🍂 Root Medicine for Autumn Grounding: Part One

Honoring the descent, the harvest, and the healing rhythms of fall

🌾 The Descent Begins

From the golden glow of Mabon to the shadowed mystery of Samhain, autumn is a sacred passage.
It’s a time when:

• The earth’s bounty wanes
• Shadows lengthen
• We’re invited to balance gratitude with release

Across cultures, this season has been honored in myth and ritual — from Persephone’s descent into the underworld to Celtic ancestor rites. It’s a season of turning inward, preparing body and spirit for the deep rest of winter.

✨ Walking the Autumn Path

As you move through this season:

• Harvest both the tangible and intangible gifts of the year.
• Release what no longer serves you.
• Honor your roots — both ancestral and spiritual.
• Trust that in the darkness, seeds are already stirring for spring.

May the sacred medicine of autumn bless your roots, your rituals, and your radiant journey toward winter’s wise embrace.

The Wisdom of the Autumnal Arc

The journey from Mabon, the Autumn Equinox, to Samhain, the ancient Celtic New Year, is a sacred passage through the heart of autumn—a time when earth’s bounty wanes, shadows lengthen, and the spiritual rhythms of life, death, and renewal draw close. In the herbal tradition, this arc on the Wheel of the Year is alive with the scents, stories, and meanings that have resonated across cultures, from the myth of Persephone’s descent to the rituals of ancestor reverence at Samhain. For practitioners and seekers alike, this season is not only a turning outward to honor the harvest, but equally a turning inward—to balance, honor, and release. In the following exploration, we delve soulfully into the mythologies, themes, and herbal folklore that animate both Mabon and Samhain, illuminating how we might participate in the age-old dance between gratitude, descent, protection, and rebirth, returning—always and ever—to the roots from which new life will someday spring again.

🔮 As The Wheel Turns — Lammas to Mabon

Exploring the Spiritual, Folkloric, and Herbal Wisdom of the Autumn Sabbats

🌾Mabon — The Autumn Equinox (Sept 21–23)

Themes: Gratitude • Balance • Harvest
Energy: Equal day and night, a pause before the descent into winter.
Herbs: Apple • Blackberry • Sage • Marigold • Rose • Sacred grains

Folklore & Myth: 

• Persephone’s Descent — A reminder that letting go is part of the cycle of renewal.
• Dionysus — Joy, abundance, and the transformation of harvest into wine.
• Inanna — The stripping away of ego before rebirth.

The Equinox as Sacred Balance

Mabon (pronounced MAY-bon or MAH-bon), observed roughly between September 21st and 23rd in the Northern Hemisphere, is the festival of the Autumn Equinox—the moment when day and night stand in equal balance. It is the second of three traditional harvest festivals, located between Lughnasadh and Samhain on the Wheel of the Year, and marks both the peak and the waning of nature’s abundance. Ancient and modern celebrations alike mark this threshold: as the sun’s strength wanes, it’s a time to gather, reflect, and give thanks not only for the literal fruits of the earth but also for metaphoric harvests—accomplishments, lessons, and growth accrued over the lighter half of the year. The experience of balance—between action and rest, light and darkness, outer labor and inner reflection—is central to the season’s spiritual significance.

In Celtic and broader European tradition, astronomical equinoxes were seen as liminal, magical times of transition, when the world pauses in perfect symmetry before turning toward the descent of winter. The energy at Mabon, then, invites integrative rituals that honor both fullness and letting go. In the slow, even melancholy beauty of the dying year, there lies an invitation to gratitude, to mindful slowing-down, and to intentional release of what cannot (and ought not) be carried into the deep rest of winter.

The Stories We Live: Persephone’s Descent & Return

The myth of Persephone, daughter of Demeter, the Greek goddess of the harvest, captures the essence of autumn’s turning. Persephone’s annual descent into the underworld—a journey begun at the Autumn Equinox—ushers in the earth’s barrenness as her mother mourns her absence. Her eventual return in spring brings rebirth and growth.

This myth does more than explain the seasons: it encodes a profound spiritual teaching. The descent is not only a literal going under, but a metaphor for the necessity of letting what is ripe, mature, or completed return to the earth. The journey—marked by separation, darkness, and eventual reunion—mirrors human inner cycles: just as Persephone cannot always stay in the bright world, we too must honor our own need for descent, quietude, and transformation in the underworld spaces of our own psyches and lives.

