Personally to me, autumn is the most beautiful season of the year. Nothing compares to the colors, the smells, the sounds, and let’s not forget the tastes you experience in this season! It’s a great way for many witches to awaken their mind, body, and soul. But, not all witches live in vast forest or suburban areas with trees. If you live in the desert like me, (Sonoran Desert, Arizona woot woot 🌵), then you have to find the beauty of autumn in other ways. Seeings how the local cacti aren’t “dropping leaves” and the temperatures are still in the 90°F – 100°F zone it can be hard to get into the spirit of things. So, here are some tips for my fellow witches in the desert!
🍂Get up early to experince dawn ☀️
Set those alarms early. You’ll want to wake up and brew that tea as soon as the sun starts to peep over the horizon. Gotta be up no later than 6 am, trust me. It’s the only time of day where there’s sunlight and it’s only in the 60°F – 70°F temperature zone outside. The best time to get that “fall feeling” you miss is right now. The nip from the desert night’s air meeting the warmth of the morning’s beaming sun rays is indescribable. Nature at her most beautiful and serene. It’s also a great opportunity as witches to charge or cleanse anything you’d like (water, crystals, spell jars, etc) to give an extra “kick” from the day’s first light.
🍂Go Hiking 🏃♀️
No, seriously. I know it seems silly but, go out on a hike and THEN tell me you don’t come back more “one with nature” lol. Whether it be by yourself or with friends, go out an enjoy the life that is teeming all around you. Some of the most beautiful scenes in the desert are during autumn months because the summer rains have left behind all that new green foliage. Not to mention the beginning of migrant animals can be seen on your walks as well. Hiking in general is just a great way to realign yourself with nature. To recharge, cleanse, and give yourself a good “boost” in positive energy.
* Helpful desert tip: Remember to always keep a charged cell phone, water, and food on your person when you go out hiking. Also it is super important that before you go out on a trail monitor the weather in the area you are going to. Monsoon rains and flash flooding on trails is still a big threat to hikers until October. Make sure if you hike alone somebody knows exactly where you are going, how long you are planning on hiking for, and when to expect you back from your hike.
🍂Plant something new 🌱
This time of year for us desert witches is great for planting new seedlings. Those precious flowers and herbs that died this summer? Try replanting them now. Mints, lavenders, berries, peppers, all sorts of plants can now flourish. With temperatures still warm during the day but short of freezing at night, even outdoor planting and gardening is perfect in autumn. If you have succulents put them outside in the wee hours of the morning. The early rays are perfect for even delicate babies to enjoy outside safely.
🍂Celebrate with local foods 🥐🍎
Anyone can eat pumpkin pie or have apple cider. It’s in the markets EVERYWHERE. But, fall for me means prickly pear and mesquite trees. Prickly pear is a fruit from the cacti plant, Opuntia, and it is heaven. It’s our pumpkin here in Arizona in a lot of ways. Culturally it’s a staple to welcoming autumn in the desert. The monsoon rains have brought a lot of new harvest. The fruit is picked for grilling, baking, soups, candies, jams, jellies, drinks, breads, cakes, you name it, it’s made with prickly pear. lol. As well with mesquite trees, you can mill the pods that the trees drop in the fall and make flour with it. The rains from the monsoons has been making the pods sweet and ready to bake into breads, pies, cakes, all sorts of goodies. I can always tell it’s autumn out here when you sit fire side to mesquite wood burning, prickly cakes, and a nice tall glass of prickly pear cider. yum! 😊
Where ever you are, remember to embrace all the moments fall has to bring. Enjoy the changing season around you and celebrate it however best fits you 🍁
Willow Wisp's Witching Corner 