Because the early Roman year began in March rather than January, the final four months of our year—September, October, November and December—were originally the seventh (septem), eighth (octo), ninth (novem), and tenth (decem) months of the Roman calendar.
Holy, wood, harvest or barley month, For the Anglo Saxons, September was Hāligmonath, meaning “holy month,” (the Anglo Saxon g pronounced y) because, as Venerable Bede tells us, it was the time of sacred rites and religious festivals held to celebrate a successful summer’s crop.
September’s full moon is known as the Harvest or fruit moon, Celtic- Singing moon, Medieval- Barley moon, Native American- Corn moon, Cherokee – Nut moon
Hydrangea blooming
Autumn Equinox occurs between the 21st and 23rd September equivalent to 6pm
Chinese calendar Metal/Autumn: a period of harvesting and collecting
Michael heatherington meridians
October
October Yellowing or Vintage month, this is the time of the last harvests. According to Bede, winter was said to begin on the first full moon in October, hence the Anglo Saxon name of the month Winterfylleth, or “winter full moon,”
Other names for the full moon during October are Medieval- Blood moon, Native American- Hunter moon
Samhain on the 31st of October is witches new year as the cycle starts in the dark and it is the equivalent of 9pm just as the light here dips under 9 hours a day and the leaves blaze and fall.
November
November was Blōtmonath, or “the month of blood sacrifices.” No one is quite sure what the purpose of this late autumnal sacrifice would have been, but it’s likely that any older or infirm livestock that seemed unlikely to see out bad weather ahead would be killed both as a stockpile of food, and as an offering for a safe and mild winter. Slaughter month.
Is not this a true autumn day? Just the still melancholy that I love – that makes life and nature harmonise. The birds are consulting about their migrations, the trees are putting on the hectic or the pallid hues of decay, and begin to strew the ground, that one’s very footsteps may not disturb the repose of earth and air, while they give us a scent that is a perfect anodyne to the restless spirit. Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns.”
[Letter to Miss Lewis, Oct. 1, 1841]”
George Eliot, George Eliot’s Life, as Related in Her Letters and Journals
I was twenty-one years when I wrote this song
I’m twenty-two now, but I won’t be for long
Time hurries on
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither with the wind
And they crumble in your handOnce my heart was filled with the love of a girl
I held her close, but she faded in the night
Like a poem I meant to write
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither with the wind
And they crumble in your handI threw a pebble in a brook
And watched the ripples run away
And they never made a sound
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
And they wither with the wind
And they crumble in your handHello, hello, hello, hello
Good-bye, good-bye, good-bye, good-bye
That’s all there is
And the leaves that are green turn to brown
Source: MusixmatchSongwriters: Paul SimonThe Leaves That Are Green lyrics © Paul Simon Music
Late summer into autumn
Harvest – 1st August Lammas start of the harvest season stretching to the end of October harvest at Samhain.
Virgo, Libra, Scorpio
September 23 – December 21
| Autumn Signs | Sign Symbols | Ruling Planets | Elements |
| Libra: | The Scales | Venus | Air |
| Scorpio: | The Scorpion | Pluto | Water |
| Sagittarius: | The Centaur | Venus | Fire |
As the light from the sun begins to recede from the land, the lengths of days shorten and nights lengthen. Foliage becomes alight with fiery colors as nature dances away from summer and marches onto winter there is a chilly twinge and tang in the breeze that speaks of the cold to come.
As a time of changes upon the earth, autumn zodiac signs understand the transient nature of life and are usually quite at ease with change and transformation. By association, the autumn zodiac signs of Libra, Scorpio, and Sagittarius are the changelings among the zodiac and as such can be unpredictable even duplicitous, straddling different aspects of personality, perspective, and power. For example, these signs tend to see both sides to all stories. This is why they are typically the philosophers of the zodiac.
Common keywords to these autumnal zodiac signs include:
- Change
- Balance
- Survival
- Sensitivity
- Perception
- Objectivity
- Philosophy
- Contemplation
- Transformation
Unlike the spring changes, At is time of year we are reaping the rewards of our spring sowing. Harvesting, gathering, storing, and preparing for the winter cold. Humans are bustling and busy with harvests, slaughter, and preparation for winter’s, preparing, withdrawing and protecting. The hair on the beasts of Nature begins to thicken to protect themselves from the increasingly chilly air. The chlorophyll in the grass and leaves constrict and withdraw their emerald green.
