The witching hour is an auspicious time for advancing intentions further out into the spiritual realm and superconscious mind. This is the case because it is a time of least resistance when defenses and activities are at their lowest mentally, physically and otherwise. Most people are at sleep at that time. Given that their gate keepers, specifically their physical body and conscious mind are resting, their spiritual dimension and your subconscious mind are most susceptible to suggestion, including while you sleep. In other words, there are fewer potential roadblocks against intentions being put out. Dr Mumbi discusses the witching hour in her spiritual show.
Some beneficial uses of the witching hour includes the following. Try to make these practices routine, especially when you really need it spiritually during spiritual attack (essentially when you are in spiritual warfare with altar against altar where the most consistent will win, regardless of morality or one's nature of intentions).
healing work
praying
defending your energy from attacks made against you at this time. By being awake, your mind's defenses are up against such attacks.
meditation. You can use this time to observe your dominant thoughts that need to be cleared.
ponder / dwell on your affirmations.
Ask for reasons for being awakened or ask for answers about what you need to learn. I have found that, upon awakening at some other subsequent time, I awaken with a realization or answer for something.
Ponder on the message of the dream you might have just had.
relax with the sounds of nature. Even if you have trouble with the other activities for this time, just remain consciously aware of the night energies around you.
Astronomically speaking, the solstice is the first day of Summer. On this day, one of the Earth's poles (North or South) has its maximum tilt of 23.5 degrees away from its center and towards the Sun. For instance, when the Northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun at that maximum tilt angle, it experiences its Summer solstice, the peak of its Summer. Specifically, that hemisphere has its longest sunlight exposure or 'day' and consequent shortest night. (BTW, Meanwhile the Southern hemisphere experiences the polar opposite, ie its winter solstice or shortest day of the year).
In other words, the summer solstice aka midsummer or litha marks the peak of sunlight in one of the polar hemispheres. Even physically, this solstice represents an undeniable influx of warmth. Energetically, since this phenomenon marks the most abundant sunlight during the year, it is believed to open a type of energetic portal. This portal represents different types of opportunity. For instance, since the sun's heat associates with the transformative element of fire and the third chakra of power, transformation and self-empowerment are points of celebration. Otherwise, it represents a point for celebration of abundance because not only has the harvest already begun but is still due to continue vigorously.
Taking cues from nature
The spiritual significance may be understood from within the context of gardening. Specifically, the solstice marks a gardener's peak. She has already done all of her planting and has already begun to harvest. However, she will continue to harvest until the end of Summer (around the Autumn equinox). So, she takes this time to give thanks for the harvest she has already received but especially what she is still going to harvest because it will become even more abundant from around this time because she is headed towards the peak harvest at the end of Summer (in the Autumn).
As a sidenote, this time is really worthy of showing gratitude because the polar opposite which she is not currently experiencing is occurring on the polar opposite side of the world, ie the winter solstice of cold and lack.
Responding to the Summer solstice
Common Summer solstice practices include the following. Throughout, colors may include yellow and gold to represent vitality, happiness and power. Associated keywords include fire, yellow, gold, abundance, gratitude, sunflowers, oak leaves.
Connect with nature. At safe times of the day (like sun rise or sun set), observe instances of abundance and collect items (like fruits, vegetables and wild flowers) for your altar. Example(s)
Walk barefoot on the ground and try to observe instances of abundance (a keyword) that associates with the moment.
At a safe time of day (like sunrise or sunset), sun gaze at the abundance of light
Ponder on the fruit of your endless 'to-do; lists and hard work.
Feast on what is currently abundant in your area; like vegetables, fruits and vegetables.
Sunflowers, other wild flowers
Make sun water. This involves placing a glass jug of pure water in the sun for several hours. However variations include placing: the image of the flower of life at the base of the jug; quartz crystals in or around the water; wild leaves and flowers to make an infusion.
Clear your space physically, mentally and emotionally to make space for an abundant harvest.
Set up an altar that specifically honors the sun and the solstice. Here are some common adornment ideas.
Outdoor altar
Fire rituals. Example(s)
candle magick rituals
fire rituals
bonfire or other open fire activities
fire This may include indoor candle magick rituals or outdoor fire rituals.
Healing crystals. Use this auspicious time to charge crystals.
Work with crystals like Sunstone, citrine.
