The autumn equinox — also called Mabon — is the moment when day and night are perfectly balanced. It’s a pause in the turning of the seasons, an invitation to ground, release, and step into fall with gratitude.
Mabon is often called the “witch’s Thanksgiving,” and for good reason. The harvest is here, the air is crisp, and it’s the perfect time to reflect on what you’ve grown — both in your garden and in your life — and decide what you’re ready to let go of before winter sets in.
By the end of this post, you’ll have 5 simple herbal rituals you can do at home to bring balance, abundance, and grounding into your season.
1. Brew a Mabon Gratitude Tea
Herbs: apple peel, cinnamon, chamomile
Tea is one of the easiest and most powerful ways to work with herbs. For Mabon, brew a gratitude tea by steeping apple peel, cinnamon sticks, and chamomile flowers.
✨ As you sip, think of three things you’re grateful for this year. Let that gratitude fill your body with warmth and remind you of the abundance already around you.
Outcome: A daily gratitude practice you can actually taste.
2. Balance Your Space with Herbal Smoke
Sometimes the energy in your home feels like it’s still stuck in summer chaos. A simple smoke ritual clears the air and helps reset your space for balance.
Traditionally, many people reach for sage — but it’s far from the only option. You can also burn:
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Rosemary → grounding + protective, with a piney, uplifting scent.
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Cedar → earthy, anchoring, and perfect for autumn’s turning.
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Mugwort → dreamy + intuitive, ideal for threshold moments like the equinox.
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Bay leaves → easy to find, burn beautifully, and carry abundance energy.
✨ Choose the herb that feels right for you. Light your bundle or leaf, let the smoke drift through your space, and say:
“I release what no longer serves me. I welcome balance and calm.”
Pro tip: Crack a window so the smoke (and stagnant energy) has somewhere to go.
Outcome: A clear, balanced home that supports your fall intentions.
3. Create an Equinox Altar
Herbs + Crystals: rosemary, cornflower, carnelian, smoky quartz
An altar doesn’t have to be fancy — just intentional. Gather a few fall items: a rosemary sprig, dried cornflowers, seasonal fruit (like apples or pears), and crystals like carnelian or smoky quartz.
Arrange them in a way that feels balanced. Each time you see your altar, let it remind you of the balance of light and dark in your own life.
Outcome: A visual anchor for your equinox energy.
4. Ground with a Walking Meditation
Herbs: mugwort or cedar in a sachet / bracelet
Take your ritual outdoors. Slip a small sachet of mugwort or cedar in your pocket (or wear a grounding stone bracelet) and walk slowly through a forest, park, or even your backyard.
With each step, imagine roots growing from your feet into the earth. Breathe deeply, letting the crisp fall air bring you back to center.
Outcome: A calmer mind and steadier body as you move into autumn.
5. Write a Harvest List + Burn It
Herbs: bay leaves or rosemary sprigs
Write down what you’ve “harvested” this year — the goals reached, lessons learned, blessings received. On another paper, write what you’re ready to release.
Place a sprig of rosemary or bay leaves on top, and (safely) burn the release list. Keep the gratitude list tucked on your altar or in a journal.
Outcome: Closure on what no longer serves you + clarity on what you’re carrying forward.
Closing: Bring It All Together
Mabon is the reminder that life is about balance: light and dark, release and abundance, endings and beginnings. These five rituals are simple, herbal, and powerful ways to align yourself with the season.
If you’d like to make your equinox celebrations even easier, I’ve bundled up some tools to help you ground and balance this fall:
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Herbal Smoke Bundles for clearing + intention setting
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Tumbled Stone Bracelets for carrying grounding energy daily
May your equinox be filled with gratitude, balance, and just the right amount of magic.