Recent interpretations of Persephone’s story, including feminist and Jungian readings, see her not merely as a passive victim, but as a sovereign figure and psychopomp—one who journeys between worlds, embodying the mystery of transformation, and guiding others in their passages between light and shadow. Her narrative is the template not just for seasonal rhythms, but for the very pattern of spiritual and personal growth—where gratitude for the harvest is twinned with acceptance of inevitable descent.

Dionysus and Inanna: Additional Autumn Myths of Descent & Harvest

Mabon’s mythic landscape also holds space for other deities of transformation. Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, ecstasy, and the harvest, is honored through the ripening and fermenting of grapes and blackberries, symbolizing abundance, joy, and communion, but also the transformative power of letting go and intoxication with the divine.

From the Near East comes Inanna, the Sumerian “Queen of Heaven and Earth,” whose own descent to the Underworld mirrors Persephone’s. Her myth centers on stripping away each layer of ego and status at the seven gates of the Underworld, dying, and being reborn through the assistance of loyal companions and spiritual wisdom. Inanna’s story powerfully encodes the spiritual necessity of descent, shadow work, and the cyclical promise of renewal after the “little deaths” that mark every human life.

Soulful Herbal Traditions and Folklore for Mabon

The bounty of the harvest is celebrated not just through food, but through mindful engagement with the herbs and plants sacred to this season. Each plant carries meanings, ritual uses, and energetic correspondences unique to its history and folklore.

The Apple: Wisdom, Death, Rebirth

Apples ripen at the equinox and are deeply entwined with themes of transformation. Sliced horizontally, the apple reveals a pentagram—the sacred symbol of earth and spirit. In Norse lore, Iðunn’s apples grant immortality to the gods, while in Celtic legend the Isle of Avalon (from Old Welsh “afal,” meaning apple) is the Otherworld, a place of rest, healing, and rebirth. Apples thus serve on Mabon altars as both offerings and symbols—of wisdom, death, rebirth, and the sweet mysteries that come with releasing the old.

Magical uses of apples at Mabon include drying slices for altar decor, incorporating peels in incense, and baking apples into breads and pies to share the season’s bounty. The apple’s duality—sustenance and poison, life and death—makes it a core fruit at this threshold.

Blackberry: Protection, Transformation, Ecstasy

Blackberries, veiled in bramble and crowned with thorns, are potent symbols of protection and transformation. In folk tradition, bramble arches mark boundaries between worlds and serve as gateways for healing and protection. Blackberry wine, associated with Dionysus, honors not only harvest and abundance, but the transformative, ecstatic energy that marks the autumn festival. Blackberries in pies and jams at Mabon feasts are not merely culinary—they’re a spell for joy, communal bounty, and blessing.

The Sacred Grains: Wheat, Barley, Corn, and the Spirits of the Land

Grains hold pride of place at Mabon, symbolizing abundance, nourishment, and the interconnectedness of land, people, and divine. In the Eleusinian Mysteries, barley was blended with mint and water in the sacred kykeon brew—consumed during rituals reenacting Persephone’s descent and return. Bake barley bread as an offering to the season’s goddesses (Demeter, Persephone) or scatter grains on your altar to affirm the year’s gifts. Corn dollies, woven from the final sheaf, are hung through winter to house the spirit of the harvest, later ploughed into spring fields to ensure renewal.

Sage, Rosemary, Marigold, and Rose: Protection and Blessing

• Sage is beloved for its purifying qualities—burn sage before Mabon rituals to cleanse old energy and create sacred space for gratitude, balance, and letting go.
• Rosemary, associated with memory and durability, is used to both honor ancestors and invoke protection. Add rosemary to breads, incense, or place sprigs on your autumn altar for blessing and remembrance.
• Marigold/Calendula is the flower of sunlight and the heart, radiant in autumnal gold. Traditionally used to honor the dead, marigolds offer protection and joy, connect us to the warmth of the sun, and are valued for both their edible and magical properties.
• Rose carries both the energy of love and the resonance of the depths, especially for ancestor reverence and connecting to lineage at both Mabon and Samhain.

The Celtic Crone: Facing the Wisdom of Descent

The equinox marks the turning of the Great Goddess from Mother to Crone in the Celtic tradition, a powerful archetype embodied by figures such as the Cailleach, Cerridwen, and Hecate. The Crone teaches the necessity of endings, the acceptance of loss, and the wisdom earned through the cycles of letting go. To honor her at Mabon is to sit with what must be released and to call upon her guidance for navigating the coming darkness.

