God and Goddess of Autumnal Equinox

Dionysus and Demeter, God and Goddess of Autumnal Equinox.  Dionysus and Demeter are a Greek god and goddess both  of which are involved with the fruits of harvest.

Demeter—“Mother”; “Doorway  of the Mysterious Feminine” ;“Eternal Mother; the Sorrowing Mother; Corn Goddess; “Grain Mother”; Mistress of Magick. She was shown as a matron with beautiful hair, wearing a blue robe and carrying a sheaf of wheat; crowned with ears of corn or ribbon and held a scepter. The goddess gave the first wheat seeds to humans, taught them how to cultivate the soil and make bread from the grain. She instituted the Eleusinian Mysteries, the Lesser in February, the Greater in September. She was the protector of women, goddess of crops, corn, the plow, initiation, renewal, rebirth, vegetation, fruitfulness, agriculture, civilization, law, motherhood, marriage, maternal love, fidelity, magickal philosophy, expansion, higher magick, all growing things.

Dionysus—“Horned God”; “Savior”; “The bull-horned god” ; also called Dithyrambos[“double-birth” or “twice-born”} the Roaring One; the Initiated.  The vine, wine and ivy were sacred to him. Symbols were the panpipes, thyrsus, and tambourine, wicker winnowing basket, chalice and cymbals. He was believed to be the son of Zeus and Semele or possibly Demeter and Zeus. He is depicted either as a bearded man or a youth with ivy leaves and grapes around his he forehead, wearing a “nebris” [fawn skin] and carrying a thyrsus [a pole with a pine cone or grape leaves decorating the top]. He represented the fertile energy of all growing things and was considered the god of the vine. Most of his followers were women, the Satyr and Centaurs were also followers. Dionysus festivals provided his followers with the opportunity to vent repressed inhibitions. He was the god of pleasure, ecstasy, total abandon, woodlands, nature, wine, initiation,, rituals, rebirth, regeneration, civilization.