First things first: What’s the September Equinox?
No matter where you are in the world, the September Equinox is one of two days per year when the hours of night equal the hours of day (hence the term “equi-nox,” or equal night).
Why do people celebrate it? Since ancient times, humans all over the world have marked both the March and September Equinoxes as special, potent, and even holy. Some cultures erected monuments for them, while others made pilgrimages or gathered to feast, celebrate, and perform rituals that helped them align with the energies of the new season. Because Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece (the civilizations where Hellenistic astrology originated) are located in the Northern Hemisphere, the ancients associated the September Equinox with the beginning of fall. The time between this Equinox and the December Solstice is the period of harvest and transition: The days grow darker, the leaves fall, the air gets colder, and whatever crops have been gathered have to tide us over until the next season of growth. At least that’s traditionally how it worked… before, you know, hot-house farming.
But if you live in the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true. At this point in the year, life is returning to the earth, marking the beginning of spring. During this symbolic rebirth, the soil thaws and new seeds start to take root.
The point is: Wherever you are in the world, the Equinox turns the wheel of the year and ushers in a new season.
Rituals to honor the September Equinox
Want some ideas on how to honor this seasonal shift? Here are six rituals to help work with this moment.
- Be in nature. Visit your favorite body of water, park, farm, or hiking trail. If you have a garden, dedicate time to gathering the fruit or vegetables that are ready to be picked.
- Take a moment to enjoy your personal harvest. Relish whatever you’ve been toiling over, gathering, or bringing to fruition this year. Thank it. Share it with friends. Celebrate your works-in-progress — it doesn’t matter if there’s still more to do.
- Restore balance to your home. Clear your closets and junk drawers. Give away or sell anything that feels like extra weight. With equal hours of light and dark, this Equinox brings an opportunity to recalibrate inside and out.
- Clear the energy in your space. Do a ritual sweeping of every room to brush away any staleness. Sweep in the direction of your door — then out the door. Sending away the stagnant energy will help you enter the new season fresh.
- Adorn your home and/or altar with seasonal foliage, such as roses, apples, pinecones, gourds, leaves, or anything seasonal to the region you live in. Make your space into a sanctuary that celebrates the season.
- Meditate, or do a practice that helps restore mental equilibrium. (If you need some ideas, we have an abundance of guided meditations in the CHANI app.)
Happy Equinox.
