21 September 2022
The Autumn Equinox: What It Means For Our Energy
The nights are drawing in, there’s a crispness to the air and tangible shift in energy as we stand on Autumn’s threshold: the Autumn Equinox!
On Friday 23rd September 2022 our sun will cross the celestial equator, basking the northern and southern hemispheres with the same amount of light before continuing its journey south. For those living in the northern hempisphere, this event marks the beginning of our next season with the Autumn Equinox. From this moment our nights will get longer whilst our days grow shorter until the Winter Solstice at the end of December.
What does the Autumn Equinox signify?
Like the Spring Equinox, the Autumn Equinox is a time of balance. It is one of two moments a year when our day is just as long as our night, encouraging us to acknowledge the intricate balance between light and dark.
Traditionally it is a time for farmers to harvest the fruits of their labours throughout the previous seasons and start preserving foods for the coming winter. Similarly, from a spiritual perspective, the Autumn Equinox is a time to metaphorically harvest the goals and intentions we planted earlier in the year and start preserving our energy for the winter to come.
Once we deepen our awareness and connection to nature’s natural cycles, we can feel the energy shift that the promise of the new season brings – this is something you may have already felt in the air but couldn’t put your finger on! Just as in nature, our lives go through growth, harvest, death and rebirth cycles. With the Autumn Equinox marking a time for harvest, it is a poignant moment to practise gratitude, acknowledge our growth and recognise all that we have in our lives. It’s a chance to shift our mindsets from one of lack, and instead focus on prosperity by taking a moment to give thanks.
As we move further into autumn, the shorter days and darker nights challenge us to face the darkness within – to examine and observe our ego and subconscious mind. The cooler months force us to retreat indoors and, therefore, inwards into ourselves, promoting deep thought. As we quietly rest and observe, we make space for new visions to emerge. Resting and stillness during autumn allow us to recharge and signal to the universe that we are ready to activate our next growth cycle once spring arrives.
My Autumn Equinox Rituals
As mentioned, the Autumn Equinox is a powerful time to practise gratitude. You can do this through a small ritual or ceremony either at the time of the equinox or later in the day depending on where you are in the northern hemisphere.
Before beginning my ritual, I clear my space and make it aesthetically appealing to help tap into the mood I want to cultivate. I usually burn camphor (as it has the highest frequency) and light some white and pink candles to invoke self-love. I’ll set the tone for my ritual by listening to some upbeat shamanic music like this or this.
Once settled in my space, I like to begin by drinking cacao, which, in its purest form, is a great heart opener due to its high levels of theobromine. It is believed to deepen our connection to ourselves, our intuition and our inner guide, making it the perfect start to a ritual practice. To fully embrace the open heart energy, I like to surrender to my body with some freestyle movement to bring out my inner child. This is a great way to gently remove any blocks stored in the body and release any stagnant energy.
I end by writing a gratitude list to ground myself in the present and recognise all that I have to be grateful for. The Autumn Equinox is not a time to invite new things or to release, instead, it’s more about taking stock and giving thanks for the changes that come with the passing of time.
As we move through autumn and into winter, the darker, cooler months are a chance for us to be thankful for all our blessings as we edge towards another year around the sun. I hope you find what you need to settle your soul this Autumn Equinox to become more grounded, more grateful and more in tune with yourself.