As a time of socializing during harvest and feasting upon the bounty provided by the summer growing season. Autumn zodiac signs are often lending a helping hand as well as joining in fellowship with others, very involved and concerned with the welfare of others and the community.
So although not anti-social, these autumn zodiac signs reflect the season by tending to go inward for insight and wisdom, withdrawn in a book or in deep contemplation. Autumn signs frequently turn inward, consulting their own intuition, and instincts before consulting outward advice from others. They can be contemplative or even brooding because they are often looking inside their own souls for solutions. But as much as they go within, they are extremely aware of their external environment. They have a high talent for observation and are uber-sensitive to their surroundings. They use their senses and observations to form conclusions based on their own deductions. This makes them independent thinkers and they often have unorthodox beliefs or ideals because they do not allow common, mass opinions to sway their own views.
Virgo August/September
Their tendencies for perfection, and maybe even their tendency to be critical. But really…all of this boils down to their need to produce results in the world. They are unsung heroes in the world. They don’t necessarily seek approval or recognition (although they love and deserve it). But they want to know they make an impact. Just as the power of the sun has a huge influence on the land during summer, the Virgo also wants to influence and make a difference in the lives of others. These signs are also prone to take on causes and be a champion for the weak or defenseless in the world. Virgo will step up to the plate and go to bat for those who do not have a solid standing in society.
Libra September/ October (New moon coming to full moon in March/April)
Harvest – Libra create harmony through communication.
Just as the autumn season is aflame with brilliance and beauty, Libras have phenomenal creativity and extreme communication skills. Libra don’t fuss too much over arguments because they have a knack for balancing viewpoints. They are also open to the new, understanding the nature of transition and change, so starting something new is just a part of the cycle of life for them.
Scorpio October November (New moon coming to full moon in April May)
Remember passion and intensity
These are deep thinkers, passionate souls with impressive emotional intensity. Just as the fall season they are born in, they are united with the concept of transition and transformation. In fact, their life themes are profoundly connected with rebirth and renewal. A Scorpio, will find their greatest success when given total creative freedom and encouraged to utilize their energy in positive ways. They can be unpredictable (much like autumn itself) and are quite comfortable with surprises are the unknown/unseen sides of life.
Reap it in, give thanks, balance the books, acknowledge what didn’t come to fruition, understand why, learn the lessons, let it go, burn, cleanse, mulch, take the goodness back in.
Autumn
Early autumn September, including autumn equinox 21st September
Mmid autumn October, entering the Dark quarter of the year at Samhain 31st Oct (-Imbolc/candlemas early Feb)
Late autumn end November – midway between Samhain and winter solstice end nov 26th or beginning of advent
Early autumn September
Birds migrate
Seeds have formed hard shell protecting soft inner (needs cold spell of winter to crack open)
Seeds dispersing
Seeds landing and sinking into the earth
Wind
Rustle of dry leaves
Equinox change transformation
Whirl of leaves swirling down
Wind of change change of direction – flowing through unobstructed
Compass getting your bearings, opening your eyes acknowledging where you are, accepting where you are, remembering where you are RHRN.
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Autumn Metal element Sinking contracting declining (winter water calmness, contemplation)
Metal comes from earth, holds water can be softened and mounded by fire
Metal rigid, strong (Chinese: 金, pinyin: jīn)
This category includes the Western idea of the air element. It is the force of gravity, the minerals within the earth, the patterns of the heavenly bodies and the powers of electrical conductivity and magnetism.
Metal has structure, but it can also accept a new form when molten.
Metal energy is consolidating (store) and with inward movement, like a flower closing its petals.
Represented by the colour white and round shapes.
Metal’s motion is determined, forceful, strong, unyielding, self- reliant, reserved and sophisticated.
The symbol of metal is one of a cutting and reforming action, transformation but it is also regarded as a solidifying process, hence it is associated with Autumn.