Crone qualities include compassion, authenticity, fierce protectiveness, and the ability to see below the surface, making this a powerful time to seek vision, engage in shadow work, and honor the strength that comes from traversing the cycles of life, death, and rebirth.

Ritual Practices: Bringing Mabon to Life

• Create a gratitude altar: Decorate with apples, grains, marigolds, autumn leaves, and symbols of balance (scales, two candles). Write down or speak aloud what you are thankful for; release what no longer serves by burning or burying these notes.
• Harvest meal: Invite loved ones to share dishes of seasonal abundance—apples, blackberries, bread, roast vegetables—honoring both the gifts and the transience of the year.
• Herbal baths or teas: Use sage, marigold, and rosemary to cleanse and fortify body and spirit for the transition ahead.

🌀 The Thread Between Mabon & Samhain

These two sabbats are not opposites — they are partners in the seasonal spiral:

• Mabon gathers and gives thanks.
• Samhain releases and blesses what has passed.
  Together, they teach us to carry light into the shadow and trust in the promise of renewal.

🔮 As The Wheel Turns: Mabon to Samhain

🕯️ Samhain — The Celtic New Year (Oct 31–Nov 1)

Themes: Ancestor reverence • Spiritual protection • Death & rebirth
Energy: The veil between worlds is thinnest.
Herbs: Mugwort • Wormwood • Rosemary • Garlic • Calendula • Yarrow

Folklore & Myth:

• The Celtic Crone Goddess — Wisdom, endings, and the courage to face the dark.
• Protective herb bundles and fire rituals to guide spirits and guard the living.

Ritual Ideas:

• Build an ancestor altar with photos, candles, and offerings.
• Hold a dumb supper in silence to honor and listen for messages from loved ones passed.
• Burn mugwort or rosemary for protection and clarity in divination.

The Festival’s Roots and Meaning

Samhain (pronounced SOW-en) is traditionally observed from sunset on October 31 to sunset on November 1, marking the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter—the final, most liminal sabbat on the Wheel of the Year. In ancient Celtic culture, it was the New Year, a sacred moment when the veil between the living and the dead was at its thinnest and the boundary between worlds could be crossed with ease. Samhain is a time for confronting death, communicating with ancestors, seeking spiritual protection, and ritually honoring the full cycle—both what must be released and what is yet to be reborn.

Like Persephone’s underworld journey and Inanna’s descent before her, Samhain embodies not only the darkness of loss, but also the seeds of future hope, transformation, and spiritual power. It is the alchemical phase of nigredo—both an ending and the unknown promise of beginning.

Ritual Themes: Ancestor Work, Spiritual Protection, Release

During Samhain, we honor those who came before, build or refresh ancestor altars, tell stories of the dead, light candles and fires for guidance, and lay out food offerings—sometimes a special meal, called a “dumb supper,” served in silence so as to listen for the messages of departed kin. Personal and family rituals during Samhain are acts of remembrance, healing, and reconnection—an acknowledgment that our roots run deep, that healing can move both forward and backward through the lineage.

Samhain is also a classic time for divination (with tarot, scrying, or dreamwork), protection spells, and the intentional crossing into “shadow work”—facing our fears, losses, and parts of self that have been hidden, releasing the old stories to make room for rebirth.

Herbal Traditions and Folklore for Samhain

At Samhain, the herbal energies turn from the bright, outgoing plants of summer to those that stand at the boundary between worlds—herbs for psychic work, spiritual cleansing, protection, grief, and ancestor connection.

Mugwort and Wormwood: Gateways to Spirit

Mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) is the “witch’s herb,” used for centuries to enhance dreams, visions, and communication with the otherworld. It is burned as incense to cleanse, empower, and open intuitive pathways before ritual or divination. Mugwort can be woven into dream pillows, placed under your pillow at Samhain for prophetic dreams or to receive wisdom from ancestors, or added to protection blends.

Wormwood (Artemisia absinthium), closely related to mugwort, is likewise associated with spirit communication and protection. Burning wormwood is believed to call ancestral spirits and open psychic sight, but its powerful energies demand respect, lest doors be opened that are not easily closed. Both herbs serve as bridges—as much for defense as for connection, keeping negative energies at bay.

