Celebrate the Autumn Equinox: A Guide to Rituals of Gratitude, Yoga & Candlelight
Table of contents
What is the Autumn Equinox?
Occurs around September 22–23 in the Northern Hemisphere.
A time of perfect balance between light and dark, symbolising harmony and equilibrium.
Why Celebrate the Equinox?
Marks the transition into autumn and the shift toward introspection.
An opportunity to pause, reflect, express gratitude, and prepare for renewal.
Rituals create a sacred space for connection with nature and personal growth.
Ritual Ideas for the Autumn Equinox
Gratitude Rituals: Light a Calm Meditation Candle and journal your harvest of blessings with the Morning Notes wellbeing journal to align with the season’s energy.
Yoga by Candlelight: Cleanse your mat with the Moonlight-Infused Yoga Mat Cleaner and practice surrounded by refillable tealights for balance and focus.
Letting-Go Ceremony: Release habits or emotions that no longer serve you by writing them on leaves and burning, burying, or releasing them, symbolising renewal and clarity.
Build an Equinox Altar: Create a sacred space with stones, herbs, and the Intention Collection Candle Bundle to embody balance and set seasonal intentions.
Equinox Bath Ritual: Soak in Epsom salts and herbs while lighting the Calm Meditation Candle to invite relaxation, grounding, and balance.
Self-Care Gifts: Honour the season with thoughtful offerings like Tealight Candles, a Candle Discovery Subscription, or cosy moments with our Yogi Evening Chai Recipe.
If you're wondering how to celebrate this magical moment of balance, you're in the right place! I'm going to guide you through some beautiful, soulful rituals that can help you honour this special time and find renewal as we transition into autumn.
💡 What is the Autumn Equinox?
The Autumn Equinox, falling around September 22nd or 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere, is a beautiful moment of perfect balance. It's when day and night are of equal length, symbolising harmony between light and dark. Just as the moon goes through its phases, our Earth experiences this cyclical dance too. Isn't it wonderful how nature reminds us to find equilibrium in our own lives?
Why Celebrate the Autumn Equinox?
Celebrating the Equinox isn't just about marking the official start of autumn. It's about embracing rituals that allow us to pause, reflect, and align ourselves with the natural world . These Equinox rituals offer a moment to express gratitude for the abundance of summer and prepare for the introspective months ahead . Just as I discovered the transformative power of Reiki rituals during a period of looking inward, the Equinox invites us to engage in rituals that help us discover new aspects of ourselves . By incorporating meaningful rituals into our Equinox celebration , we create a sacred space for personal growth and connection with the rhythms of nature.
There’s a hush that arrives with the Autumn Equinox—a pause between inhale and exhale, light and dark, growth and release. It’s the perfect invitation to slow down, take stock, and turn routine into ritual. Below you’ll find a gentle, grounding way to celebrate: a weave of gratitude, yoga by candlelight, and soulful self-care—with eco friendly candles, mindful movement, and nature-led intention setting.
Celebrate the Autumn Equinox with these Soulful Rituals
Ready to infuse a bit of magic into your Equinox celebration? Here are some of my favourite rituals that can help you honour this special time:
1. A Gratitude “Harvest” (Journal + Flame)
On the equinox, I love to sit somewhere quiet, light a meditation candle, and write down what I’m harvesting from the year so far - lessons, wins, softness, bravery. If you’d like a little structure, our Morning Notes – Daily wellbeing journal offers gentle prompts to guide your inner reflection.
- Calm Meditation Candle (mandarin, chamomile)—a candle for relaxation.
- Flow Meditation Candle—a focus-forward aromatherapy candle.
- Energise Meditation Candle—bright citrus and a clear mind.
2. Yoga by Candlelight
As daylight shortens, evening movement feels extra nurturing. Before you step on the mat, clear visual and energetic clutter with the Moonlight-Infused Yoga Mat Cleaner—our best natural yoga mat cleaner with essential oils. There’s also a Yoga Mat Cleaner Refill to keep your practice sustainable.
Now dim the lights and arrange calming candles at the front of your mat. I like a trio of scented tealights:
- Flow – Refillable Scented Tealights
- Calm – Refillable Scented Tealights
- Energise – Refillable Scented Tealights
Or explore our full All Natural Tealights collection.
I've linked a wonderful balance yoga video below that's perfect for all levels. After your yoga session, create a sacred space with the Flow Meditation candle, its invigorating citrus and mint scent helping to clear your mind. Use the QR code under the lid to access a special Reiki-infused meditation designed to help you find inner balance, just like the equalising energies of the Equinox. This combination of yoga and meditation is a powerful way to physically and mentally align with the balancing energy of the day.
