Sapling Tarot - Autumn Equinox '23
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Hey <<First Name>>, welcome to another Sapling Tarot Newsletter, I’m so grateful that you’re here.
Today is the Autumn Equinox, here in the Northern Hemisphere anyway, this date marks the half way point between the longest day (Summer Solstice) and the longest night (Winter Solstice).
The festival of the Autumnal Equinox - sometimes referred to as Mabon - is the second of the three harvest festivals, with Lughnasadh/Lammas in August being the first and Samhain/Halloween being the third.
It’s a point on the calendar that gives us the opportunity to enjoy whatever last dregs of Summer we have left, to feel grateful for what we’ve accomplished so far this year (it’s sometimes also referred to as witches’ thanksgiving!) and to focus on the last of the harvest and preparing for the darker months ahead.
September Oracle
Though the dandelion starts life earthbound and steady, in the autumn it transforms into a state where the earth cannot contain it anymore, it becomes airborne and ready for a new adventure.
“All that hard work to bloom is over! Things have finally settled down and you've just about caught your breath. But fate has a different plan for you - there's an unexpected wind on the horizon, waiting to sweep you up and upend everything you've put in place. The urge may arise to fight it, but how about surrendering to chaos for once and letting it blow you onto a different path? You might find that things look even clearer upside-down.”
This month’s Oracle comes from The Seed & Sickle Oracle Deck by Fez Inkwright - read more about this deck here.
🌝 Keep an eye out for the Full Harvest Moon in Aries on September 29th 🌝
September Nature Notes
As we move into Autumn, the trees and hedgerows are bursting with colour. If you’re looking to forage, blackberries/brambles are the easiest to find. Whether you plan on using them for pies or jam, to put in drinks (see recipe below) or just to eat fresh by the handful, there’s nothing quite like them.
“Gather brambles in the late summer and early autumn. Tradition has it that the Devil spits on them after Old Michaelmas Day, 10th October, but the truth is that after frosts they become watery and unpalatable. If you are picking from roadside hedges, avoid busy roads because of pollution from vehicles and take care of traffic on minor ones.”
A Handbook of Scotland's Wild Harvests: The Essential Guide to Edible Species, with Recipes and Plants for Natural Remedies, and Materials to Gather for Fuel, Gardening and Craft.
Other fruits found in hedgerows might require a little more effort and patience. Elderberries, haws (hawthorn berries), sloes and rosehips can all look very glossy and appealing, but it’s best to cook them before you eat them. It’s also worth keeping in mind that although they look tempting now, some people think it’s better for some plants (e.g. rosehips) for us to wait to harvest after the first frosts — so as with all foraging, be sure to be mindful and do your own research before you go!
Eating and Drinking at the Equinox
Key ingredients that pop up time and again during harvest festivals and the rest of autumn are orchard fruits (think apples, pears and plums) and root vegetables, you’ll also see plenty of references to grains and bread.
Pomegranates also come into season around the end of September and due to the association with the story of Persephone (this is the time of year when she goes to live in the underworld for six months), they make a pleasing and seasonal addition to pretty much any dish.
Last year, I made Curried Apple Soup with Crostini from “The Witch’s Feast: A Kitchen Grimoire” by Melissa Madara - you can even watch a reel of me making it here.
I’ve cobbled together a seasonal drink out of a selection of my favourite recipes. It’s entirely customisable, September can be such an unpredictable month weather-wise, so I find it’s useful to have options.
It can be enjoyed hot or cold, with or without alcohol. I personally don’t love orange in my sangria / mulled wine, so I’ll be making it with mostly apple and pomegranate, perhaps with some foraged blackberries thrown in, you could use whatever fruits you like and are seasonal where you are!
Catch up on other recent blog posts here:
I hope you all have a gorgeous equinox, thank you so much for being here, I’ll speak to you again soon.
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