My Fall Altar

Sometimes I forget what it means to be a normal, messy, beautifully human being. Do you know what I mean? There are moments when I lose sight of the fact that I’m a living, breathing organism meant to ebb and flow, not stay perfectly fixed or constant. I get tangled in rigid “shoulds” and “must-bes,” believing there’s only one “right” way to feel, heal, or move through the world.

Because I know this about myself, I’ve worked hard to build a life that looks to nature for reminders of what’s true. The seasons, the moon, the way everything changes and comes back again, they help me unravel the old programming that told me it was bad or wrong to change. Nature keeps showing me that life (and my body, emotions, relationships…all of it) is meant to be cyclical.

That’s why celebrating the equinoxes and solstices matters so much to me. They mark not just the turning of the earth, but the turning within myself. So, when I create my seasonal altar, it becomes a tangible reminder that I have permission to simply be a human being in rhythm with the world around me.

This year’s fall altar feels like a little snapshot of my life right now. Every object carries a small story, a memory, a moment I didn’t want to forget. There’s a Prosecco cork from the Autumn Equinox dinner I shared with friends, and a bowl of acorns my son and I collected together. My favorite pumpkin candle sits beside the jar of seashells that I collected at the lake during a very special trip with friends. I kept and dried wildflowers from the weekly bouquets I treated myself to this summer, that now sit in a small bowl. alongside pinecones from the neighborhood and a small clay leaf I made and stamped with the words let go. A fox figurine keeps playful watch, and a rock that looks a bit like a skull makes me laugh every time I see it.

These little things, each so ordinary on their own, become something sacred when gathered with intention. Together they remind me that honoring the seasons is about noticing what has shaped me, what I’ve carried forward, and what I’m finally ready to release.

If you feel inspired to make your own fall altar, start simple. Just use objects that already hold meaning for you.

Look around your home or take a short walk outside and see what calls to you. Gather a few natural pieces like pinecones, leaves, acorns, or small branches. Add flowers (fresh or dried), a candle, a piece of Halloween candy, a photo of yourself or someone you love, or even a few words that describe how you want to feel this season. You might include small treasures from summer, like a shell, a ticket stub, or photo from a vacation, as a way of honoring what you’re carrying forward.

The key is to make it personal. Use what you have on hand. I created mine on a two-tiered dessert stand that was collecting dust in my closet because I loved the idea of giving it new life. But you could use a bowl, a small box, a single candle, or any object that feels like a symbol of this moment in your life.

And remember, your altar is a living, breathing thing.

It changes as you do. Tend to it the way you would tend to any relationship that matters. Dust it off weekly, swap out items as the season shifts, or add something new when you feel called. Light a candle when you pass by. Pause to take a breath or say a few words of gratitude. Journal beside it. Let it become a quiet, sacred witness to your everyday life.

What’s on your fall altar this season?👇🏼