And, so,gently, September slides into the year, bringing breaths of cool air,the first yellowing leaves,and welcome clarity as we review what we learned in the cauldron and emerge to once again commit to what we know to be true, choosing with trust,determination,and renewed purpose as we look at our lives, at the abundant possibility around us, and settle into the rhythm that nourishes us, that supports us as we both change and thrive. Let us savor the time spent being here in this season of power and plenty. Happy September and welcome to this week’s Rituals of Returning newsletter and our September allies as we cross the threshold into a new season! We’ve updated the shop with some beautiful OOAK goddesses and color experiments as well as Hestia flags and bags. And, we’ve got our beautiful, powerful, magical ritual kits for Mabon ready as well! September Thresholds Imagine standing at a doorway in your life, a threshold into a new season. By the door there’s a basket. You don’t have to abandon anything forever. You can simply set a few things down for now.It’s okay to put some things in the basket, leave it at the threshold, and step across into what is waiting for you. (If you change your mind, you can always go back and get it later.)Prompt for this week:Name one thing you’d like to “leave in the basket” as we cross into September. Embers for September In the threshold meditation I recorded for the Goddess Magic Mystery School with an expanded version of the above, I also invited people to consider their “ember for September.” If you imagine your life as a hearth, then September is not necessarily about building a roaring fire, it can simply be about tending a single glowing coal. It might be an ember of rest, or an ember of creativity, an ember of courage, or an ember of trust. You might name this ember with an intention, a word, or simply a sensation in your body. You might place a candle on your altar and light it once a day. You might notice a moment—a hawk flying overhead, a monarch crossing your path, the smell of apples in the air—and name that as your ember of joy Inviting you, too, to consider: What ember am I tending this September? And, then, give that ember what you have: breath, presence, a smile, a few minutes of attention, a hand laid gently on your own heart. Feel free to hit “reply” or to share your thoughts on either of these prompts in the comments section! This week's magic: 20 minute video: September’s Allies—Replenish with Hestia. I’m celebrating the equinox and a book-aversary and the Kindle edition of Return is on sale until September 15. My poem “the poem I wasn’t going to write” was published in the Amethyst Review in June (but I didn’t see it until this month). Other new videos: September’s activation replay (35 minutes) August’s Book of Magic Days flip-through (2 minutes) and, check out the new Wayshowers experience from the Divine Feminine App! Such a neat idea (and I’m honored to be included). New Class! Replenish at the Hearth Throughout this month, I’m offering a simple and sacred class called Replenish at the Hearth. Inspired by the goddess Hestia and by the “release and review” energy of the autumn equinox as well as our allies for the season, this class includes: The Hearthkeeper’s Handbook printable Hestia devotional which includes a poem, prompt, and practice for each day of the month. A companion guidebook for September, including a fall equinox ritual. Four short, simple guided audios with companion ritual “recipe” cards Weekly Live community practices on Patreon. This class is included at the $16 tier and above! For additional info and a special secret offer for September, check out this post. Note: if you are already a member of the Goddess Magic Mystery School you don’t have to do anything else—you’re already in and you’ll automatically get everything for the class. This post and announcement is for new members only (and so the post will be invisible to you if you’re already a member—you’re not missing anything, you’re just already there. :) ) Announcements: Writing Nature and Magic I’m delighted to be the guest teacher for this year’s session of Writing Nature and Magic from Lucy Pearce and Sarah Robinson. I’ve created SO MANY good things to share for this course, including two hour-long workshops (The Magic of Place and Poetry and Practice), a printable book, and a set of mix and match oracle cards. Registration with an early-bird discount is open until September 15 and the course begins in October. It is self-study for four weeks and concludes with a live workshop on November 3 with Lucy, Sarah, and me. Yay! Too Much Woman anthology Available for pre-order beginning today, I’m also delighted to be a contributor to the third Womancraft Publishing anthology, Too Much Woman. Really excited about this one! Resource Reminders: When you feel lost in all that swirls,may you remember: you