Charge only those crystals that can be charged in sunlight. Know those that can be charged but only for a limited time; like black tourmaline which should remain in the sunlight for no more than about 20 minutes (even on cloudy days).
Work with essential oils.
Work with peppermint.
Perform manifestation and personal power rituals.
Gratitude for abundance. Ponder on your labor, even your ability to do that labor and be grateful for what you have achieved. Thank your spiritual team for their input.
Declarations of gratitude and abundance
I [your name, DOB] call upon my spiritual team. We have arrived for me to claim my inheritance destined to me to be [a painter, a business owner, etc]. I enjoy my inheritance in spirit and in flesh and across dimensions.
Human DNA is the template (or blueprint) for our design. Still unable to figure its function, scientists have labelled roughly 97% of human DNA as "junk". However, recent thinking has shifted to recognize that this majority part of our DNA seems linked to the spiritual aspects of ourselves; like the chakras and other bodies (which is why conventional science missed its functionality).
Conventional scientists have already observed that DNA can be activated and de-activated to produce significant physical changes. (See third party article about this). Similarly, activating spiritual DNA can lead to similarly transformative outcomes.
Benefits of activating spiritual DNA
heightened intuition
transcension of physical limitations
Background knowledge of epigenetics can help in explaining this. Epigenetics refers to how DNA interacts with small molecules within your cells, an interaction that can even turn on and off genes. While one's genetic sequence from birth does not change, environmental factors called 'marks' can be like computer program add-ons that change the expression of genes anyway. Common marks include diet, chemical exposure (including medication, environmental pollution, etc) and life experiences (including social experiences, psychological trauma, stress, nurture and so on). In other words, your life style habits can turn on and off genes (because of the existence and concentration of molecules that occur as a result). If you have a genetic predisposition for a specific disease but consistently expose yourself to good epigenetic marks (like diet), you can suppress the potential of that disease. Similarly, if your genetic makeup protects you from a disease but you consistently expose yourself to a bad epigenetic mark (like chemical pollutant), you can increase the chance of getting the disease. This is why genetically identical twins can have very different levels of health, age differently and so on.
A fascinating fact is that, when epigenetic changes occur, they can last because cells continue to divide with the new information. In other words, the changes can be lasting, which is why drastically different state of health can occur in twins, where one could develop major chronic disease while the other does not.
Just as you can inherit physical curses or blessings from relatives, apparently, so too can you do with psychological blessings and curses. While most epigenetics marks are erased at conception, some may survive not only a person's but even to the next generation. Major trauma caused through slavery, neocolonialism and so on to entire groups of people can impact off spring. Since there is a psychosomatic link to some diseases like type 2 diabetes, it is not surprising that black and Latino Americans experience a far higher incidence of the disease, not only through slavery in the case of black people, but the fact that oppressive patterns remain and were likely epigenetically passed on to the next generations of slave masters.
During meditation, visualize the rebuilding of your DNA. Many parts of the DNA have been silenced by forces, known and unknown, even though those silenced parts have the potential to serve you in your quest for self-actualization and helping the planet. For instance, there may be (harmful 'epigenetic marks' like) trauma-based generational curses (like ongoing systemic oppression caused by white supremacy, etc) that stifle those strands of your DNA from inheriting your full destiny (like fulfilling your natural gifts). I do not know enough about the structure of DNA strands* to guide you on an accurate visualization of what is added and where. So, visualize what resonates with you. For instance, I have seen a space that is mostly dark and silent but in which lights settle in some places, as if silently doing their reparative work, I could not explain why I see the DNA that way (ie without helices), the positioning of the light or the science of what they do.
The physical DNA seems to the non-physical spirit world what the physical brain is to non-physical consciousness, aka the 'mind'. In other words, it is as if it has some type of telephone connection relaying epigenetic marks back and forth across the physical and non-physical dimensions of your soul. For this reason, acknowledge and pray for the repairs to occur across all dimensions (known and unknown and in spirit and in flesh).
YouTube video by DoBetterForYourself Coach 'DNA activation: how I activate my DNA and increase my light (tips)'. Seeing the reactivation of her DNA as self-empowerment, this coach focuses on the solar plexus chakra. Specifically, she enjoys to do this while walking in sunshine and feeling the sunlight entering through her crown chakra. To her, just as dawning sunlight awakens many earthly beings, so too can the sunlight awaken her dormant DNA.