Rosemary and Garlic: Remembrance and Protection

Rosemary is the classic herb of remembrance. Wreaths and bundles of rosemary on the Samhain altar honor the dead; its scent—uplifting and clarifying—supports meditation, ancestor work, and spiritual protection. Burning rosemary as incense cleanses spaces and anoints altars; it can be combined with sage or lavender for a potent protective blend.

Garlic’s pungent aroma has centuries of use in warding off evil, both material and spiritual. Hanging garlic in the home during Samhain is a traditional folk practice for banishing negative entities and protecting the threshold between worlds.

Calendula (Marigold) and Yarrow: Blessing and Courage

Calendula, also called marigold, is brightly aligned with the sun, but is equally present with the dead. In many cultures, from ancient Rome to contemporary Día de los Muertos, marigold petals are used to honor ancestors and brighten grief with the promise of remembrance and joy. Scattered on altars or used in ritual breads and honey, calendula blesses the transition towards winter, lighting the way for spirits but also for ourselves, as we walk into the underworld within.

Yarrow (Achillea millefolium) is the herb of the spiritual warrior, famed for its protective and healing power. Used by the Greeks in myth for staunching Achilles’ wounds, yarrow’s feathery presence brings courage, fortitude, and energetic boundaries. In ancestor and ritual work, yarrow sharpens and strengthens the field, helps to navigate emotional boundaries, and supports both physical and spiritual immunity.

Table: Key Samhain Herbs and Their Meanings

Each of these herbs, not just in ingredient lists but in soulful ritual, helps weave the liminal space of Samhain—a portal both for honoring the past and preparing for the quiet germination of the year to come.

The Living Tapestry: Mythological Threads Uniting Mabon & Samhain

From Mabon to Samhain, the Wheel of the Year draws a descending spiral—a journey not just into darkness, but toward wisdom, rest, and regeneration. What unites these sabbats is the spiritual necessity of balance, descent, and eventual rebirth.

Persephone’s descent and Inanna’s underworld journey both dramatize the initiatory power of going under—of relinquishing the surface, stripping away what no longer serves, letting the old stories die. Dionysian rites remind us that the end of the fruitful season is not only sad, but also joyful, ecstatic—a necessary stage in the endless dance. The Celtic Crone stands as guide and wisdom-keeper at the threshold, teaching that endings, death, and darkness are not failures, but essential parts of the cycle.

Herbal traditions further thread Mabon and Samhain together: what is gathered and offered at the Equinox—apple, grain, gratitude—becomes, by Samhain, the memory, blessing, seed, and ancestral wisdom that will sustain us through winter’s fallow. The Sabbath’s herbal gifts—apples at Mabon, mugwort and rosemary at Samhain—are not opposites but complements, teaching us to carry the light into the shadow, and to trust that after every descent, rebirth will follow.

The Autumn Path—Rest, Reflection, and Return

As the wheel turns from Mabon to Samhain, the themes of gratitude, balance, release, descent, and ancestor reverence coalesce in the golden, shadowed world at autumn’s heart. These sabbats both honor what is visible and nurture what is hidden—inviting us to walk in rhythm with nature, to descend willingly for rest and renewal, to bless our roots and our lineage, and to trust, in the darkness, that the seeds of next spring’s life are already stirring beneath.

Let us walk the autumnal path with intention: harvesting both fruit and lesson, weaving herbs and not just their scents but their ancient meanings into ritual, honoring the myths that call us to courage, surrender, and hope. However we observe these passages—alone in nature, with family, in ancestral ritual, or at a bustling feast—may we enter winter not as exiles, but as initiates in the sacred mystery that life and death, shadow and seed, are inseparable, and that all cycles—within and without—are holy.

🌌 The Stars of the Season Astrological Archetypes of Autumn

As the wheel of the year turns from Mabon toward Samhain and beyond, the sun moves through three powerful zodiac signs — Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Each sign brings its own energetic medicine, emotional lessons, and herbal allies to support us through the descent into winter.

✨The Alchemy of Autumn’s Zodiac Energies

The Seasonal and Astral Context

Astrologically, autumn is defined by the sun’s passage through Libra (September 23–October 22), Scorpio (October 23–November 21), and Sagittarius (November 22–December 21). This segment of the zodiac, coinciding with the fall equinox and progressing toward the winter solstice, maps the soul’s journey through balance, descent, and renewal.

