Nightwolf's Den

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?

The first seasonal festival we celebrate is Lammas, or Lughnasadh, around the 1st or 2nd of February. It’s the first of three harvest festivals and it is the time to celebrate the bounty of life. Lammas is celebrated at the midpoint between the Summer Solstice (Litha) and the Autumnal Equinox (Mabon)

What is Lammas?

Lammas is a festival dedicated to the first fruits of the harvest. It’s a time for gratitude and reflection on the abundance of the Earth. Historically, it was a time for communities to come together, share food, and give thanks for the grains, fruits, and vegetables that would sustain them through the coming months. It’s a celebration of abundance, community, and the cyclical nature of life.

The name “Lammas” comes from the Old English word “hlaf-mas,” meaning “loaf mass,” which relates to the custom of baking bread from the first grain of the season. In its spiritual context, Lammas also represents the beginning of the transition from the full growth of summer to the quieter, more introspective energies of autumn.

Lammas marks the time when the Sun God’s power begins to decline, the days are slowly getting shorter. The goddess prepares for his passing at the upcoming Samhain.

Lammas Correspondents

Names: Lammas, Lughnasa, Lughnasadh, Bread day, Festival of Bread, Festival of First fruits, First harvest, Hlaef-mass

Deities: All grain and agricultural deities, Mother Goddesess, Father Gods

Colours: Gold, orange, red, yellow, tan

Symbols: Acorns, agricultural tools, all grains, apples, cats, bulls, boars, corn, cornucopia, hay bales, scarecrows, seeds, sun wheels, wheat

Foods: All types of grains, breads, rolls, apples, outdoor cooking, berries, corn, locally ripe produce, pies, jams, toffee

Drinks: Beer, cider

Things to do at Lammas

• Visit your local farmers market and buy in season fruits and vegetables
• Decorate with sun symbols
• Cooking with in-season foods
• Go outside and recharge with the sun’s energy (make sure to wear sunscreen and don’t get burnt!)
• Have a bonfire (if it’s not a total fire ban)
• Go berry picking
• Make jam from your in season fruit or berries
• Floral baths with summer flowers
• Bake bread
• Make a corn doll
• Do a prosperity ritual
• Tend to your garden
• Light brown or yellow candles
• Dry herbs
• Perform a gratitude ritual
• Have a harvest meal with family and friends.
• Donate or volunteer at your local animal shelter
• Have a go at making cider

What we’re doing.

We celebrated Lammas this year with some gardening and planting the plants I bought with some birthday money, bread making, a roast lamb and fresh vegetables for tea and a hearty apple crumble for dessert.

K & I made prosperity jars and added them to our altars.
We had planned a bit of a fire pit in the back ya