As accessories to this process, consider the following.
DNA music repair. Binaural beats of some musical frequencies like 528 Hz, ie one of the Solfeggio frequencies have been found to improve brain function and possibly cellular health. Other findings include a greater absorption of light waves.
Include DNA- protective or reparative foods like the following. See discussion on nutrigenomics:
Co-enzyme Q-10 protects against DNA damage
Kiwi fruit. Research suggests that 1 daily is protective. 3 daily may be reparative for pre-existing DNA damage. Dr Willian Li discusses kiwi
Strawberry, fresh lemon, apple, broccoli and celery have also been shown to have a protective effect on DNA
Ginger has a protective effect of DNA (by preventing the DNA damage that usually ensues from stress).
Dark chcocolate. Antioxidants found in dark chocolate like flavanoids and other polyphenols have been found to support DNA repair.
CONTENT RELATED TO ACTIVATING DNA
Call upon ancestors to activate your shared DNA to help you to use your God-given gifts
* Scientists understand the double helix DNA structure. While a helice looks like a single spiraling strand of hair, the double helix connects 2 of these strands. This is the imagery to which we have grown used when thinking about what the DNA looks like. However, there are far many more (than those 2) helices that comprise our DNA.
Angel numbers are sequences of repeating numbers, often in sets of three or four (like 111 or 1111). They appear in an unplanned way like the license plate of a car that lets you go ahead of them, a bill and so on.
They are a type of 'synchronicity' which essentially means a meaningful coincidence that holds messages from the universe. If you see the same number repeatedly, that energy is really trying to get your attention.
When you see angel numbers, reflect on your thoughts or things happening around you to understand the context of the message.
For instance, if your phone falls and illuminates at 11:11, which coincidentally occurred while you were thinking about a new project, the universe is cheering you on to proceed with that project. The same applies with relationships (whether romantic, work or otherwise) and other aspects of life.
One way to help in remembering the meanings is to see the pattern. The numbers involve repetition of numbers ranging 1 to 9. 1 signifies beginnings while 9 endings of cycles. However, right in the middle, 5 signifies change, like a turning point. I also notice that the meaning of 6 seems like a magnification of 3, just like 4 is of 2.
[Although there are some similarities in meanings, angel numbers are not rooted in numerology.]
000
. references the universe's generosity, all encompassing power and limitless power
. CTA to tap into source's abundant energy because it is truly available to you. ... or tap into the abundance available within your current situation. Since you have access to the universe's abundance, it is telling you to remember your limitless potential by extension.
. CTA to manage your thoughts, actions and emotions wisely because they can send out intentions to the universe powerfully. This may involve writing our intentions and or having good control over your mind.
. If this number appears among other numbers like 4404, the 0 is amplifying the energy of the 4.
111
. references new beginnings, new opportunities.
. CTA to be open to trying something new, adopting a new way of doing something, seeing yourself transform in some way.
222
. References seeking working with patience and diligence towards a goal, slowly but surely.
. CTA to be patient, to keep working on your goal. If you are doing a big project, this is reminding you to keep on going in a sense that you have many steps ahead. It seems like would appear at an earlier phase in your project for which 444 would come later when you are nearer to the end.
. CTA to know that you are on the right path. Just keep on moving forward.
333
. References joyfulness.
. CTA to seek balance. You are neglecting some aspect of your life and should therefore identify and address the neglected aspects. Without this, your whole life may have unnecessary suffering. If your life is not suffering, yet another opportunity for joy will present itself.
444
. References a solid foundational structure, much like what is built by have a 4 legged stool.
. CTA to know that the universe is telling you 'we have your back', let us be a bigger part of your life. By extension, this is therefore also a CTA to request what you need.
. CTA to work on building or strengthening the foundation for the thing you desire.
. CTA to know that the universe is happy with your work.
555
. References change, whether external (like home base, relationships, etc) or internal (like knowledge, growth, etc).
. CTA to take quick decisive action to seize the moment.
666
. References balance.
. CTA to examine where you might have some type of excess that must be balanced out. For instance, if you are over worrying or over working, this message prompts you to focus more on yourself and your needs (but in a healthy way to create balance. You will therefore need to seek pleasure through fun activities, material things, beautify yourself and home, enjoy relationships and so on. However, since this is ultimately a call to seek balance, avoid addictive behaviors, whether this involves mind-altering substances, food or digital devices.