• Libra Season inaugurates autumn at the equinox, emphasizing cosmic and personal harmony, beauty, and right relationship, both within and without. As day and night balance, Libra’s core themes mirror the equilibrium of the equinox.
• Scorpio Season draws us into deepening shadows and energetic compost—inviting transformation, emotional honesty, and metabolizing the past through a process of inner death and rebirth; it aligns with folklore traditions like Samhain, a time for honoring the ancestral and unseen.
• Sagittarius Season carries the spark of hope, spiritual hunger, and vision—culminating autumn with wisdom gained through adventure, learning, and lived integration. Sagittarius’s arrival just before the solstice marks the soul’s expansion after Scorpio’s depth, inspiring us to set our sights on new spiritual horizons.

Autumn is a time of visible transformation—a seasonal passage where light and darkness come briefly into balance, then tip towards the introspective depths of winter. In the Northern Hemisphere, this liminal space is astrologically marked by the sun’s movement through Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius. Each of these fall zodiac signs offers unique lessons: Libra brings harmony and relational equilibrium; Scorpio kindles the fire of inner transformation and shadow work; Sagittarius expands us into adventurous truth-seeking and spiritual integration.

Just as autumn itself is about reaping, composting, and preparing the soil for new growth, the spiritual and energetic signatures of the fall signs guide us through an inner harvest—a soulful reckoning with our relationships, shadows, and beliefs. Western herbal folklore, medical astrology, and ritual tradition have long associated specific herbs and plant rituals with the energetic qualities of each sign. Herbal allies not only support the distinct mind-body tendencies of each sign, but also foster the deeper work of seasonal integration, helping us root spiritual archetypes into lived experience.

These seasons spiral us through a cycle of gathering, letting go, and seeking, echoing ancient wisdom that spiritual, mental, and herbal practices must evolve alongside the land’s own cycles of sowing, harvesting, and nourishing the roots for winter.

♎ Libra:The Sacred Dance of Equilibrium (Sept 23–Oct 22)

Element: Air | Ruling Planet: Venus
Seasonal Energy: The Autumn Equinox ushers in Libra’s call for harmony — between light and dark, self and other, giving and receiving.

Libra, an Air sign ruled by Venus, governs beauty, partnership, balance, and justice. The scales—Libra’s ancient symbol—remind us that autumn is not only about harvest but about weighing, judging, and discerning what is to be kept and what released. Libra’s spiritual lessons center on finding grace amidst duality—balancing self and other, inner and outer, giving and receiving.

Key Spiritual and Energetic Themes:

• Balance and Inner/Outer Harmony: Libra’s innate drive is to seek equilibrium—in emotions, relationships, and the broader ecosystem. The soul’s work is not perfection, but artful negotiation between sometimes-conflicting needs.
• Beauty and Aesthetics as Healing: The Venusian signature makes Libras especially sensitive to beauty—finding the divine in art, music, nature, and ritual surroundings. The cultivation of harmonious spaces and artistic ritual is inherently healing for Libra.
• Relationship as Mirror and Path: Libra teaches that partnership is a potent teacher. Relationships function as catalysts for self-discovery and growth; boundaries, negotiation, and honest communication are crucial spiritual tools.
• Social Justice and Diplomacy: Libra’s Venus-ruled nature yearns for fairness, justice, and peace—not just on a personal level, but in the collective. Libras often serve as peacemakers, diplomats, or advocates.

Herbal Allies:

Libra’s herbal allies are chosen for their gentleness, harmonizing energy, and ability to nourish the heart, nerves, and kidneys—the organ system associated with Libra in medical astrology.

• Rose — Softens the heart, invites compassion, and restores emotional equilibrium.
• Elderflower — Supports immunity while uplifting the spirit.
• Oatstraw — Nourishes the nervous system, grounding airy Libra energy.
• Lemon Balm — Calms the mind and soothes emotional turbulence.

These plants support Libra’s harmony-seeking essence both physically and spiritually. Rose and elderflower comfort and protect the heart; oatstraw and lemon balm encourage nervous system resilience (counteracting Libra’s tendency to stress or indecision); lady’s mantle and thyme bring gentle grounding and boundary support. Bergamot radiates joy—a necessary energy to cut through Libra’s tendency to self-doubt or external validation. Each can be woven into equinox and new moon rituals for intention-setting, self-love, and connection.

