The Autumn Mirror: A Ritual for Honest Reflection and Release

As the days shorten and shadows lengthen, autumn invites us to turn inward. This ritual is a mirror: a gentle space for witnessing what no longer serves and honoring the self that is ready to emerge.

Create a Quiet Shore

Begin by crafting a quiet shore for this work — a liminal space between the seasons, where presence and reflection can unfold. Light a single candle. Let dusk gather. Anoint your heart with essential oil of rosemary or cedar, allowing stillness to arrive.

Step 1: Anchor in the Present

Hold a grounding object (a stone, a seed pod, a piece of bark). Let it root you. Say aloud: “I meet myself here, as I am.”

Step 2: Gaze into the Mirror

Use a literal mirror or simply close your eyes and call your image to mind. Ask: What part of me have I outgrown? What belief or pattern is ready to fall like a leaf?

Step 3: Write & Witness

Journal your responses. Let the page be your companion. Be honest. No edits.

Step 4: Release

If something emerged clearly, write it on a small piece of paper and burn or bury it. Say: “I release what is complete. I make space for what is true.”

Close your ritual with gratitude. Place your grounding object on your altar as a token of commitment.