. CTA to savor a good, balanced experience with mindfulness.
777
. References focus on spiritual development and having some type of spiritual awakening. This is either acknowledgement or this or your need for that.
. CTA to release fears. You are being called to proceed without always knowing who or what to trust. Trust in the universe. You do not need to earn or even ask for this support, it will be delivered.
. CTA to see an experience (good or bad) from a spiritual perspective. That experience can be useful to spiritual growth and healing.
888
. References potential abundance associated with your current thought, counterparty, activity, etc. The abundance may relate to abundant power, love, time, finances and so on.
. CTA to reflect on how far you have come as the universe is congratulating you; to spread it around. The abundance will boomerang back to you.
. CTA to remember that abundance is always available to you. However, you need to take measures to become a vibrational match to receive it. To this end, meditate on what in your life needs development. Write down your intentions and those things that block you. State them aloud (example on the next new moon, in burn and release rituals, etc).
999
. References the impending end of one cycle to usher in the next. By extension, this refers to some type of transformation in your life.
. CTA to figure out what the new cycle brings and, consequently, what in the old cycle must be released to make space for its replacement. Release things that do not live up to your worthiness.
CTA to keep working on your project, even if you feel like giving up. The end is imminent.
While burning rituals are used for banishment, burning candles is usually used for manifestation. As with anything else in rituals, candles and the process of burning them are accessories in your ritual process that help to intensify your intentions and the impact of your ritual.
Candle magick is like a refined version of the childhood practice of making a wish over a birthday cake. In some cases, practitioners like to leave their candles burning as a constant reminder of their intentions and what they have put out into the universe as they pass by it throughout the day.
Process
. Be clear about your objective first so that you can select the candle appropriately. . Select candles based on considerations like those below that are appropriate to your objective.
Color. Select colors based on the meanings the colors have. You may pair colors with each other according to the intentions of your ritual.
Chakra colors are a very common practice. Here are some typical uses.
Yellow candles when you take back your power for you and your ancestors because that color and its significance correspond with the solar plexus chakra.
Yellow for happiness
Orange relates to wanting success and opening roads to success.
Orange relates to courage
Pink relates to relationships, especially those of affection that include friendship and romance
Red relates especially to relationships of passion
Purple for advancing oneself spiritually, opening your third eye and so on.
Orisha colors are a common practice.
Yellow relates to the Osun orisha.
White is the universal color that may be used for anything at all. (It can be likened to the clear quartz crystal). In fact, once it was not very intentionally fixed for a specific intention (as with essential oils or other additives), white (or any) candles may be re-used, especially if for the generally same purpose. You can also dress white candles with accessories that set them for specific purposes.
Size. Select candles whose expected burn time correlate with the gravity and duration of your magickal impact.
If you are praying over a safe journey that lasts several hours, a small candle that lasts a few hours is required (ie over a large one that lasts for several days).
If you praying over a situation like recovery over an illness (like Covid, a flue, cancer, etc), much longer-lasting candles are more suitable.
Shape & other presentations. Whether pillar or jar candles, geometry and so on very often is superseded by safety.
Jar candles are generally safer than pillar candles.
People have left candles burning for up to 7 days by placing the candles in baking pans, inside of their bathtub with water.
Scented candles or DIY anointing your candles. Optional. scented candles are perfectly fine. However, if you want scented candles, consider those with natural aromas from essential oils because different essential oils carry their own vibration. Needless to say, use fragrances according to the purpose. You may simply rub essential or anointed oils over candles before using them. Anointing oils involves adding essential oils to a carrier. Since fragrances have vibration, avoid chemical fragrance oils.
Camphor is for connecting with divine forces and removing negative energy.
Mint associates with purification and protection.
Rose associates with love and pairs well with pink candles.
Cinnamon associates with enhanced intuition and spiritual awareness.
Lemon associates with the solar plexus, throat and third eye chakras
Candle dressing & carving: Herbs, bark, flowers, roots, healing crystals and other accessories. Optional. As with the point above regarding fragrance, you may use herbs that correspond with the intentions of your ritual. Some people sprinkle herbs over candles. You can also use an athame or just a toothpick to carve intentions or at least symbols of them directly onto the length of the candle or wherever the carvings can fit.
