How to Celebrate the Autumn Equinox with Moon Worship

The Autumn Equinox is a moment of profound balance. On this day, the hours of daylight and darkness are equal, symbolizing harmony between opposing forces. It reminds us that life, like nature, moves in cycles. As light follows dark, summer gives way to fall, and each harvest brings both an ending and a new beginning.

In 2025, the Autumn Equinox arrives on Monday, September 22, at 8:19 AM EDT. As the air cools, leaves turn, and the world prepares for rest, many people turn inward, seeking ways to honour the shift of the season.

The moon has long been intertwined with the Autumn Equinox. Where the sun represents growth and vitality, the moon reflects intuition, mystery, and the hidden rhythms that guide us. In many traditions, lunar deities are honoured at this time for their guidance through change.

In ancient Egypt, the moon was connected to the eye of Horus, a protective symbol of regeneration. The Greeks honoured Selene, their lunar goddess, who rode her silver chariot across the night sky and represented the power of cyclical renewal. In many Indigenous and Pagan traditions, the moon embodies feminine energy, wisdom, and the eternal dance of life and death.

The Equinox often coincides with full moons that are considered especially potent. Rituals that combine moon worship with the themes of balance and harvest carry extra resonance, helping us connect not only with nature’s cycles but with our own inner equilibrium.

The Autumn Equinox is celebrated across cultures, often paired with harvest and moon festivals that emphasize gratitude, family, and balance.

Also known as the Moon Festival, this celebration always occurs on the full moon closest to the Equinox. Families gather to share mooncakes, light lanterns, and honour Chang’e, the Moon Goddess of Immortality, who is said to reside on the moon. The round mooncakes symbolize unity and completeness, while incense offerings carry prayers heavenward.

Taking place over three days around the Equinox, Chuseok is a major harvest festival where families return to ancestral homes to share food, honour ancestors, and give thanks for the season’s bounty. Traditionally, rice cakes called songpyeon are prepared, symbolizing hopes for the future.

Mabon marks the balance of light and dark, as well as the second harvest. It is a time to feast, express gratitude, and prepare for the darker half of the year. Rituals often include the burning of incense, lighting candles, and reflecting on what one wishes to release or carry forward.

If you feel called to celebrate the Equinox through moon worship, here are some ways to create your own ritual space:

Incense has been part of lunar rituals for centuries, used to carry prayers to the heavens and create a meditative atmosphere. For a seasonal touch, try the Sweater Weather Collection: warm, woody scents like Autumn, Hallowe’en, Frankincense, Cypress, Egyptian Musk, and Amber capture the cozy essence of fall evenings.

The Equinox is a time of abundance. Set aside a few moments to reflect on what you have harvested in your own life; growth, relationships, achievements and offer gratitude. Writing these blessings down and placing them near a candle or incense burner can turn a simple reflection into a ritual.

For rituals inspired by ancient cultures, the Origins Collection features Sandalwood, Rose, Jasmine, Patchouli, Cinnamon Spice, and Frankincense & Myrrh—fragrances that have been used in sacred ceremonies across centuries and continents.

Step outside on the night of the Equinox or the following full moon. As you breathe in the crisp autumn air, focus on the balance of light and dark within your life. Light a lantern or candle to symbolize guidance and clarity. Consider writing intentions for the coming season, then safely burn or release them, letting the smoke or flame carry your words skyward.

Offerings and symbols can deepen your connection to lunar energy. For Chang’e, traditional offerings include mooncakes, candles, and incense beneath the full moon. For other traditions, silver objects, water bowls that reflect moonlight, or crescent-shaped charms can serve as meaningful symbols.

Across cultures and centuries, people have honoured the Equinox as a time of reflection, balance, and gratitude. By weaving incense, intention, and lunar worship into your own observance, you participate in a timeless tradition.

Whether you are drawn to the cozy, grounding scents of the Sweater Weather incense collection or the sacred, historic fragrances of the Origins incense collection, Floré Canadian Incense provides a bridge between the ancient and the modern. As the smoke rises into the cool autumn air, let it carry your prayers, hopes, and gratitude into the new season.