Saturday 21 September 2019

A Guided Visualisation for the Autumn Equinox


The Autumn Equinox, when day and night are of equal length, is on 23 September this year, but many people celebrate it on the 21st. Here is a guided visualisation for this time of year, celebrating the changing season and the natural world. I hope you like it!

The Autumn Garden: A Guided Visualisation for the Equinox

Find somewhere safe, where you will not be disturbed. Sit comfortably and close your eyes. Take three deep breaths in and out and relax, then visualise the following in your mind's eye:

You are in a garden. It is late afternoon at that time of year which, on golden days, you can still believe is late summer, yet you know is autumn. The sun is shining. When you stand in its brightness, you can feel it warming your skin, yet in long shadows that stretch across the lawn, you can feel a chill touch you.

The trees and hedges still have plenty of green leaves, yet there are patches of red, yellow and brown among them, and some leaves fallen to the ground. There are bright berries, too, although much of the fruit that can be harvested has already been picked. Around you, flowers are still blooming. Perhaps you see purple Michaelmas daisies, late roses or others. You also see that many have gone to seed, and brown stalks stand among others in the garden.

Spend some time exploring the garden. What do you see? What do you smell? What do you hear? What do you feel?

After a while, while examining the things in the garden, you spot a creature that seems to be observing you. The creature does not seem afraid of your presence. It seems to be aware that you have seen it, but it does not move away.

What is the creature? What does it look like?

It looks at you steadily, and you get the impression that it is inviting you to move closer.
You slowly and quietly move closer to the creature. It remains where it is, looking at you, until you are right in front of it.

What does the creature want? Does the creature need your help, or is it offering something for you?
Spend some time with the creature, interacting with it in the way that seems right.

After some time, the creature nods at you, and you realise it must go. It turns and leaves you in the garden.

Looking around you realise that the shadows in the garden have lengthened, and it is early evening. It is time for you to leave the garden too.

When you are ready shake your arms and legs and open your eyes to the real world.


I always recommend having something to eat and drink after doing a guided visualisation, or any ritual or magical work, as it can help you ground properly. It is also a good idea to make notes about anything that seemed important to you from the visualisation. I think this is particularly important at the equinox, as it is a time to take stock of what you have done in the year so far, and what you must do to plan for the autumn and winter ahead.

You can find more guided visualisations in my book Pagan Portals - Guided Visualisations.


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