The autumn equinox is a reminder that life is a continuous cycle of death and rebirth, of light and shadow. Honoring this moment through great traditions means honoring the natural flow of existence and finding beauty and wisdom in change.
Every year, as the days grow shorter and the air becomes crisper, the Earth reaches a point of perfect balance. This is the autumn equinox, a time when day and night have exactly the same length. This is not just an astronomical event; for many esoteric and spiritual traditions, it represents a powerful portal, an opportunity to reflect, balance energies, and prepare for the cycle to come.
In the East: The Balance of Yin and Yang and Late Summer Festivals
From an energetic perspective, the autumn equinox is the point of balance between solar energies (masculine, active, yang) and lunar energies (feminine, passive, yin). It is the turning point where yin energy begins to predominate. This is a crucial time for inner balance. It is like a final opportunity to connect with your solar strength and, at the same time, to welcome and honor the wisdom of shadow, stillness, and reflection.
This balance is also reflected in the themes of life and death. Nature begins to die on the surface, but this is a necessary process to regenerate deeply. The falling leaves are not a symbol of the end, but of liberation. They detach from the tree to nourish the earth and prepare the ground for new growth. In the same way, the equinox invites us to let go of what no longer serves us—whether they are old habits, limiting thoughts, or toxic relationships—to make space for the new.
In China, the most important festival linked to the end of summer and the autumn equinox is the Mid-Autumn Festival (Zhōngqiū Jié, 中秋节), also known as the Moon Festival. While it does not always coincide exactly with the astronomical equinox (which falls between September 22 and 24), the festival is celebrated on the fifteenth day of the eighth lunar month, a period when the moon is particularly large and bright. For this reason, the celebrations are closely connected to the harvest and the admiration of the moon.
Astrology and Feng Shui
This year, the astral chart for the autumn equinox shows Jupiter and the Moon as angular planets to the west and north of the Celestial Pole, respectively, and the Sun-Saturn opposition, as shown in the following charts:
To also balance the microcosm of our home, we can use Feng Shui to align the positive energies of plants and stones with the equinox, paying special attention to strengthening the planetary energies of the angular Moon and Jupiter, to the west and north.
The Feast of the Archangels
The connection between the autumn equinox and the feast of St. Michael the Archangel (and now all three archangels: Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael) is a fascinating example of how pagan and Christian traditions have overlapped over the centuries. The date of September 29, though close to the equinox, was not chosen by chance.
The main reason the date “shifted” from the equinox (which generally falls on September 22 or 23) is strictly linked to ecclesiastical history and the consecration of a basilica. The figure of St. Michael, as a warrior and protector, is archetypically connected to pagan deities associated with the solar cycle and protection. His role as a “warrior” is similar to that of deities who fight to maintain cosmic order.
The Symbolic Meaning of the Equinox and the Cults of the Great Mother Goddess
The autumn equinox marks the beginning of the descent into darkness. The Sun, the source of life and light, begins to give way to the night, which will progressively become longer and deeper. This is not a decline, but a sacred transition. Symbolically, it represents a return inward, an invitation to turn our gaze from the external world and focus on our inner self. It is a time to gather the fruits of our summer work, both literally and metaphorically.
Celtic pagan and neo-pagan traditions celebrate it as Mabon, the feast of the second harvest. Mabon is a time of gratitude for the abundance received and a celebration of success. It is a phase of thanksgiving and sharing, but also of preparation for winter hibernation. Energies shift from growth and expansion (typical of summer) to conservation and protection.
In Mediterranean history, the end of summer and the harvest is closely linked to Demeter, the Greek goddess of fertility, agriculture, and the cycle of the seasons. The deepest connection is in the myth of her daughter, Persephone. During the autumn equinox, Persephone returns to the Underworld to be with Hades, her husband. Demeter’s grief over her daughter’s departure causes the arrival of autumn and winter. Demeter stops blessing the earth, which becomes barren. This cycle of vegetation death and its return in the spring symbolizes the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth. Therefore, the festivals celebrated during the equinox serve to thank Demeter for the harvest that has just ended, honor her role in the agricultural cycle, and prepare for the period of rest that comes with winter.
O Mother of the Earth, Demeter,
The fields have been reaped,
The grain has been gathered,
The fruits are ripe and sweet.
We honor you in this equinox,
Where day and night embrace in balance.
Accept our gratitude for your generosity.
Teach us to find strength in rest,
Peace in the dark,
And hope in the promise of the light’s return.
May our souls be as rich as your earth.
So mote it be.