Cinnamon powder is so intense that it is believed to boost the potency of anything else.
Healing stones that correspond with the intentions of your ritual.
. Declare your intention.
. Read the flame. Common interpretations include the following. However, it is necessary to ensure that mundane reasons do not explain the behavior of the flame. For instance, an open window that allows wind can cause the flame to act differently than otherwise.
steady flame. Spirit is working on a clear, solid result and has aggregated all necessary elements like your prayers, spiritual team members and son to render results.
Short flame. You need to add more to your work.
Flickering flame. Spirit is present in a very strong way and calling your attention to notice Spirit's presence.
Crackling flame. There is resistance with your work.
Flame goes out / flame will not start. Spirit is not proceeding with the intention for one reason or other. Reasons may include your needing to focus or do otherwise. Sometimes you need to spiritually cleanse the environment and or yourself.
Dim. Your energy is not sufficiently intense.
. Prepare candles to be re-purposed. Some practitioners believe in using a single candle per spell or general purpose. Since this is not practical for many people and candle magick is only a tool that depends heavily on the strength and purity of your intentions, many people re-use or re-purpose candles. However, many do so through a process.
After using a candle, extinguish it and bury it in salt or prepare to smudge it before re-using it.
An equinox is the half-way point of the astrological year. Astronomically, an equinox is a specific minute during which the equator is perfectly aligned with the sun. For this reason, if you researched the equinox for any year, you will receive a date AND time. Arguably, this alignment translates into nearly equal amounts of light and darkness on the planet, called an 'equilux'. In reality, this is debatable because light refracts around the curvature of the earth, meaning that light is still visible beyond sunrise or sunset and one's latitude also impacts amount of visible light and darkness. Needless to say, despite this debate, the equinox is always fixed, regardless of one's physical location on Earth. The equinox marks the changing of seasons.
The autumn equinox aka mabon marks the transition from Summer (when days were longer than its nights). This transition is marked by the fact that the earth tilts towards the converse, ie towards Winter, a season whose nights are longer than days. Summer was brighter and warmer while Autumn will mark the shift towards a darker and colder time. On these bases, paying homage to the autumn equinox can be spiritually significant because of the correspondences between the cosmos and the fractal level of an individual human life.
Taking cues from nature
Kemetic culture recognizes the constant cycles in creation; ie death and rebirth in nature like the equinox, seasonal or any other natural cycles. This culture observes how these cycles correspond with personal human life and a connection with universal forces. Needless to say, it is quite unlike the Gregorian calendar that Julius Caesar introduced to tell time.
Example(s)
A bear that hibernates from October until the snow melts does into a sleep-state that might be likened to a human who retreats to heal in quiet, without external distractions like the bear's food and external stimuli. The sleep-like state is called torpor which is a state of physical and mental inactivity, loosely comparable with meditation or isolation. During torpor they slow down their body's functions to such a degree that they may not even need to ear or drink water for as long as 6 or 7 months.
The 4 stages of metamorphosis of butterflies and moths (egg, larva, pupa and adult) are an example of seasons of a sentient being. The pupa is the transition stage during which the caterpillar goes into a dormant state of isolation. While it may appear that nothing is happening, huge transformations are occurring. Special cells that were always present in the earlier stage but unawaken grow rapidly at this stage to become legs, wings, eyes and other parts of an adult butterfly. Ultimately, after this being's autumnal equinox, it emerges in a way that looks vastly different from its prior self.
The hot climate version of a hibernating bear is how a snail estivates during very hot and dry periods of scarcity. Snails draw deeply within their shells and bury themselves under the surface of the soil and go into a state of torpor.
The other upcoming equinox (the Spring equinox) can mark the start of a new year. Maybe this is the reason that eggs are used to represent Easter.
Spiritual significance of the autumn equinox, an opening gateway & discernment
Reminiscent of the bear going into hibernation from autumn, the autumn equinox is a time of retreat, healing, deep contemplation, introspection, ascetism (certainly unlike its celebratory opposite, the Spring equinox). Similar to the greater portion of darkness when the sun can not be seen, this period corresponds to human life and its need to focus on the darker, unseen side of oneself that we usually keep hidden.
