The autumn equinox, also known as Mabon, is the astronomical start of autumn. When the autumnal equinox occurs in the Northern Hemisphere, the vernal equinox occurs in the Southern Hemisphere at the same time, signaling the astronomical start of spring.
Every year, there are two equinoxes and solstices. The autumn equinox occurs in September, and the spring equinox occurs in March.
So whether you prefer fall or spring, it all depends on which side of the equator you live on. The equinox is the period when the sun crosses the celestial equator for the first time.
It’s an astronomical event that occurs at the same time all around the world but is converted to local time. In the Northern Hemisphere, the September equinox is also known as the fall equinox or autumnal equinox.
This is due to the fact that the sun crosses the celestial equator and continues its southward declination from 23.5 south. The equinoxes are an often-overlooked but crucial portion of the astronomical year for those of us who enjoy it.
There is a special equilibrium in the world on these two days, which occur in September and March, respectively. These days were significant to people millennia ago since they signified the transition from summer to winter (in September) and back to summer (in March).
Some of these equinox festivals have survived into modern times. In the Northern Hemisphere, the September equinox marks the start of aurora season.
If none of these events appeal to you, you might always start organizing a trip to view the northern lights!
Apples are perfect for celebrating the autumnal equinox
The equinox is known as Second Harvest, in pagan mythology. It’s a time to express gratitude for the summer and pay homage to the approaching darkness.
It’s also the time to get ready for Samhain, the larger Celtic celebration that inspired Halloween (October 31–November 1). Building an altar with harvest fruits and vegetables, meditating on balance, harvesting and eating of apples, presenting apples to the goddess, sharing food, and listing one’s blessings are just a few of the Mabon rites.
Apples are a symbol of intelligence and prosperity, in case you didn’t know. Plucking apples from a tree with your own hands is a ritual that reflects your ability to obtain knowledge and prosperity.
It’s a positive rite that urges us to control our own destiny.
Go to your ancestor’s cemeteries
Japan celebrates both equinoxes with a period known as Ohigan (sometimes spelled O-higan). The Japanese Buddhist belief is that the hereafter lies due west, and that the sun sets directly west on the equinoxes.
The equinoxes are also representative of life’s transformations. As a result, Ohigan is a good time to pay a visit to one’s ancestors’ graves.
People clean up graveyards and leave flowers for the deceased. It’s also a time to reflect and pay visits to living relatives.
Moon cakes to celebrate the autumnal equinox
The Moon Festival, also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, is enjoyed in China and Vietnam on the full moon closest to the equinox. It’s the 15th day of the ninth lunar month on the lunar calendar.
Gazing at the moon and eating moon cakes are traditional parts of the celebrations; in the southern United States, Moon Pies are frequently substituted for moon cakes. In Korea, a comparable holiday is known as Chuseok.
Make a food altar
Autumn Equinox is a holiday symbolizing the start of the second harvest season. So now is the time to gather and store the richness of the fields, orchards, and gardens.
In this regard, one of the most well-known Autumn equinox rituals is to make an altar out of this stock and thank the gods for the plentiful crops or other blessings. In addition to the fruits, the altars are frequently styled with the colors and symbols of the late harvest season (in pagan cultures).
Harvesting and enjoying the richness of fruits and vegetables in our gardens and at our local farmers’ market is a tradition in the autumn. Set out to create a spectacular harvest feast with your child with the bounty you’ve gathered.
If you don’t have a garden or access to a farmers’ market, check for seasonal fruits and vegetables at your local grocery store. Plan a special menu and make your special harvest feast together once you’ve gathered all of your items.
The ritual of letting go
You have sheds that no longer serve you, just as leaves fall from trees, and both the tree and the leaves embrace the cycle of Life/Death/Life. Fall is a great inspiration for those who find it difficult to let go of people, situations, sentiments, emotions, or even behavior habits.
Take a look around you and note how everything in nature teaches us about the balance that may be achieved when we follow the cycles. Rituals have the ability to manifest your thoughts.
So, whether it’s a difficult task for you to let go, this ritual will help you achieve your goal.
Sow new seeds
Autumn is also a good time to sow new seeds. Keep in mind that when we plant seeds, they spend some time underground before emerging and growing.
The same is true for life planning. This is an excellent time to make medium- and long-term plans for your life.
Allows you to put those initiatives and ideas on the back burner for a while. They are prepared to expand and see the light throughout this time.
What better way to demonstrate this than to actually plant your thoughts and watch them grow?
Make smoke bundles
Another well-known Autumn Equinox practice is to gather herbs and bundle them together to dry, resulting in Autumn smoke bundles that can be used for smoke cleaning later. Once the negativity has been smoked away, employing additional fall herbs will assist infuse a place with warmth and nourishment.
Smudging, or the burning of sacred plants such as sage and lavender, is a means to purify your environment of negative energy. Create a mini-mantra to recite to yourself before you begin.
Open all the windows, ignite your smudge stick, and take a slow 8walk around the room’s perimeter. The smoke will carry the negative energy outside, leaving you with a more balanced environment.
Campfire
The shift from autumn, with its flame-colored leaves, to the dark nights that get longer each day until the winter solstice, is symbolized by fire in Mabon rites. An equinox campfire is a great way to finish off the season.
Create a thankfulness circle around the campfire with your closest friends and family, and have everyone tell what gift of the season they’re most grateful for that has helped them achieve their own personal equilibrium. Mabon, the fall equinox celebration, is a moment to respect the coming gloom of winter in pagan tradition.
There is no point in having light if there is no darkness. The brightness of the day is diminished without the presence of night.
Keep that in mind while you get ready for the campfire.
Yoga
Start your day off right with a morning yoga practice to help you find your personal balance and alignment with the natural cycle. Your muscles will loosen, and your body will become more invigorated as you progress through a series of poses.
Start your day with a little meditation. Even five minutes a day, entirely unplugged and away from devices, can help you center yourself for the hours ahead.
During the winter months, when we slouch and curl and cuddle up and do our posture no favors, a quick yoga practice or even just loosening up your joints might be very beneficial. It’s the first day of autumn, so get outside! Take a whiff of the air! Keep an eye out for changing leaves! Even though you feel stuck, remind yourself that life is a continuous cycle and that things are always growing and going forward!
