The Deities Of Autumn & Samhain

As autumn deepens and Samhain approaches, the air grows heavy with memory and meaning. The final leaves fall like whispers, and we find ourselves standing at the crossroads between light and shadow — the time of the dying sun, when the old year exhales its last golden breath.

This is the season of gratitude and letting go, of honoring both the harvest and the decay that follows. It is when the veil between worlds thins, allowing the deities of transformation, balance, and death to walk beside us once more.

The Deities Of Autumn: Keepers Of Balance And Harvest

Before the darkness of Samhain fully settles, the gods and goddesses of autumn help us celebrate the final turning of the year’s golden wheel. They embody gratitude, abundance, and the beauty of transition — reminding us that every ending carries a seed of beginning.

1. Demeter — The Mother Of The Harvest

Demeter, Greek goddess of grain and fertility, governs the cycle of growth and decline. As Persephone descends to the underworld, Demeter’s grief ushers in the barren season — yet her love ensures spring’s return.

To honor her:

• Bake bread or pies using seasonal grains and fruits.
• Set a small altar with wheat, apples, or pomegranate seeds.
• Give thanks for what you’ve harvested, both materially and spiritually.

2. Modron — Mother Of Autumn In Celtic Lore

A Welsh mother goddess tied to harvest and ancestral cycles, Modron represents the fruitful end of summer and the quiet renewal that follows. She teaches us to nurture what remains and prepare for rest.

Ways to connect:

• Create a gratitude list for the year’s blessings.
• Offer honey or cider beneath an oak or apple tree.

Reflect on the motherly presence of nature — the Earth as both giver and receiver.

3. Bran The Blessed — Guardian Of The Threshold

In Welsh mythology, Bran is a giant and protector whose severed head was said to watch over Britain. As a deity of prophecy and guardianship, he represents protection as we transition into darker days.

To work with his energy:

• Burn protective herbs such as rosemary or sage.
• Speak affirmations of courage before seasonal change.
• Keep a charm of acorn or iron nearby for protection through the dark months.

4. Pomona — Roman Goddess Of Orchards

Pomona blesses the ripened fruit of autumn. She embodies the abundance of apple harvests and the sweetness that lingers before the cold. Her energy is gentle, nourishing, and filled with gratitude.

Ways to honor her:

• Bake apple tarts or mulled cider.
• Decorate your home with apples, pears, and vines.
• Offer fruit to your household spirits or ancestors.

5. Cernunnos — The Horned God Of The Forest

Cernunnos represents life, death, and rebirth — the eternal balance of nature’s cycles. In autumn, he walks between the worlds, guiding animals to rest and humans to introspection.

To connect with him:

• Spend time in nature, especially in quiet forests.
• Place antlers, pinecones, or animal totems on your altar.

Thank the wild for its wisdom and renewal.

Samhain Deities: Spirits Of The Veil

When the Wheel turns fully into shadow, we enter the sacred time of Samhain — the Witch’s New Year. The veil thins, and the gods of death, transformation, and the unseen step closer. Their presence is not fearful, but deeply loving — guiding us through release and rebirth.

1. The Morrígan — The Phantom Queen

The Morrígan, Celtic goddess of prophecy, fate, and sovereignty, watches over battlefields and thresholds alike. Her crows and ravens remind us that endings hold power.

To work with her:

• Burn a black or red candle in her name.
• Journal your fears and burn them to release them.
• Listen for crows — her winged messengers of truth.

2. Hecate — Keeper Of The Crossroads

Ancient goddess of witchcraft, ghosts, and lunar magic, Hecate walks with torches through the veil, offering light to seekers and spirits alike.

To honor her:

• Place garlic, keys, or honey on your altar.
• Invoke her during divination or dreamwork.
• Walk beneath the waning moon and ask for guidance.

3. The Dagda — The Good God

A fatherly Irish deity of abundance and death, The Dagda is the harvester and the wise elder. He feasts at Samhain with the Morrígan, representing union between creation and destruction.

To honor him:

• Share food and drink with the spirits.
• Pour the first sip of cider onto the ground in offering.
• Speak gratitude aloud for what the year has given and taken.

4. Persephone — The Queen Of The Underworld

Persephone’s descent mirrors our own spiritual journey inward. She is the goddess of becoming — of transformation through darkness.

Ways to connect:

• Meditate on shadow work and personal growth.
• Keep garnet or obsidian nearby for grounding.

Eat pomegranate as a ritual of remembrance and return.

5. Anubis — Guardian Of Souls

The Egyptian god of mummification and passage, Anubis guides souls with gentleness through the veil. He teaches protection, respect for the dead, and spiritual purification.

To honor him:

• Burn frankincense or myrrh.
• Offer prayers to ancestors or lost loved ones.

Cleanse your altar to welcome new beginnings.

Rituals For The Season

• Spirit Altar - Light candles for loved ones who have passed.
• Feast Of The Dead - Set a plate at the table for ancestors.
• Divination Night - Use tarot or scrying to receive messages from spirit.
• Candle Vigil - On Samhain Eve, light a single flame to guide wandering souls.

Closing Reflections

The gods and goddesses of autumn and Samhain walk with us through the sacred cycle — from harvest to silence, from fullness to emptiness, from light to shadow.

They are the keepers of endings and beginnings, the eternal flame within the dark.

As you sip your tea by candlelight and feel the year’s final breath, remember: this too is a kind of rebirth. May your season be blessed with magic, memory, and peace.

By Candlelight,

HN Staples

“Honor the ancestors, gods, and goddesses who walk beside us as the veil thins and the harvest wanes.” -HN Staples