Autumn Equinox Journal Prompts

The Autumn Equinox this year in Ireland falls on Sunday 22nd September, at 1:43pm (my birthday almost to the minute).

It's the time of the year when all over the planet there are equal hours of both light and dark. This only happens twice a year, and I feel it creates a sense of global interconnectedness (if you choose to bring your awareness to it).

For me, the equinoxes are a time of balance, duality, and thresholds. The Autumn Equinox is seen by most at the official beginning of Autumn; the beginning of the dark season. It's the time that animals begin preparing for their winter hibernation, just as our ancestors would have prepared for the cold by gathering and storing the summer's harvest and finding ways to make it last.

It is the beginning of the time of introspection and deeper connection with yourself and your home.

Our ancient ancestors loved the equinoxes; sacred sites around the world are built to align with them. These include Loughcrew here in Ireland, Machu Picchu in Peru, Chichen Itza in Mexico and the Great Sphinx in Egypt. (If that isn’t inspiration to mark it in a special way then I don’t know what is!)

Here are some journal prompts to invite reflection and introspection as we cross over into Autumn. Light a candle and some incense, pour a cuppa (or a glass of wine) and relax into your own creative reflection space. You can respond with words, images or however you please, or even just talk them through with the people close to you as a way of deepening connection.

Pick and choose the questions as you please. Enjoy!

Journal Prompts

1. Masculine and feminine

   *Aim: to re-establish inner harmony*

   Reflect on the balance of masculine (or alpha) and feminine (or omega) energy and patterns in your life: you may be more in your masculine in certain areas but more in your feminine in others (we all have both). Use the following questions to reflect on if making some small shifts might bring a greater sense of harmony (or even excitement!) into your life.

   How comfortable are you taking the lead, how comfortable are you allowing yourself to be led? Do you get fixated on seeing things through to the end at the detriment to yourself or others, or contrarily do you often struggle to complete things? What about your emotions - do you find it difficult to find and feel them, or are you often unable to control your emotional responses and reactions? Are you full of ideas but struggle with putting them into action, or do you very rarely feel creatively inspired?

2. Life mandala

   *Aim: to be the artist of your own life*

   Draw a circle and divide it up into sections that represent elements of your life. Choose a colour, pattern or design for each section to represent that particular element of your life. When you look at your mandala, are there any sections that are much bigger or smaller than you’d like them to be? Which changes could you make in your daily, weekly, monthly or even yearly routine to change this? If there's something you want to do that keeps not getting done, this question may help you make it happen.

3. Screen time

   *Aim: to take your power back*

   Answer honestly: how is your relationship with your phone, and social media? How much of your time on a daily basis is eaten into by screen time? How much of the time spent on your phone leaves you with a positive feeling? Are there phone habits that make you feel empty, inadequate or that create negative thought loops? Do you scroll or share as a way of filling a need or getting a dopamine hit of validation? Are there healthier and more sustainable ways you can make yourself feel good?

4. Glimmer harvest

   *Aim: to facilitate the golden frequency of gratitude*

   Journal a list of all of your golden moments (glimmers) since the spring equinox (March 21st). What are some of your favourite memories and moments? They can be the simple appreciation of small moments, big celebration of achievements; whatever arises for you is perfect.

   Take your time: you do not need to gather this harvest in a rush. Savour each memory as you record it in your journal. Your glimmer harvest may be of any size; bring deep gratitude for the memories that make it onto your page. Give thanks to the light season for its gifts that you are taking into the dark season with you. They are now written down for you to come back to when you need them.

5. Integrity and slowing down

   *Aim: to slow down with the earth*

   Are you in a sprint race with shoes the wrong size and just realising that you forgot to bring your water with you? Reflect on ways that you may be diving in or rushing when perhaps the basics and foundations need to be tended to or returned to. Slowing down and reflecting on your fundamentals is a form of integrity. How’s your diet and your relationship with food and drink? How’s your sleep? Are you moving your body and being kind to it? Is there an addiction that sends you off-balance when you don’t get your fix? Is there something that you find hard to admit, even to yourself? Be honest; no one needs to read it except you. Reflect on how you can help yourself, and be courageous enough to seek support or advice if you need it.

6. Heart and Hearth

   *Aim: to return to courageous compassion*

   And finally, returning to the heart. The 22nd is the last day of Virgo season: earthy virgin goddess who loves to be of service to others, yet can be judgemental towards herself and others when she’s in her shadow aspect. Is there somewhere that judgement and criticism are blocking you from returning to compassion, to yourself or others? When people have not met your expectations have you been able to find forgiveness? When you don’t meet your expectations, can you forgive yourself? Are you able to reflect on perhaps when your expectations of others are too high and are very hard to always be met? Bring some soothing balm to these harder places within you: they need nurturing too. Try to allow the arrival of Libra’s light and loving harmonious energy to bring softness and balance to your inner and outer critic.

7. Release

   *Aim: to let go of unneeded baggage*

   Is there anything you need to let go of that is emotionally lingering as you cross this seasonal threshold? Perhaps there was a difficult moment / situation / person / interaction that you still haven’t quite shaken off. Is there some kind of ritual or practice that might help you do this? Do you need to reach out to someone for a difficult conversation? Tying up emotional loose ends will allow you to move into Autumn with less emotional baggage, and hence more space for genuine, loving connection that is rooted in the present rather than being bled into by the past.

I hope these are of service to you and facilitate a conscious and harmonious transition into Autumn!

Painting: Ecclesiastical Ruins on Inniscaltra, Lough Derg, Co. Galway, after Sunset. (c. 1863)

Bartholomew Colles Watkins