In the pagan wheel of the year, autumn is the season of sacred transition. It is the time when the Earth releases, the veil thins, and humans are invited to reflect on harvest, death, and ancestral memory. Far from being a season of mere decay, autumn is imbued with richness, spiritual insight, and deep-rooted folklore across Slavic, Celtic, and Norse traditions.
Harvest and the Last Fruits of the Earth
Autumn begins with Lughnasadh (Lammas) and continues into Mabon, marking the final harvest festivals. These rites celebrated the bounty of the land and offered thanks to the gods before winter’s silence.
Offerings of grain, apples, nuts, and wine were made to deities of the earth and underworld. People held feasts, lit fires, and performed rituals to ensure balance, safe passage through darkness, and ancestral protection.
Pagan Symbols of Autumn
Scythe or Sickle – tool of both harvest and death; symbol of Saturn and agricultural gods.
Falling Leaves – emblem of release, transformation, and nature’s cycle of rebirth.
Apples & Pomegranates – sacred fruits of knowledge, love, and the afterlife.
Corn Dollies – crafted from harvested grain to house the spirit of the crops until spring.
Pagan Deities of Autumn
Mokosh (Slavic) – Earth goddess of fertility and protector of women; honored during the final harvest.
Veles (Slavic) – god of the underworld, cattle, and ancestral realms; invoked during Samhain-like rites.
Cailleach (Celtic) – the Crone goddess who ruled the dark half of the year, embodying wisdom, endings, and storms.
Demeter & Persephone (Greek) – their myth captures the seasonal descent and return from the underworld.
These deities reminded humans to embrace the cycle—to mourn, remember, and prepare.
Predictions & the Thinning Veil
Autumn, particularly around Samhain (October 31st), was believed to be a time when the veil between worlds thinned. Spirits roamed freely, and ancestors could visit. Divination was common—reading apples, smoke, bones, or dreams to foresee winter omens or romantic fate.
Traditions included:
Fire rituals to honor the dead and protect from wandering spirits.
Wearing masks or costumes to blend with the spirit world.
Creating altars with candles and food for those who passed on.
Traditions of Protection and Closure
As nature began its long slumber, people cleansed homes, stored herbs, and performed protective charms against cold, hunger, or bad spirits. Embroidered textiles, carved talismans, and wreaths made of dried herbs were hung in doorways for safety and peace.
Autumn in pagan lore teaches us the sacred art of letting go, preparing inwardly, and trusting the cycle of life and death. It is a season of beauty wrapped in sorrow—a wise teacher of rhythm, stillness, and grace.
