By Beth Schreibman Gehring

Held in the gentle embrace of autumn, as the sun’s warm caress yields to the cool, crisp air, our natural world embarks on a beautiful symphony of transition and transformation. For those attuned to the ancient whispers of the Earth, the equinox becomes a sacred juncture, a moment to bow in reverence, contemplate life’s cyclical mysteries, and connect deeply with the abundant gifts of the land. The autumnal equinox, which usually graces the Northern Hemisphere around September 21st or 22nd, offers us a glimpse into cosmic equilibrium. On this day, light and darkness dance as equals, with the sun gracefully crossing the celestial equator.

As the sun’s angle gracefully dips lower in the sky, and daylight surrenders to night, our gardens begin a glorious metamorphosis. The vibrant blooms of summer, once resplendent in their glory, now humbly yield to the opulent hues of autumn. The very air carries the heady fragrance of ripening fruits, while fallen leaves rustle like whispered secrets, and the promise of the harvest lingers in the sweet aroma of windfall apples that are waiting for us to discover them on the ground. During this enchanting season, our gardens become truly quiet, sacred spaces, where ancient wisdom softly murmurs, and the eternal cycles of life are revealed with every falling leaf.

Autumn, in all her benevolence, bestows upon us an abundance of herbs and botanical treasures, each bearing unique gifts of healing properties and magical allure. I can’t resist the allure of her changing cloak of scents and colors and, immersed in her wisdom, I am drawn to incorporate rituals that nourish the soul of my garden and, in turn, nourish the deepest parts of myself.

For instance, have you ever hosted a gratitude harvest gathering with friends and family coming together to pick ripe vegetables, fruits, and herbs, their hearts filled with thankfulness for the garden’s boundless abundance? Picture candlelight flickering on rustic wooden tables adorned with vibrant bouquets of freshly harvested blooms, alongside simple linens, earthenware plates and mugs, and loaves of freshly baked bread, all setting the stage for an outdoor feast under the stars. Here, amid rustling leaves and gentle breezes, laughter and heartfelt conversations flow freely, strengthening the bonds between friends and family. This communal act of breaking bread under the stars becomes a heartfelt tribute to the interconnectedness of all life and a reminder that the garden’s bounty is a gift from the Earth itself.

I seem to have a deep affinity for creating garden altars, which likely originates from my childhood experiences celebrating the Jewish harvest holiday of Sukkot with my mother. A Sukkah is a charming and temporary hut, traditionally built during the Jewish holiday of Sukkot, where families gather to celebrate and dine under the open sky, fostering a sense of connection to tradition and nature. Every year, we would construct a Sukkah for the Temple, embellishing it with an array of fruits, flowers, and fresh sheaves of wheat.

The creation of a garden altar is very similar and assumes the role of the centerpiece for equinox rituals, a tangible reminder of the profound interweaving of our garden and spiritual practice. It’s a canvas where each element carries significance, a reflection of our unique connection with the Earth. Adorned with fallen leaves, dried blossoms, bountiful fruits, humble acorns, and softly glowing candles, the altar becomes a living tapestry, embodying the essence of the season and the deeply personal meaning we infuse into it. As we carefully arrange each item, we make it a deeply personal expression of gratitude and reverence. The altar stands as an emblem of the season’s beauty and a testament to the sacred bond between humanity and nature.

If you have yet to explore the art of garden journaling, allow the arrival of the autumn equinox to serve as a gentle nudge for you to begin. I promise that you will enjoy it, for within the pages of our garden journals, we weave a narrative that intricately captures the ebb and flow of the seasons, painting a vivid picture with both words and images. The journal serves as more than just a record; it is a living testament to our intimate partnership with the Earth. Within its pages, we are no longer passive observers of our gardens and instead embrace our rightful place as active participants in the endless cycle of life. I love to write and sketch in mine, press flowers and leaves from time to time and simply express myself in this private space that is all my own.

As we lovingly craft the pages of our garden journals, we partake in a time-honored monastic tradition that spans centuries – a tradition that allows us to dream, to plan, and to sow the seeds of our future harvests. Here, we etch the history of our gardens’ journeys through the seasons, chronicling not just our triumphs but also our trials, and forging intentions that will guide us in the coming growing season. This sacred journal becomes a vessel through which we deepen our communion with the Earth, a poignant testament to our stewardship of this precious land.

The act of recording our garden’s journey through the seasons, transforms us into storytellers and stewards of the land. It allows us to draw inspiration from the natural world, to capture the fleeting moments of beauty that punctuate the passage of time. In the garden journal’s pages, we capture the essence of our journey as gardeners, from the tender moments of planting seeds to the triumphant days of the harvest. We document what thrived, what struggled, and what whispered secrets the garden shared with us.

Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. In the quiet contemplation of autumn’s hues, what visions and aspirations do you want to create within the sacred pages of your garden journal?

2. As the season of change envelops your garden, how do you foster intentions that take root, akin to the way the earth receives falling leaves, guiding your garden’s evolution?

3. Amidst the gentle transition of autumn’s tapestry, which plants and blossoms in your garden become the storytellers of resilience and growth, inviting your reflections on their journey?

4. In the stillness of this season, how does your connection to the Earth deepen as you nurture your garden? What wisdom do you gather during these moments of quiet reflection?

5. As your garden undergoes its seasonal transformation, how would you enjoy documenting your role as a humble gardener within the sacred confines of your journal? This can be anything that moves you. Which whispered secrets from your garden’s heart do you hold with deepening reverence during this time of autumnal magic?

As this season bathes our gardens in the golden light of balance, I always find myself enveloped in a profound sense of gratitude. Gratitude for the harvest, for the wisdom of herbs, for the rituals that nourish my soul, and for the timeless connection to the Earth that we cultivate together with each loving gesture. We are reminded that our gardens are not just plots of earth; they are sacred landscapes of growth and transformation. As each season unfolds, we become the storytellers of growth, beauty, and resilience, weaving new chapters into the ever-evolving narrative of life. How do you plan to celebrate this year’s harvest season?

Please share your thoughts in the comments; I’d love to hear from you!

Wishing you an absolutely beautiful autumn!

Photo Credits: 1) Tithonia sp.(Mexican sunflower) and Solidago sp. (goldenrod) (C. Moore); 2) Apple trees on the farm (B.S.G.); 3) Autumn dinner party food display (B.S.G./Canva); 4) Autumnal harvest alter (B.S.G.); 5) Garden journal (B.S.G./Canva); 6) Gossypium hirsutum ‘Albe Red’ foliage and flower and Zinnia cv. flowers (C. Moore).

Beth Schreibman Gehring is a lover of all things green, delicious, growing, beautiful, magical, and fragrant. She’s also a lifestyle blogger, storyteller, and occasional wedding and party planner who uses an ever-changing seasonal palette of love, life, and food to help her readers and clients fall madly in love with their lives! Beth lives and works with Jim, her husband of 40 years, and is owned by 17 full sets of vintage dishes, hundreds of books, two cats, one dog, a horse, a swarm of wild honeybees, a garden full of herbs, fruit, vegetables, and old rambling roses, too many bottles of vintage perfume and very soon, a flock of heirloom chickens! She is the author of Stirring the Senses: How to Fall Madly in Love with Your Life and Make Everyday a Day for Candles & Wine (available on Amazon) and is currently working on a new book, Roses for Beauty, Flavor, and Fragrance. Join her in her gardens at https://bethschreibmangehring.substack.com/, or contact her at beth.gehring@stirringthesenses.com.