On Welcoming the Autumn Equinox
Photo by Alex Geerts on Unsplash
As much as I love lingering sunlight and heat of Summer, I equally love the crisp temperatures and fun traditions of fall aka Autumn. The Autumn Equinox (which is on September 22, 2018) is a time to turn inward and reflect and show gratitude for on everything you've "harvested."
So what is the Autumn Equinox ?
There are two equinoxes annually, vernal and autumnal, marking the beginning of spring and fall. The fall and spring equinoxes, the seasons, and the changing length of daylight hours throughout the year are all due to one fact: Earth spins on a tilted axis Equinox literally means “equal night.” And during the equinox, most places on Earth will see approximately 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night (source). Our days of sunlight lingering well into the evening are coming to an end for the 2018 calendar year very soon. The days will soon be getting even shorter and the nights will lengthen.
Some ideas on how to celebrate the Autumn Equinox + Change of the Seasons
Many ancient cultures have religious and spiritual practices around the transition to the Autumn season. It's traditionally a time to gather the harvest in preparation for the winter cold season when things won't grow and the ground is dormant until the warmer weather returns. But regardless of beliefs, it's a nice time for inward reflection. This year's Autumn Equinox happens to be closely followed by a Full Moon in the sign of Aries (on September 24, 2018) which is a great time for reflection and preparing energetically for the Winter season and getting stuff done. Interested in developing a ritual or practice in celebration of the change of the seasons? You can follow some suggestions from below or do your own thing:
Write in Your Journal - If you aren't a regular journal keeper, take a moment to write a bit down about what you're feeling right in the moment. Also take some time to write down what you're grateful for this season. With the year quickly coming to a close, it's not too early to start reflecting on the positive and show gratitude for your blessings.
Get Outside and Experience Nature - The shifting of the seasons to fall is a wonderful time to get outdoors now that the oppressive heat of summer has lifted (at least for those of us in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast!). Take a walk and note the changes in nature that take place this time of year like the leaves turning from green to fall shades and the remnants of summer blooms dropping away.
Clean Your Space and Then Energetically Cleanse it - You can cleanse your home and personal space with Sage, a Cleansing Spray, or Palo Santo. We remember to physically clean our homes on a regular basis, but it’s also a nice practice to energetically clean our homes as well.
Meditate - Take some time from your schedule that will likely speed up between now and the new year to meditate for a few minutes.
Yoga Practice - Take some time to move your body and do a few sun salutations or simply some stretching poses like cat/cow. Release the tension you may be holding in your body and practice some yogic breathing.
Dance It Out - Take a moment to turn on your favorite song and dance around your home. Each season is a celebration and bringing it in with movement and music is always a good idea.