Simply put, an equinox occurs twice a year, when the sun is at zenith over the equator. On September 23rd we experienced the Autumn Equinox for the year 2011. (Note: For the southern hemisphere, this will be the Vernal equinox.) One of the marks of an equinox is that night and day are of equal length. For me, this could not have happened sooner! Although we had a short, mild summer, I am ready for autumn, my favorite time of the year. I love it when it gets dark early, and when I am getting up to dark. This is a very special time of year for me.
The equinox occurs in the sign of Libra – literally, a time where the focus on and need for balance takes priority. This is a time when we are looking back at the year to date, at what we are reaping, what our summer harvest is bringing us, as well as at what new things are coming in. We need to bring balance to what we set out to accomplish in the Spring of 2011.
Questions that we might want to ask ourselves include: What do we need to tie up? What do we need to honor and celebrate? The energy of which archetypes are needed in our lives at this time? What have we not released that we need to? Is this perhaps blocking us in some manner?
Think about it: we are slowing down in autumn (in the fall), and going into hibernation over the winter. We need to rest and recuperate before the cycle begins anew in the spring.
For our Pagan/Wiccan friends, this is the time of Mabon, when thanks is given for the harvest
What are you thankful for? What are you releasing? What are you bringing into balance?
© September 2011 Bonnie Cehovet
One Response to Autumnal Equinox 2011