Fall Equinox: Finding Balance

As we say good-bye to summer and enter into the fall of the year we take a moment to reflect on where we were and where we are headed. The abundance of the warm growing summer season bursts in the fall and yields its bountiful harvest. We bow in gratitude to all that we have and appreciate all that we share; we gather to connect with others and exchange our wealth. The fall equinox, or the first day of fall, is on September 23rd, 2019. 

The autumnal equinox marks the point in the sky where the ecliptic (Sun’s pathway) and the celestial equator intersect; the sun appears to cross the celestial equator from the north to the south. Fall equinox is one of the two moments in the year when the Sun is exactly above the equator and the days and nights are equal in length; spring is the other. At the fall equinox we enter into the time of year when the days get shorter and the nights get longer. This is symbolically when we enter the dark portion of the Earth cycle, the going within and the slowing down time. Fall is the advent of dark whilst spring is the advent of light. 

The ultimate gift the autumnal equinox brings is the opportunity to come into right relationship with Self, then other, balancing the I/Thou of relationship. The beauty of relationship is emphasized at this time, which of course brings up issues if the relationship you are in, both with yourself or others, is less than beautiful. This is a time of resetting the scales and bringing harmony and balance back into celestial order.

As we look inward and reflect on the first half of the year we are stirred to contemplate, from the “Thou” perspective, our relationships, our deepest desires, our place in the universe, our highest calling, our hopes and fears and whatever is left undone that needs to be accomplished or released. As spring arrives we begin another cycle, this time from the “I” perspective. 

The fall equinox is also a time that harkens us to right wrongs, find fairness and exact justice; things that are out of balance draw our attention toward them. There is a need for restoring equilibrium and creating a steady but calm approach in preparation for the conservation of energy that the dark portion of the Earth cycle requires.

Autumnal equinox marks the beginning of the second half of the year and correlates with the waning gibbous Moon cycle, posted here as a refresher:

WANING GIBBOUS: 225°-270°

The Disseminating Moon marks the time of descent back toward a new cycle again. It is a time of giving back all that has been gathered from the waxing phases. There is a return of fruit from the seed planted; a sharing of what has been created, partaking in the reward of invested efforts. We take the seeds from the fruit we have manifested and carefully save them for the future while taking delight in and enjoying the flesh of the fruit we have just nurtured and grown. The idea we have planted brings wisdom and reward; we understand the struggle to get something started, help it take root and carefully create the environment for it to grow. We know the risks and the rewards. We can use the wisdom gleaned to repeat the process, to improve upon what we can and to teach others how.

It is important that we understand the universe as cycles occurring within cycles, upon more cycles. When we understand the connectedness of the universe from the very biggest to the very smallest we can truly understand the concept of microcosm/macrocosm and the interrelatedness of it all. It is only then that we can find our own relationship to the whole, where and how we play within it all, what our Divine role brings. 

When we can hold our balance, our equilibrium, and we bow to the sacred relationship within and without, small and large, masculine and feminine, then we are whole and centered and we may become holy. When we are conscious of this process then we can remain so.

And so it is…

To every thing there is a season, and a time for every purpose under the heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8