Autumnal Equinox

The autumnal equinox is the first day of autumn under the astronomical calculation of the seasons. There are two equinoxes and two solstices in a year. While the solstices are about light or dark dominance; the equinoxes are about balance. Equinox means “equal night” in Latin. It is only on an equinox that the equator is the closest part of the earth to the sun, giving everyone on the planet (almost) equal slices of day and night.

Mabon is a modern Pagan ritual, with its roots as a harvest festival going back to ancient times. It marks the celebration of resting after a long and intensive harvest season. Mabon is a time of completion and abundance. It is also a time of clearing out physical, spiritual and mental clutter, so that winter can be a time of peace. An important theme of this festival is welcoming the dark, which can be interpreted as embracing our shadow selves. The autumnal equinox also synchronises with Libra, a sign represented by the scales; a sign of (very literal) balance and harmony.

The autumn equinox embodies the energies of maturation. The first expression of that is harvest. The gathering of crops that have reached their full growth potential. The second is the start of the natural falling off at maturity: the shedding of leaves, and the withering of spring and summer growth. In the Northern hemisphere, we are transitioning into the shadowy half of the year, as the nights become longer and days shorter.

This equinox is a time to reflect on what we have achieved - what we have sown, grown and harvested – since the spring equinox; to celebrate what we have brought into our lives. Autumn is also the ultimate seasonal expression of letting go, both outwardly and inwardly. The physical manifestation of this letting go surrounds us as leaves change colour before they fall. Letting go is necessary for growth and strikingly beautiful in a way only release can be.

In traditional Chinese medicine, autumn is associated with the lungs. The energy of the lungs is "letting go." As we move to a more internal state of being, what can we release to make room for new and beautiful experiences?⁠ In letting go, we may experience grief and sadness (these are the emotions associated with the lungs) for the things we are leaving behind. However, the space we leave for healthy energy (Qi) in our lungs is associated with openness to new ideas and experiences.

The energetic shifts that happen between summer and autumn are possibly the most palpable of the year. TCM describes how energetically, in the autumn, we switch from external expansive to internal contractive.⁠ External expansive is, as its name suggests, more focused on our external world. On adventures. On action. Internal contractive is contemplative and cosy. About turning our attention inward. To our inner worlds and our homes.⁠ And about sleeping more.⁠

The equinox invites us to get our houses in order: physically, mentally and spiritually. That ‘back to school feeling’ is for a reason. If you feel called to perform any kind of ritual, smudging - a sage or palo santo burning rite for cleansing and releasing negative energy - is a perfect ‘letting go’ practice (remember to leave the windows open!). Anything involving breath work is ideal (back to the lungs). You may also want to reflect, or journal about, what you are grateful for and what needs to go. If you feel out of balance, connecting with nature whilst simultaneously disconnecting with the various distractions of technology and everyday stress, may be a really useful way to harness the energy of this powerful transition.

Neeraj Singh21 September 2021