Density dropping
Metal is associated with the lungs, respiratory system and is related to the nose And large intestine receiving and expelling yin yang
Holds and blocks water, Chops wood but also blunted by it
Metal represents the direction West, the planet is Venus, and is symbolized by the White Tiger.
Metal ‘governs’ the Chinese Zodiac signs Monkey, Rooster and Dog.
Final blaze of fiery colour
November’s full hunters moon clear view after harvested crops cleared and the trees stand naked
harvest moon 1st moon after equinox.
1st harvest Lammas 1st August
2nd equinox
3rd and final Samhain.
Harvest gratitude
October
Hunters moon (full-moon after harvest moon)
Final Harvests, fields clear you can see the animals full and fat having eaten plenty over summer and before winter and time to store for winter
Turning in
Final Blaze of colour as leaves turn
The start of the new year in the Celtic tradition.
Samhain being otherwise known as the witches new year. (And the yin time the first of the whole yin yang).
Then work harvest and hunt done
November
The darkness being the beginning.
candles and fires lit
drawing in
the leaves mulch into the earth
Slow down, release grip, let go, make space, fall into arms of earth
Rest in the beauty of the naked tree with nothing to hide (not having to run from any parts of yourself) here I am! And bare nakedness. There is an exposure, our internal exposure to ourselves truth to be faced without green cloak of leaves to hide behind. Acknowledge the reality of your situation with kindness and compassion, befriend inner critic. Witness with curiosity what becomes exposed as the leaves drop, without bolting. Body scan giving aware ness breathing in and feeling the holding and releasing it. Finding the hurting, acknowledging it, giving it attention vs fighting/ bracing against witnessing it, seeing it, facing it, in entirety what actually does it feel like?. Get perspective, the good bits as well as the more challenging – yin yang it’s whole circle vs stand alone negativity and insodoing allowing yourself to soften into the edges, flowing tensions, density, holding, pain out into the earth, to disperse
Are you an Autumn woman who enjoys the clarity and discernment that comes with the pre-menstrum? (Or do you get crippled by feedback and avoid it at all costs? Does your inner critic leave you feeling paralysed?). Autumn’s firey discernment enters the creative process…hold the tension. Listen. And listen some more. Sit in the no man’s land, in the void and feel into the discomfort without judgement but rather with curiosity, and with kindness, compassion. Open to the love that is driving the anger and criticism. Acknowledge what is, Instead of ignoring the feedback, wishing we got it right in the first place, and pretending we are perfect, (The death part of the creative cycle always feels like death!). Staying with the discomfort, the ‘sharp edges’, is how things evolve. It’s where we encounter The Feminine( Sjane and Alexandra. The red house school of menstrual awareness). And remember Pema Chodrun – never underestimate the our low tolerance for discomfort and our inclination to bolt. Hold steady! Feel into it, what’s this all about? get some understanding. Why am I feeling this? You’re not angry for no reason, what’s going on here? Be kind and compassionate, you’re not happy with something find out what it is. These are the lessons to be learnt.
Enjoy the fire and candle light of winter
Over the next few weeks the dark will be deepening and the cold creeping in its wake
until the waning cycle of the sun will reach its fullness at the Winter Solstice,
at which point it we will start to welcome back the return of the light.
November Death surrender to what is “thy will not mine be done”
Light the candles November remember what came before, placing ourselves in the larger context
and who we really are
bonfire night
Our challenge during the autumn-winter period is on the one hand to embrace the darkness and allow it draw our attention inwards towards the light within in the darkness. In Classical Yoga the divine spark within is called the Atman, and is said to be like a flame, or a continuously burning pilot-light that has been ignited in the heart-space. As Nature (prakriti) enters her decaying, composting phase, we can counterbalance the dark, heavy (tamas) quality of the season by drawing inwards to reconnect with our inner light / seeing more easily the sattvic light and luminescence within. to uncover the illuminating presence that will sustain us through the highs and lows of a life constantly in flux. contemplating that which is eternal and unchanging. This is a lamplight that burns steady, in a place where no wind blows.
December Diwali & Hannukah light & christmas light festivals