In other words, this is a time of doing 'shadow work' or returning to source as a means of regenerating oneself for the upcoming abundance of the upcoming spring. Regeneration typically involves learning about those 'dark' sides. These dark parts can relate to addressing unused talents and hobbies, recognizing toxic situations and trauma that do not resonate with your spiritual trajectory and so on. This relates to any aspect of your mind, body or spirit. The spring involves walking in harmony with your true purpose as intended by the universe. This is the path that brings most fulfilment. In short, this period is ideal for deep introspection and planning for the future spring or re-birth. Despite its apparent depressiveness, see it as the opportunity to take some steps back to gather strength you need to launch forward.
The equinox is a gateway between the outward expressions of Sun-dominated Summer and the inward flowing energy of introspection, approaching the moon-dominated winter.
Astrologers suggest that this opened gateway is an opportunity to download Christ energy of intuition and inspiration and to return to simplicity (away from worldly distractions). Part of the introspection also requires you to see how to focus on changing your inner world in order to get more joy, regardless of the external world. In other words, rather than try to change the outer world or external forces, inner world mastery allows you to enjoy peace, even despite chaos in your outer world.
Correspondences with particular spiritual practices include the following.
Tarot card 'the hermit (IX)'. Quite symbolically, the imagery of the hermit is of a mature bearded man. The fact that he walks alone and in darkness highlight the isolation away from external influence. His only guidance to illuminate the path ahead is a bright lantern that he carries. Symbolically, this suggests that his only influence is internal because he is heavily reliant on his inner self and not external forces around him. Words associated with this card include ascension, illumination and introspection.
The Mercury retrograde is an astronomical illusion in which Mercury appears to be moving backwards. Since the planet is associated with communication, the retrograde is seen as backward stepping and retreat (and often blamed for miscommunication or mental health challenges like depression or anxiety). Astrologers suggest that these 3-week periods are unsuitable for discussing sensitive matters, big purchases or major contracts (or at least without extraordinary due diligence). Spiritually, energy spins inwards and more deeply into one's own mind and intuition.
Mabon is an alternate Welsh name for autumnal equinox. It is one of the 8 Wiccan sabbats celebrated during each year. (A sabbat or sabbath is a day of religious observance and abstinence from work).
The Green Man from Druidism is the spirit of all vegetation. Symbols may include trees. He is balanced, characterizing neither good nor evil. He just is and governs growth from beautiful flowers we love to the unwanted vines that strangle them. Honoring the green man is often done by connecting with mature trees at their roots.
In addition to using the equinox to prepare for the upcoming Spring, one may use it to also prepare for the upcoming eclipse cycle (in October in the Northern hemisphere). About eclipses.
Responding to the autumn equinox portal
Common practices around the autumn equinox include the following.
Connect with nature
Walk through nature. Spend time barefooted to ground yourself with the earth. Pause at the root of a tree to meditate on your connection with Mother Earth, visualizing your roots extending into the earth. Thank Mother Earth for the harvest of Summer (good health, your ability to have done something that you did, etc). Also observe and connect with the shifting / waning energies of equinox.
Give an offering to nature. Before going into the quiet of autumn, give thanks for the abundance of Summer. This is the basis for the harvest celebration traditions. You may place a fruit, twig, leaves from your garden. I like selecting items from my most abundant and beloved plants that gave me the most harvest. You may also pour juice at the roots of a tree with which you connect.
Collect articles for your altar from nature. See discussion about an altar for the autumn equinox above.
Preserve and consume items of this time. Preservation or storage of something useful for scarce times is one of the keywords of autumn. As the Summer ends and the autumn begins, some Summer produce becomes less scarce. Consider feasting on and preserving produce fitting this description that is emblematic to your location. Example(s). Wine was made by fermenting the Summer harvest of fruits like grapes. This process was rushed before autumn became too cold for grape vines to sustain unpicked grapes. Consider fermenting or otherwise preserving your location-specific produce. Options include making
kvass with local fruits and or vegetables. A kvass is a fermented drink with very low levels of alcohol or tartness.
Tepache, a fermented drink using only sugar and water with pineapple peels.
Fermented ginger with sugar (other fruits as an option) and yeast
Clear up space physically, mentally and emotionally. Example(s).
physically speaking, this involves cleaning your physical space or at least your altar. Get rid of things you no longer need. Burn sage to energetically clear your space or burn incense. Set up flowers or whatever pleases you.
