The wheel turns into Autumn Equinox: a time of reaping, and reckoning. A time to reflect on what we have planted and tended, to let go of what has not come to fruition, and to offer gratitude for what has.

If we have planted, tended, and cared for the growing plants, we may bring in abundance, with luck. If we have been negligent, uncaring, irresponsible, the results of our actions become clear in the barren fields and wormy fruits.

Harvest Celebrations are universal—wherever there is a harvest, people have been moved to offer thanks for it, and to celebrate its completion. Today, few of us live by harvesting our own grain and produce. Even among those of us who practice permaculture or other forms of sustainable agriculture, we depend on the labor of many, many others to meet our needs. So in this ritual, we will take time to offer gratitude for all the forces that sustain our lives.

In times like these, when the world is literally burning, gratitude seems a rather insipid response. Roars of outrage and cries of grief seem more what the moment calls for.

And yes, we need those, too.

But gratitude can have great power.

Gratitude is a practice, which means we must practice, build up the gratitude muscles as if thankfulness were a weight we practice lifting. It’s the antidote to envy, self-pity, self-loathing, resentment and fear. When we express gratitude to the world, we have that much more motivation to save it. And when we feel gratitude, we acknowledge that we are not all-powerful. We are dependent on others to meet our needs, and we have an obligation to give back.

In this online Autumn Equinox Ritual, we’ll let go of what has not come to fruition and give thanks for what has. We’ll honor the work of those who sustain our lives, and great life-giving powers of the earth. And we’ll draw in the power, courage and nourishment we need to give back to all those who sustain us.