Autumn Equinox is a time when people all over the place are taking stock and settling in to the cozy time of year. It brings to mind apple pies and falling leaves. Bountiful produce and abundance as nature makes her last big push. An easy (and nice smelling!) way to celebrate the season is to make a special Equinox simmer pot. Use this recipe as a start and add anything else that speaks to you– you might just really like the smell or want to encourage more of what the plant symbolizes in your life.
Apple peels & cores: I am pretty passionate about using things that would otherwise be wasted for simmer pots, cutting up and wasting a perfectly good apple is not my style, but apple cores and peels that wouldn’t otherwise be eaten are perfect. Apples have quite a bit of symbolism associated with them. They symbolize immortality, abundance, knowledge and protection. While your simmer pot sadly isn’t going to make you immortal, I like the idea that while everything is dying back this time of year, it will return in the spring. Fall is also a time to gather knowledge and the abundant fruit as we prepare for winter.
Cinnamon: brings prosperity, comfort and success and smells like fall.
Cloves: drive away negativity and attract positivity which is a great thing any time of year. They are also my favorite of the pumpkin pie spices.
Rosehips: are at their best time of year, plump and red. I like to use the invasive multiflora rose that animals can’t eat for double duty. They symbolize good fortune, confidence, peace, and prosperity. I like the idea of confidence and good fortune going into the dark half of the year.
Vanilla: is often associated with love, but is also is symbolically linked to increased energy and sharpened thinking. (I will have to look for the study I read about it improving academic performance) All things that we benefit from as nature slows down.
Maple leaves: I confess I added these primarily because they look so beautiful, but I tell myself they add a faint hint of maple. They are also a powerful symbol of strength and endurance, transformation and change. They are the quintessential “fall” leaf.
If you have never made a simmer pot before, just bring some water to a simmer on the stove (or in a crockpot, or pot on a wood stove if you have one) and add your chosen ingredients. Let it simmer away all day and beautiful fragrance will waft into your home. Add water as needed. When you are done you can compost the contents.