Do the same regarding thoughts and relationships. Do banishment rituals and use your symbolic broom to clean the area.
Set up an autumn equinox aka 'mabon' altar. Collect natural items that are signatures of the season in your area to customize your altar to the equinox. For instance, if your area experiences colorful leaf fall, collect some of the fallen leaves. Other more tropical or sub-tropical examples that might not include leaf fall include fruits or flowers that are specific to the autumn in your area. You can also collect items in nature to make your own autumn symbols. Example(s).
Brooms (spiritual besoms) for rituals. A besom is a tool used to swipe away negative or stagnant energy. It is ideal for the autumn equinox. It is typically made of twigs, dried herbs from the current equinox harvest, , ribbons, charms, crystals and the like tied around a stick. A broom is therefore a type of besom. Broom represent fertility (I suspect of new ideas and plans for the spring). They represent the balance of diving masculine as represented by the phallic handle and the divine feminine energies, represented by the hairy bristles. These may be made of anything like a cinnamon stick to represent the masculine energy with rosemary at one end to represent the feminine energy. Since brooms are associated with cleaning, they seem to also signify a cleaning away of the old to make way for the new season.
Harvest of abundant fruits. Cornucopia (a horn of plenty).
Fire for burning old things. You may list things that you need to burn.
Become like the hibernating bear and acknowledge your pupa-like phase (that resembles the pupa phase of a butterfly's metamorphosis). When possible, isolate yourself from (worldly) distractions.
Plant bulbs in the warm darkness of the earth, in keeping with hibernation and preparation for future spring. I even plant garlic bulbs which are most readily available to me.
Meditation and rituals. Be clear about your current position and what needs to be kept or let go. Set an intention for the session.
Harvest celebration. Ideally, make lists of things to be celebrated (in your 'spiritual Summer'. Acknowledging these things helps to set your mindset of abundance. Since these are things you wish to keep, you may write these reasons for your gratitude on leaves that you place into a box to which you can access from time to time into the future.
Important lessons learnt.
Good health
Safe living situation
Reliable people and so on.
Declare your purpose for upcoming season and vision of yourself.
Consider not only your personal transformation but also how you affect the collective consciousness.
I started my own little tradition of making wine during this period ... even though I do not generally drink alcohol. The quiet transformative process of fermentation is symbolic and I am preparing the juice today in a quiet dark place so that it can be enjoyed in the Spring equinox as wine. I tried to make wine with fruits and vegetables that can render the color of the chakra that needed the most work. For instance, red beetroots are not only the color red but a root vegetable and therefore ideal for representing the first chakra. The orange wine I made from papaya and ginger represented the 2nd chakra to me. That way, symbolically, the making of the wine is like the conception of my future self (as it relates to the corresponding chakra) and the Spring equinox would be the birth or rebirth of my future self. While the wine ferments, I can look very closely to see the rising bubbles as a sign that, slowly but surely, the transformation is underway. I could then drink the wine to celebrate at that time of my (re)birth in the spring. I can also offer some of the wine as a powerful libation. Watch the rising bubbles in the video immediately below. See how I make wine.
Planting bulbs that will blossom in Spring are another version of the wine gesture.
In honor of the vision, meditate on things from the old season that must be let go. These are things, people and habits that no longer serve your vision.
Create your alter ego that you will assume permanently. Formulate your new alter ego. Meditate on things that will help you to achieve your purpose in some way or other. Unapologetically embrace the opportunity to re-invent yourself however you see fit. Be specific about what you need and emotionally connect with your already having attained them.
This may involve African libations (an African practice)
[This section is developed further in the article on the hermetic principles of mentalism] Many famous people have created alter egos as a strategy for becoming the best versions of themselves and to fulfill dreams. See YouTuber Jillz Guerin video on how 'an alter ego can change your life' (inspired by Todd Herman's book 'The Alter Ego Effect').
As the uncertainty of change in darker months brings anxiety, ask the universe for protection and guidance in this new season.
See immediately below how others pay homage to the Autumn equinox.
During equinoxes, the sun has a stronger magnetic pull on the planet than any other time. Consequently, systems of water are strongly affected by the sun.
This is why you likely see heavy downpours of rain near the equator around September. ... and stronger tides.
The transatlantic hurricane season peaks in September (starting in mid-August and ending at the end of November).
