This post is a companion to Denise Elysa’s solo podcast episode, “Autumn Equinox 2026: The Meaning and Ritual of This Seasonal Transition.”
Four times a year, Denise Elysa steps away from her usual format of interviewing guest experts on her podcast, Coming Home to Ourselves with Denise Elysa, to hold a solo episode instead. These quarterly episodes mark each solstice and equinox, and they carry a different kind of energy. Rather than a conversation, they are a channeled offering, a chance for Denise to bring forward the themes, reflections, and somatic practices that are moving through the collective at that particular turning point.
In her Autumn Equinox 2026 episode, Denise explores what this seasonal transition actually asks of people, not just astronomically, but in the body and in daily life. This post pulls out the core themes from that episode: what balance really feels like when you are living it, why discomfort tends to surface this time of year, and a somatic practice you can use to meet this season more gently.
What the Autumn Equinox Meaning Actually Points To
The autumn equinox marks a moment of equal day and equal night. Denise describes this less as a fixed point and more as a threshold, a place where two seemingly opposing things, light and dark, are both fully present at once. She calls this concept the sacred and: the understanding that two things can be true simultaneously without one canceling out the other.
Grief and gratitude, discomfort and readiness, desiring to hold onto something and knowing it is time to let go. In the episode, Denise shares that she personally experiences this duality often, and that neither side has to outweigh the other for both to be honored. The autumn equinox meaning, in this sense, is less about arriving at balance and more about learning to hold what is unresolved.
Why Discomfort Tends to Surface During Seasonal Transition
Denise spends a significant part of the episode naming something many people recognize but rarely name out loud: how uncomfortable it can be to sit with boredom, loneliness, or the quiet in-between spaces of a seasonal transition. She points to the ways people, both children and adults, tend to move away from that discomfort rather than stay present with it. Scrolling, overworking, numbing, staying in relationships or patterns that no longer fit; these are common ways of avoiding what is actually being felt underneath.
None of this is framed as a flaw. Denise is clear that these are protective patterns, ways the nervous system has learned to cope, not evidence that something is wrong with a person.
The invitation she offers instead is a gentle one: notice what you reach for when things feel unbalanced, and get curious about it rather than judge it.
Taking Inventory of What Has Come to Harvest
As summer gives way to autumn, Denise draws a parallel to the literal harvest happening in gardens and on farms. Seeds planted months ago are finally coming to fruition, often without anyone pausing to notice. She invites listeners to ask what has been quietly growing in their own lives over the past several months, and whether they have taken a moment to actually receive it.
This same season also tends to surface what is ready to be cleared. Denise speaks candidly about her own experience of relationships and circumstances that no longer aligned once she developed a stronger sense of self, and how resisting that clearing process, out of fear of loneliness or abandonment, made the process far more painful than it needed to be.
Gathering Inner Resources: Chronic Illness Support Through the Season
For anyone living with complex chronic illness, seasonal transitions can carry an added layer. Denise speaks to this directly in the episode, drawing on her own lived experience as well as her work supporting patients at the BC Center for Long COVID, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia (BC-CLMF). As the outward, high-output energy of summer shifts into autumn, she frames this as a natural invitation to begin gathering inner resources, whatever that means for a given body and its current capacity, rather than pushing to maintain summer’s pace.
This blog is for informational purposes only and reflects Denise’s personal and professional experience with somatic and energetic practices. It is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have questions or concerns about your health, please consult a qualified medical professional.
A Somatic Autumn Equinox Ritual to Try
Toward the end of the episode, Denise leads listeners through a gentle somatic practice, a simple way of checking in with the body rather than reaching for thoughts alone. She invites noticing where the breath feels strongest, where the body feels supported by whatever it is resting against, and whether any part of the body is asking to soften or slow down as the season shifts.
Trying this practice on your own does not require any prior training or a large block of time. It can happen while walking, while cooking, or while sitting quietly for a few minutes. Denise notes that most people are more used to describing how they feel in thoughts than in sensation, and that returning to sensation is itself part of the practice.
The episode closes with a channeled oracle card reading, offering guidance specific to this seasonal window. Denise does not treat these messages as fixed predictions; she is clear that everyone holds free will and that the reading is simply one more layer of support for whatever this season is bringing up.
Go Deeper This Season
For those who want to explore these themes further, Denise holds a live quarterly gathering inside the EmbodiedSoul with Denise Elysa community called The Seasonal Pause. The Autumn Equinox Ceremony moves through guided centering, meditation, energy healing, somatics, oracle card reading, and reflective journaling, held live over Zoom with a replay available afterward for anyone who cannot attend live. Sharing in circle is always optional. The event is free for EmbodiedSoul members, with pre-registration required.
For anyone who wants to hear the full episode this post is based on, including the guided somatic practice and channeled oracle card reading in their entirety, it’s available now: Listen to S3E7 on your preferred platform here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the autumn equinox mean spiritually?
For many people, the autumn equinox represents a moment of balance between light and dark, both in nature and within the body. Denise Elysa describes this less as a state to achieve and more as an invitation to hold two true things at once, such as grief and gratitude, without needing to resolve the tension between them.
Is there a specific autumn equinox ritual to follow?
There is no single required ritual. Denise offers a simple somatic check-in, noticing breath, physical support, and where the body wants to soften, as one accessible way to mark the transition. Those wanting a deeper transformational guided experience can join her live Seasonal Pause: Autumn Equinox Ceremony.
How does seasonal transition affect people with chronic illness?
Seasonal shifts can ask more of a body already managing limited energy. Denise, who lives with complex chronic illness herself and works alongside patients at the BC-CLMF, frames autumn as a natural time to gather inner resources at whatever pace feels sustainable, rather than a time to push through.
What is the Seasonal Pause?
The Seasonal Pause is Denise’s quarterly live gathering inside the EmbodiedSoul with Denise Elysa community, held around each solstice and equinox. It includes guided centering, meditation, energy healing, somatics, and oracle card reading, and is free to members with pre-registration required.
Do I need any experience with somatic practices to try this?
No prior experience is needed. The somatic check-in Denise shares in the episode is intentionally simple and can be practiced anywhere, whether that’s sitting quietly or moving through daily tasks.
Resources
The Podcast A new episode of Coming Home to Ourselves with Denise Elysa releases the first Sunday of every month, available on web browser, Spotify, YouTube, Apple Music, and Amazon Music. Listen now
The Seasonal Pause: Equinox and Solstice Ceremonies Denise’s signature quarterly offering, held live inside the EmbodiedSoul with Denise Elysa community and free for members with pre-registration required. Replays are available inside the app. Learn more about the Seasonal Pause
EmbodiedSoul with Denise Elysa Community A desktop and mobile-friendly platform where members have instant access to over $1,000 worth of on-demand guided practices, workshops, and ceremonies, along with 2–3 live events each month. Explore the EmbodiedSoul Community
Related Reading: What the Autumn Equinox Means, and Gentle Ways to Mark It This Year
This links back to Denise’s earlier Autumn Equinox blog post, which covers the astronomical meaning of the equinox and general ritual ideas. https://deniseelysa.com/autumn-equinox-meaning-ritual/
