On both vernal and autumnal equinoxes every year we experience equal amounts of light and dark, night and day. For this reason, the equinoxes are considered balance points of the year. The Spring equinox represents yang outwardly expressing energy as plants begin to sprout and green up in response to warmth and sunlight. The autumnal equinox offers us the opposite to the vernal equinox. As the sun passes South across the equator, the Fall equinox heralds a yin drawing inward energy. Harvest time draws to a close and plants begin to wither and die.
“Our internal and external energy is noticeably winding down this time of year, moving out of the total yang of Summer and late Summer but not yet descending into the total yin of Winter. As such we call this season ‘yang within yin’ to reflect that last burst of yang energy before the complete yin immersion in Winter. Most people love this final burst as it reveals itself through the leaves changing color to the most beautiful bright reds and yellows.”—Mindi Counts in Everyday Chinese Medicine
The Fall equinox occurs during traditional Chinese medicine’s energetic Fall and the Metal element on September 21, 22 or 23 each year. The Fall equinox is for most people the official start of the Fall season.
On the Fall equinox there are exactly 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness at the equator.
Depending on how close to the equator you live determines whether you will see a bit more or a bit less than 12 hours of daylight.
As of the autumnal equinox, daylight hours begin to dwindle and continue to do so up until the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year and beginning of Winter.
The Vernal and Autumnal Equinoxes Have Opposing Functions and Energies.
Both Spring and Fall equinoxes feature a feast of seasonal produce since plants are responding to the shifting balance between light and dark that reaches its pinnacle during the equinox.
The vernal equinox which occurs around the time of Easter, Passover and Nowruz(1) presents:
“the first bitter greens of Spring, a newly-born lamb (perhaps), fresh eggs (plucked from the nest of amorous birds who mated on Valentine’s Day) and often items made from the fresh butter and cream available as the cows, goats and sheep produce milk for their young.”— Waverly Fitzgerald in Celebrating Autumn Equinox
The full moon that occurs closest to the equinox often coincides with the harvest. Contrary to the fresh green sprouts of Spring, the autumnal equinox yields its abundance of produce on the edge of dying:
“ripe pumpkins and squashes, elegant jams and jellies, bread made from the freshly reaped and ground grain, wine and beer made from the harvested grapes and hops, and poultry (either game birds shot out of the air or culled from the domestic flock).”
Fall is one of the most important times of the year to cleanse the body and lighten yourself for work of the season. Metal’s organs, lung and large intestine, require cleansing at this time. They must be kept strong and healthy as we march into Winter. Once you’ve done some cleansing, you can then enrich your diet with more heat producing foods of Fall which will help carry you through Winter.
For centuries, full moons around the equinoxes have been viewed as pivotal for the year. For the ancient Chinese, the autumnal equinox full moon represented the beginning of the dark, the yin or female half of the year.
All of Nature Responds to the Changes in Light and Movement in the Heavens.
Plants are not the only ones responding to changes in light. We humans respond to them too whether consciously or unconsciously. The autumnal equinox signals to both human body and mind that now is the time to slow down, gather our energies and go within.
The autumnal equinox is celebrated on the day the sun moves into Libra, the sign of balance. Depending on when the sun moves into the Libran astrological sign, the precise date can occur from September 21 to 23.
The equinoxes strike a great balance of light and dark and we can learn from this. The autumnal equinox is an especially good time to contemplate how much balance we have in our lives.
Do we have balance in all three aspects of ourselves—body, mind and spirit?
Where are we out of balance?
What can we do to regain it?
Several months ago, the vernal equinox was a virtual ignition key for the year. It ushered in a great revving up of life, growth and activity. But now the autumnal equinox draws those active energies to rest.
Now the days shorten and we enter the darkest phase of the year. And just like the energy of the Metal element which prevails at this same time, we shift from outward action to incubation.
Shortening days, rest, and contemplation all are front and center as the Earth gives up her copious bounty in one last breath and display.
The autumnal equinox reminds us to recognize and celebrate Earth’s spectacular abundance. We can do this with creative spiritual and lifestyle practices. These simple practices can help us dive deeper into our spiritual essence and foster an intimate connection with it.
These Spiritual Practices Will Make Your Fall Equinox Celebration More Meaningful.
Known in various philosophies and traditions by many names—Mabon, Feast of Avalon, Cornucopia, Harvest Home, Festival of the Vine—the Fall equinox seems to have a mystique all its own. It is this spiritual mystique we can tap into to help us get the most out of the equinox and its season.
Here are some ideas for celebrating the Fall equinox:
Gather with friends around a bonfire in the spirit of the equinox and the closing of Summer’s yang outward energies.
Find an outdoor place of special beauty and atmosphere and meditate there or make affirmations for your life going forward.
Make an altar in your home that pays homage to earth’s bounty.
Bake bread from scratch and make rustic sandwiches using grilled harvest type vegetables.
On the day of equinox especially, make a hearty stew from the bounty produce of the earth and serve it to family or friends with rustic decorations all around.
Decorate your living space with apple garlands, wreaths, candles, homemade centerpieces and sheaves of grain. Light your candles at night and be mindful of the balance of energy.
Create a bowl of nuts and seeds and share with the birds and animals.
Give thanks on the autumnal equinox. Focus on gratitude for the natural life-giving world all around us.
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Endnotes:
(1) Nowruz is the first day of the Iranian new year, occurring on the vernal equinox (usually March 20 or 21).
(2) Fitzgerald, Waverly. Celebrating Autumn Equinox: Customs and Crafts, Recipes and Rituals for Harvest, Sukkot, Mid-Autumn Moon, Michaelmas, Eleusinian Mysteries and Other Autumn Holidays. United States, Genesta Press, 2019.
Shipway, Jilly. Yoga Through the Year: A Seasonal Approach to Your Practice. United States, Llewellyn Worldwide, Limited, 2019.
Forest, Danu. The Magic of the Autumn Equinox: Seasonal Celebrations to Honour Nature's Ever-turning Wheel. United Kingdom, Watkins Media Limited, 2015.
Counts, Mindi K.. Everyday Chinese Medicine: Healing Remedies for Immunity, Vitality, and Optimal Health. United States, Shambhala, 2020.
Lane, Mary. Divine Nourishment: A Woman's Sacred Journey with Food. United States, Dog Ear Publishing, 2010.
L'Esperance, Carrie. The Seasonal Detox Diet: Remedies from the Ancient Cookfire. United States, Inner Traditions/Bear, 2002.
Photo courtesy of Karolina Grabowska at pexels