it a fantastic time to explore the tropical rainforests or enjoy the beaches with fewer crowds.

Autumn Equinox Correspondents

Names: Autumn Equinox, Mabon

Deities: Demeter, Bacchus

Colours: Maroon, orange, purple, scarlet, deep green, gold, brown

Symbols: Pine cones, autumnal flowers, wheat stalks, acorns

Foods: Apples, grains, nuts, carrots, potatoes, cranberries, pumpkins, pomegranate, breads

Drinks: Wine, cider, Chai

Things to do at Mabon

• Visit your local farmers market and buy in season fruits and vegetables
• Perform a gratitude ritual
• Cooking with in-season foods
• Do a home protection spell
• Go outside and enjoy the autumn sunshine
• Go apple picking then make an apple dessert – apple pie, apple crumble, baked apples
• Meditate to reconnect with Mother Earth
• Make a broom
• Journaling
• Light black or white candles
• Dry leaves
• Declutter your space
• Have a harvest meal with family and friends.
• Donate or volunteer at your local animal shelter
• Have a go at making cider
• Drying herbs

What we’re doing.

A quiet day for us. I worked on decluttering my craft space so I could do some prep for our monthly crafternoon and some monthly memory planner catch up.
I set up a small alter and did a home protection ritual.
We made carrot soup with fresh local carrots, stewed apples and made apple pies and made a small batch of tomato relish.
Wrote a gratitude list for the first quarter of the year.

As we move through this transition, let’s take a moment to celebrate the changing of the seasons, not just in the world around us, but within ourselves. The equinox reminds us of the beauty of balance and the power of nature to renew, refresh, and inspire.

So, on March 20th/21st, why not step outside, take in the changing light, and appreciate the peaceful shift that autumn brings to Australia?