Venus Rulership: Libra’s Spiritual Energy

Venus as Libra’s ruling planet brings a spiritual focus on love not just as romance, but as the harmonizing energy that binds opposites and uplifts the spirit. The Venusian path is both an appreciation of sensuality and an invitation to cultivate beauty and equity in all walks of life. Mythologically, Venus/Aphrodite as patroness of Libra brings themes not only of romantic attraction, but also aesthetic discernment, creative inspiration, and the initiation of sacred partnership.

Libra’s Spiritual Challenges

Libra’s shadow is the tendency to avoid conflict, lose oneself in others’ needs (people-pleasing), or fall into paralysis through endless deliberation. Autumn rituals for Libra must counter these pitfalls by:

• Encouraging self-honoring boundaries and intentional solitude.
• Practicing discernment and honest communication even when it disturbs apparent harmony.
• Balancing the pursuit of outer beauty with inner clarity and justice.

Folklore and Rituals of Libra

Libra’s season overlaps with the Fall Equinox (Mabon), a time of balance and gratitude in Celtic and Pagan traditions:

• Mabon Altars & Gratitude Rituals: Decorate altars with autumn flowers, apples, rose petals, and symbols of balance (scales, paired candles). Honor both the visible and unseen relationships in your life and set intentions for harmonious exchange.
• Beauty and Blessing Baths: Brew baths with rose, elderflower, lemon balm, and oatmeal for ritual cleansing and invoking beauty. Blend essential oils such as bergamot and thyme for anointing pulse points to evoke calm and inner balance.
• Incense & Sacred Smokes: Burn loose incense of rose petal, lavender, and apple peel for purification and attunement to Venusian clarity.
• Relational Rituals: Libra’s season is ideal for rituals of forgiveness, conscious communication, and crafting written intentions about healthy partnership—journaling or sharing in circle.
• Divination with Herbs: Practice simple oracle rituals with rose petals (for self-love answers), or elderberries (for protection guidance), journaling the insights for future reference.

These practices mirror Libra’s desire to foster balance, beauty, and soulful connection—inviting both inner reflection and heartfelt relationship.

♏ Scorpio — The Transformer (Oct 23–Nov 21)

Element: Water | Ruling Planet: Pluto
Seasonal Energy: As the days shorten, Scorpio invites us into the depths — to face shadows, release what no longer serves, and emerge renewed.

Scorpio, a Fixed Water sign, is governed by both Pluto (modern) and Mars (traditional)—making it the astrological gatekeeper of transformation, intensity, shadow, and power. As autumn darkens, Scorpio’s season invites us to descend into our depths—embracing cycles of death and rebirth, not just in external life but in our personal patterns, emotions, and beliefs.

Key Spiritual and Energetic Themes:

• Transformation and Release: Scorpio’s core lesson is to surrender old identities, compulsions, or wounds that are ready to die—making space for a more authentic and empowered self. True healing, in Scorpio’s alchemy, is a process of composting the past.
• Shadow Work: Scorpio urges us to recognize, befriend, and integrate the shadows—hidden desires, fears, griefs, and traumas we avoid. Through ritual, therapy, or dreamwork, Scorpio season fosters insight and liberation from unconscious patterns.
• Emotional Detox and Regeneration: Scorpio rules the body’s elimination and reproductive systems, as well as psychic boundaries. Herbal and spiritual practices support deep cleansing—of body, mind, and soul. Psychologically, this is a time to grieve, feel, and lovingly release.
• Personal Power and Boundaries: Pluto and Mars together teach us that authentic power is rooted in self-possession and healthy boundaries. Scorpio’s journey transforms trauma into strength—the legendary “phoenix rising from the ashes” motif.
• Mystery, Ritual, and the Unseen: Scorpio is drawn to ritual, esoteric studies, and ancestral magic—the thinning of the veil at Samhain (Halloween) amplifies the need for rites of passage, ancestor connection, and honoring the unseen.

Herbal Allies:

Scorpio’s herbal allies reflect the need for deep detoxification, psychic protection, hormonal and emotional regulation, and spiritual boundary-setting.

• Black Cohosh — Supports deep physical and emotional release.
• Mugwort — Enhances intuition, dreamwork, and spiritual clarity.
• Holy Basil (Tulsi) — Balances stress, uplifts mood, and clears energetic heaviness.
• Burdock Root — Purifies the blood and grounds intense emotional energy.