3. Letting go Ceremony
The Autumn Equinox is a perfect time for release, mirroring the way trees let go of their leaves. This ritual helps you shed what no longer serves you, making space for new growth.Find a quiet space and reflect on what you wish to release - negative thoughts, unhelpful habits, or situations that no longer align with your path. Write each item on a separate leaf (real or paper). Hold the leaves and visualise the energy of these things flowing out of you and into the leaves. For the final act of release, you can:
- Safely burn the paper leaves
- Bury real leaves in the earth
- Release them into flowing water
As you let go, speak words of release like "I release this". Afterwards, take a moment to feel the lightness that comes with letting go and set an intention for the space you've created in your life.
4. Build an Equinox Altar (Balance, Intention, Release)
Gather a small tray or cloth and layer symbols of balance - stones, herbs, and leaves. Add candles with essential oils to invite warmth and clarity. Our Intention Collection – 3 Candles Bundle brings three states—Calm, Flow, Energise—each with a Reiki-infused meditation.
For extra inspiration, read How to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox: 6 Soulful Rituals.
6. Equinox Bath Ritual
Draw a warm bath to cleanse both your body and spirit as you align with the balancing energy of the Equinox. Add a cup of Epsom salts to soothe your muscles and a handful of dried herbs like chamomile or lavender for a touch of natural magic. To enhance the balancing properties of your bath, consider adding a few drops of essential oils known for their equilibrating effects.Here are my top 5 essential oils for balance, perfect for your Equinox bath ritual:
- Geranium : Known for its balancing effect on emotions and hormones
- Frankincense : Promotes grounding and centring
- Ylang Ylang : Balances the nervous system and promotes relaxation
- Lavender : Calms the mind and balances the body
- Cedarwood : Grounding and stabilizing
Remember, essential oils are potent and should always be diluted before adding to your bath. Mix 5-7 drops of your chosen oil (or a combination) with a tablespoon of carrier oil like jojoba or sweet almond oil before adding to the water. This ensures the oils disperse safely in the bath. As you soak, light your favourite shō-moon candle. Our Calm meditation candle, with its soothing blend of lavender and chamomile, is perfect for this ritual.
Take deep breaths, inhaling the balanced blend of scents. Visualize the warm water washing away any lingering summer stress, leaving you perfectly poised between the seasons. Allow yourself to cleanse both physically and energetically, emerging from your bath renewed and in harmony with the equinox energies.
Remember, these rituals are about creating moments of magic in your day. They're opportunities to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself and the world around you. That's what Shō-moon is all about – transforming ordinary moments into soulful rituals.
Carrying the Equinox Energy Forward
The beauty of the Equinox is that its energy of balance can inspire our daily rituals long after the day has passed. Why not create intentional rituals inspired by this equilibrium? Perhaps it's lighting a Shō-moon candle each morning as you set your intentions for a balanced day, or using our Reiki-infused meditations to centre yourself when life feels chaotic. These simple yet powerful rituals can help maintain the Equinox's balancing energy in your daily life.
As we transition into autumn, let's embrace the wisdom of the Equinox . Through our daily rituals, we can find harmony between doing and being, between letting go and welcoming in . By incorporating these balancing rituals into our routines, we can carry the spirit of the Equinox with us throughout the season.
Mindful Self-Care Gifts to Honour the Season
The Autumn Equinox is a perfect moment to reflect on what balance means in your life and to share that intention with others. Thoughtful self-care gifts can be a beautiful way to mark the season—not just for loved ones, but as an offering to yourself too. A set of Tealights Candles or a Candle Discovery Subscription makes for a meaningful gift that honours both light and darkness, echoing the energy of the equinox. Each candle is handmade with pure essential oils, and by choosing refillable candles, you’re also offering the gift of sustainability and balance to the planet. Pair these gifts with a reflective ritual—such as reading our Equinox guide—to weave deeper meaning into the exchange. Even small luxuries like a warm drink made from our Yogi Evening Chai Recipe can become an act of seasonal self-care when offered with intention.
Ready to infuse a little magic into your daily routine ? Our free holistic wellness guide is packed with inspiration for creating meaningful rituals that enhance your overall well-being and bring balance to your life.
Click below to download our free guide "Holistic Wellness Guide" and start your journey towards intentional living today . Discover a variety of rituals including morning routines , evening wind-downs , candle rituals , and tips for creating your own personalized soulful practices .
Learn how these simple yet powerful rituals can transform your daily life, helping you embrace wellness and mindfulness throughout the seasons.
Juliette shō-moon's founder
Hey! I'm Juliette, the founder of Shō-moon and hold a diploma in Aromatherapy.
My journey with aromatherapy began in childhood, where essential oils were a staple in our home for both healing and mood enhancement. This early exposure sparked a lifelong passion that has shaped my path.
Shō-moon is the culmination of this passion - a holistic wellness brand dedicated to transforming everyday moments into soulful rituals. Our premium, 100% natural meditation candles and refills are infused with pure essential oils, each carefully selected to support specific intentions.
As winners of the Theo Paphitis' Small Business Sunday award and with features in House Beautiful and The Sunday Express, we're thrilled to watch the Shō-moon community flourish.
I'm excited to share the transformative power of aromatherapy and meditation with you and help you discover how scent can be a powerful tool for personal growth and daily rituals.
