Autumn Goddesses

By Lady Haight-Ashton • (Originally published in Panegyria Magazine Oct 13, 2023)

Autumn heralds Samhain the Sabbat that welcomes the end of summer and the final harvest that ushers in the “dark half of the year.” Boundaries between the spiritual and physical world break down allowing interaction with the Otherworld.

When the veil between the world is the thinnest Goddesses of this final Autumnal harvest will weave their way into our lives with their mysterious Magick. The weather begins to shift stirring within us the desire to change, and embrace the Hermit’s persona. We must go inward in meditation and learn to become our own teachers thus expanding our psychic and intuitive abilities.

The Greek Goddess Persephone, the daughter of Demeter, will now descend into the Underworld to join her husband Hades and become the Queen of the Dead.

Cerridwen the Celtic Goddess, will stir her cauldron flame to bring us rebirth, knowledge, and transition.

Hecate, Greek Goddess of the Crossroads and Queen of the Witches will lead us on the darkest nights through the Spiritual and Underworld realms.

Finally, we have Morrigan the Celtic Crow Goddess of Samhain Sovereignty. Her sacred duality is that of death and rebirth.

These are the Goddesses of Autumn who help us transition into the dark months of Winter so that new life can be born again in the Spring.

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One of the most prevalent symbols of Autumn besides the ever-familiar pumpkin is the apple. Because apples are ready for harvest at the end of summer and finish by late Autumn, they are a large part of many seasonal festivities. Cut an apple in half (horizontally) and see the 5-pointed symbol.

Oh! the succulently seductive apple that tempted Eve in the Garden is also the fruit of the most everyday pie…the apple. Delicious and common place and seen on many happy family dinner tables.

Pomona is the ancient Roman Goddess who nurtures the cultivation and growth of apple and other fruit trees. Like many Roman Goddesses who have an actual Greek complement, Pomona does not, though she is often compared to the Demeter. Pomona’s spirit dwells in our Autumn gardens and orchards inspiring a cornucopia of delicious harvested abundance.

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Carve candle lit big turnips and pumpkins (jack-o-lanterns) to outline your sacred Samhain circles.

Dance wildly around your cauldron blazes to build the sacred cone of power. And at the crescendo raise your arms to send your energy out into the cosmos. Then let your hands touch the ground to send positive energy into the earth.

Indulge your sweet tooth with candy corn and candy apples.

Bless the nighttime Samhain sky and call forth your ancestors.

Embrace this most magickal season as we await the Wintry months soon to come.