Black cohosh and burdock root are quintessential Scorpio herbs—both help with deep detoxification (physical and spiritual), hormonal regulation, and boundary-setting. Mugwort’s role as dream opener and psychic protection is crucial for navigating Scorpio’s underworld journeys, while holy basil supports the nervous system as the work of transformation unfolds. Oregon grape further aids elimination and was historically used in indigenous and folk medicine to “wipe the slate clean.” All these herbs can be used in teas, tinctures, ritual baths, altar offerings, and smoke cleanses during rites of release, ancestor veneration, or self-clearing.

Pluto and Mars Rulership: The Spiritual Alchemy

Pluto magnifies themes of death, rebirth, and deep transformation, inviting the dismantling of old egoic structures. Mars, meanwhile, brings the courage and drive required to face the intensity of shadow work and the catharsis of release. Together, they serve as cosmic midwives—guiding the soul through darkness into new life, just as autumn leaves decay to nourish future growth.

Scorpio’s medicine is not gentle; it insists on honesty, depth, and a willingness to confront what is most feared or repressed. Rituals, dreams, and somatic practices are powerful now, as is the support of herbal allies for cleansing and protection.

Scorpio Folklore, Rituals, and Shadow Practices

Celebratory rites for Scorpio’s season align with Samhain (October 31), Día de Muertos, and other “veil-thinning” traditions. Key practices include:

• Shadow Work and Descent Rituals: Journaling, dreamwork, and tarot or oracle spreads that probe fears, buried emotions, resentments, or traumas—Scorpio’s archetype guides us to face the “underbelly” of the psyche.
• Ancestral Offerings and Cord-Cutting: Rituals using black cohosh root, mugwort, or burdock to honor ancestors, release generational traumas, and clear psychic attachments; burning mugwort bundles or brewing roots in cleansing baths; making protective salves and sachets.
• Ritual Baths and Emotional Detox: Soaking with black cohosh, burdock, or holy basil to “wash away” emotional residue; add salt for purification. This is especially potent between the new and full moons for potent release.
• Herbal Incense and Smoke Bundles: Burning mugwort, basil, or peppermint to prepare sacred space for ritual, meditation, or divination; also used for house clearings to mark endings or new beginnings.
• Phoenix Rebirthing Ceremonies: After releasing a deep grief or pattern, honor the “ashes” with a fire ritual—using damiana or rose for sensual renewal, symbolizing the reawakening of hope and aliveness.

Each of these aligns with Scorpio’s capacity to transmute pain into wisdom, to transform suffering into compassion, and to reemerge with new reserves of depth and strength.

♐ Sagittarius — The Seeker (Nov 22–Dec 21)

Element: Fire | Ruling Planet: Jupiter
Seasonal Energy: As we approach winter, Sagittarius brings a spark of optimism and a hunger for meaning, helping us integrate the lessons of the year.

Sagittarius, a Mutable Fire sign, is ruled by Jupiter—the planet of growth, faith, luck, and higher knowledge. Like the archer-centaur, Sagittarius points its arrow to distant horizons, compelled by a longing to expand, explore, and synthesize experience into insight. This is the sign of the spiritual seeker, philosopher, and teacher.

Key Spiritual and Energetic Themes:

• Expansion and Adventure: Sagittarius is restless for the new—hungry for travel, learning, and cultural exploration. This is both outward (journeys, adventures) and inward (study, spiritual quests, meditation).
• Truth-Seeking and Integration: The ‘eternal student’ becomes the teacher, distilling what was discovered in Scorpio’s depths into clarity and wisdom. Sagittarius’s spiritual challenge is to embody and live their truth, not become dogmatic or arrogant.
• Optimism and Joy: The archetype inspires hopefulness, humor, resilience, and the capacity to see possibility in every experience—even after a time of deep challenge.
• Spiritual Rituals and Integration: Sagittarius loves to connect dots—blending philosophies, sacred practices, and healing modalities. They welcome all traditions, seeing truth as something to be widely explored.
• Shadow: Dogma and Escapism: Sagittarius’s “shadow” is self-righteousness, impractical idealism, or using adventure as an escape from root issues.

Herbal Allies:

Sagittarius’s herbs are optimistic, energizing, liver-supportive, and attuned to mobility—helping the body process abundance and freedom, and to integrate learning and vision.

• Sage — Clears stagnant energy and opens space for new insights.
• Rosemary — Sharpens memory and strengthens mental clarity.
• Astragalus — Supports immunity and long-term vitality.
• Calendula — Brings warmth, joy, and gentle detoxification.