Some keywords associated with autumn include the following. They may inspire the quiet celebrations of the time.
abundance (from the Summer harvest); change; preservation (like preserved Summer foods that are worth keeping); balance (between opposite energies whether masculine and feminine to be modest overall);
A few different traditional symbols are used for the autumnal equinox
half sun and moon. This shows the transition from the Sun-dominated Summer time towards the moon-dominated winter via the autumn.
The double spiral. Since this equinox is a bridge between 2 seasons, the symbol illustrates the essence of the 2 seasons: the out-breath of the Summer and the in-breath of incoming winter.
The flutter breath aka 'breath of fire' (or 'vipreet swas') is a quick meditative method of breathing entirely through the nose. Your inhalations and exhalations must be equal in length. It is ideal for manifestation work (with your vision board).
Benefits of the flutter breath of fire
It can help to raise your vibration. Raising your vibration relates to being able to reach a state (mentally and emotionally) that can best attract positive situations into your life. It is a matter of achieving theta brain waves, ie raising your frequency to those of your the superconscious mind.
It is useful for manifestation.
It is one of the quickest and most convenient ways of raising your vibration. Consequently, it can be used even when you generally have limited time or resources, like while traveling, at work and so on.
Steps for doing the flutter breath
Calm your mind. Strive to reach a state of stillness.
Sit or stand up comfortably straight. The straightness of your spine is ideal to keep your channel through all of your chakras as wide open as possible to allow energy to flow up through you and out of your crown towards the universal mind. The erectness of your spine should be natural to ensure that your breaths can be truly equal. Throughout the meditation, make a special point of keeping your back straight. In other words, be comfortable and relaxed. If possible while standing, stand barefooted on the bare earth to ground yourself to draw energy directly up from the ground.
Hold the dhyan hand mudra, upwards facing. My understanding is that this mudra symbolizes the mind - body connection. Maybe the pressure points even promote this connection. By holding this mudra (ie hand pose), you are amplifying that connection, (essentially through the hermetic principle of correspondence) and therefore re-stating physically to your body and mind your intentions for them to connect them deeply. Ultimately this intention instructs them into a deeper connection. Your palms should face upwards as this signals that you are in the receiving mode. Notice that the 3 straight fingers should be together and touching (not apart) while the thumb and index finger tips lightly touch.
Close your eyes. Closing the eyes helps to remove distractions (many of which triggers thoughts, even subconsciously).
For at least 2 minutes, breath quickly and quietly only through the nose with the mouth closed. This equates to roughly 3 to 5 times per second. The aim is to just breath swiftly (and quietly) while focusing on the breath. There is no need to breath loudly and heavily. BTW, it is normal to be unable to achieve this quick and even breath work at first. In that case, try more slowly. With regular practice, you will be able to speed up the process. If you are struggling as a beginner, set an alarm for 2 minutes.
Focus ONLY on your breath. Concentrate so intently on the in and outward flows of air that you can not have the chance to think about anything else (not sounds around you, why things are happening or not and so on).
After the flutter breath, focus on your manifestation intentions. Engage as fully as possible with your vision board. A vision board is a consistent reminder / call to action (usual visual) of dreams you want to manifest into your life. It must be specific and focus on the main realistic / truly potential dream (ie rather than too many that scatter your focus). The vision board is useful for overcoming the common tendency of losing sight of your new year resolutions or other goals and therefore not reaching them. This is why consistency is important to keeping your vision in the forefront of your mind so that your daily actions and attitudes can align with your vision. Choose the level of specificity that works best for you. For instance, if you might want to travel around the entire world but can not yet afford to leave your town, make the vision board around traveling to your capital city or even crossing the nearest boarder to the next country. For instance, make a collage of images that represent your dream. However, whenever possible, personalize it. For instance, the YouTuber Jillz (vision board demonstration below) used an image of her YouTube channel profile image and name and then inserted the number of subscribers to the larger number she wanted. Prepare your vision board with much care. For instance, make it aesthetically appealing. Seeing your vision board may help you to do what is required to get a passport, research appropriate countries and so on. Needless to say, after the flutter breath, avoid negativity or other distractions from your vision like technology. YouTube video by Jillz Guerin 'How to make the perfect vision board to create your dream life'
Repeat this process consistently, ideally daily.
CONTENT RELATED TO FLUTTER BREATH / BREAH OF FIRE MEDITATION