are always invited to return.Every candle, every card, every deep breath,every pang of longingis a doorway home to yourself. Our popular Back to the Root free series is still available: Make sure to check out the collection where all of the free posts are available. And, you can still grab your welcome kit with beautiful journals and customizable covers. Intro audio about the Goddess Magic Mystery School I’ve started to add our monthly activation replay videos for this year’s #30DaysofGoddess practice to the homepage! Scroll past the “2026 Practice Updates” section to access the videos. Note: Live monthly activations are available to any member of the Goddess Magic Mystery School Patreon community free and paid both! FREE class: forty week Intro to Goddess Studies class! Gift a Goddess Magic membership to a friend! Life’s Bits and Pieces: Spirit of the Deep,remind me to tend my spiritas lovinglyas I tend my to do list.Nudge me toward wildflowers, long books,and creative conversations.Keep my soul awake,brave enough to say yesto what I need. When you temporarily get lost in a swirl of demands, do not shame and blame yourself. Remember, you are always invited to return. You will forget sometimes. You will scroll too long, over commit, get scattered, and feel frazzled.Remember. The practice isn’t perfection; it’s returning.Light the candle.Draw the card.Read the poem.Step outside and watch the birds.Blow a kiss to the moon.You are always allowed to come back to your breath, your body, your magic.What helps you nestle back into the real? Currently reading: (to self) Swordheart—my beloved T. Kingfisher coming through for me again with a daring tale of a middle-aged woman and a dashing and seasoned warrior who happens to inhabit the blade of a sword. (to kids): The Wizard’s Guide to Defensive Baking—I have already listened to this one, but I decided to see if T. Kingfisher could come through for my kids as well and break us out of our reading rut. We’re doing our best. This one is about a “minor mage” who has power over dough and baking, but finds herself as the last remaining hope of her whole city. (listening to by self) The Raven and the Reindeer—surprise! T. Kingfisher again! This one is based on Nordic folklore and is a retelling of the Snow Queen with some sapphic undertones. About a girl who sets forth to rescue a boy and discovers that perhaps she actually likes girls better than boys. Some Sami folklore and magic are also woven in. side note: Mark is currently reading Nettle and Bone also by…T. Kingfisher. I’ve already listened to myself and it is a favorite for me! (It is coincidentally this month’s book club pick at the local library, which is why I snagged a copy for Mark) (listening to with Tanner) The Magician’s Nephew—I could not resist getting the complete Chronicles of Narnia from Audible when I had a credit to use up before cancelling my membership. It is a single credit purchase for 33 hours and THE ENTIRE SERIES as one file. The first is narrated by Kenneth Branagh too, who is doing an excellent job with voice acting it, so it isn’t like you got discount/AI narrators for such a bargain either! I’m finding the Christian allegory a lot more heavy-handed than I tuned into as a kid and, of course, I’m also annoyed by the “witch is evil” trope, which feels very tired. However, it also contains some truly excellent understated British humor and I did so love this series as a kid that it remains fun to share it. September’s Allies: Hestia, Nettle, Nasturtium, Amethyst, and Fox Hestia,Keeper of Cauldron and Flame,bless this hearth, this desk, this sink, this screen,wherever my life is actually happening.Let my small acts of stirring, typing, folding, and feedingbecome prayers of care for myself and the world. Reminder: replenishment begins at the hearth—within yourself and your home—and then naturally extends outward into community. Note: expanded edition with practices and printable companion cards is here. This month’s theme is “Replenish.” As you watch and listen, you might consider: What in me needs replenishment? What is ready to be harvested? What is ready to be released? Our guiding presence this month is Hestia, keeper of the sacred flame and goddess of hearth and home. Hestia reminds us that: A house becomes a home when the hearth is tended. The hearth is not just physical—it is the center of your life, your heart, your body, your inner fire. Consider these questions: How are you tending your own hearth space? Does your home—inner or outer—need more attention, care, or love? Has your home become just a place to sleep and change clothes, instead of a place that nurtures you? An affirmation to continue working with this month (inspired by last month’s turquoise ally): I call myself home to myself. You might repeat: My home nurtures me. I am allowed to seek and receive replenishment. I am allowed to nourish and nur