Sage and rosemary foster mental clarity, integration, and spiritual connection—ideal for the “teaching” and “vision” work of Sagittarius’s season. Calendula and astragalus support physical and spiritual resilience during high activity and celebration. Dandelion detoxifies after the excesses of feasting and holiday indulgence. Turmeric’s anti-inflammatory and mental-brightening energies help us “digest” experiences, both in body and mind. Burdock root continues autumn’s theme of clearing the old to make room for new growth—a herbal ally that bridges Scorpio’s shadow with Sagittarius’s renewal.

Rulership: Expansion and Abundance

Jupiter’s rulership endows Sagittarius with generosity, magnanimity, and a love of wisdom. Rituals now are especially potent if tied to travel, study, service, or envisioning new horizons for the coming year. The “fire” of Sagittarius is celebratory and integrating, inviting us to dance with the lessons we’ve gained—expressing gratitude, giving back, and making meaning.

Sagittarius Folklore, Rituals, and Practices

Sagittarius’s rituals are celebratory, expansive, and forward-looking—filled with fire, laughter, and the willingness to dream big. These practices include:

• Rituals of Gratitude and Integration: Gathering friends, sharing stories of autumn’s lessons, and giving thanks for both hardship and reward. Lighting candles of orange and royal blue, using calendula and sage to bless each other, and setting “arrow” intentions for future dreams.
• Fire Ceremonies and Vision Boards: Holding bonfires or candlelight rituals to release what is old and ignite new aspirations; crafting vision boards with symbols of adventure, travel, and belief.
• Seasonal Adventuring: Committing to a journey (inner or outer)—whether through actual travel, enrolling in a new course, or exploring a spiritual practice. Carry rosemary and astragalus for stamina and “good fortune.”
• Teaching, Sharing, Storytelling: Hosting a book group, potluck, or satsang; giving generously to others (in time, resources, or expertise) as an act of abundance and spiritual faith.
• Magical Integration Teas: Brewing blends of sage, calendula, and dandelion to honor creative integration and support digestion during festive meals; offering these as libations to ancestors or deities of learning and travel.

By embracing these seasonal energies and rituals, Sagittarius’s archetype transforms learning into wisdom, movement into meaning, and optimism into sacred possibility.

Guiding Principles for Autumn Herbal Ritual

Autumn herbalism is inherently about tuning into cycles—both cosmic and ecological. Throughout history, herbal medicine, ritual, and astrology have been deeply interwoven. The fall equinox (Mabon), Samhain, and the approach of the winter solstice are traditional times for:

• Herb Harvesting and Medicine Making: Roots (burdock, dandelion, black cohosh), seeds (calendula), and autumn flowers (marigold, aster, goldenrod) are gathered at their energetic peak. Herbal infusions, syrups, tinctures, and baths are prepared to carry the supportive powers of the year’s final bounty.
• Immune and Digestive Support: As days shorten and feasting begins, herbal tonics (elderberry syrups, astragalus broth, digestive bitters) fortify the body against winter’s stress and help “digest” both food and experience.
• Energetic Cleansing and Ritual Baths: Plant-infused baths and smokes (mugwort, lavender, sage) are my favorite autumnal rituals for emotional and psychic cleansing—releasing attachments, inviting clarity, and preparing for winter’s gestation.
• Journaling, Visioning, and Gratitude Work: Autumn is a prime time for reflective writing—whether as shadow work, gratitude lists, or mapping your next adventure. Journaling helps integrate the season’s lessons: what have you harvested, what is dying away, and what do you aspire to birth in the coming year?.

Key Takeaways for Soulful, Seasonally-Aligned Herbal Practice:

• Let Libra inspire you to craft beauty and ritual harmony within and around you. Work with rose, elderflower, oatstraw, and lemon balm to cultivate peace, grace, and gentle boundaries.
• Allow Scorpio season for honest descent and renewal; utilize black cohosh, mugwort, holy basil, and burdock as allies for transformation, protection, and deep release.
• As Sagittarius arrives, lift your eyes to possibility. Sage, calendula, astragalus, and dandelion spur integration, vitality, and future vision—guiding you to embody your personal truth.
• Trust the seasonal wisdom: balance introspection with gratitude, stillness with adventure, and ritual with everyday healing.

As the leaves fall and the year wanes, may we honor this spiral of descent and ascent—sourcing wisdom in the cycles of light and dark, finding medicine in change, and tending the roots of our dreams for another turning of the wheel.

Happy Healing,

The Root Keepers