On the first day of fall – the so-called Autumnal Equinox – both the night and the day last for exactly 12 hours.
Autumnal equinox has always been considered a very powerful time for rituals which are mainly focused on any unfinished business, resolving disagreements with others, ending quarrels and letting go of unwarranted anger, as well as, resolving family issues. The autumn equinox is a time when we have to look and see whether we are satisfied with the results we are getting.
An equinox occurs twice a year and corresponds to the moment when the sun’s rays fall horizontally on the earth’s equator. The name equinox comes from the Latin language and and it’s a coin of aequus (equal) and nox (night) – because, when it happens, the night and day are equally long. To be more precise, on the first day of fall, the length of the dark part of the day (the night) is approximately equal on both hemispheres.
The autumnal equinox is traditionally celebrated as the second, wild and green harvest; a time of celebrations in honor of Mother Earth and her fruits. A traditional dinner on the day of harvest is a custom older than Christianity. Once upon a time, when the same length of night and day used to announce the arrival of winter, this holiday represented a magical gesture which was supposed to provide enough food for the winter. In honor of that, the best fruits collected during the harvest have been served and eaten. According to tradition, on this day, God of light lost the battle against his dark twin; his alter ego, the God of darkness.
According to some beliefs, the equinox is a day of divine equilibrium. That is why, on this day, everything needs to be brought back to balance.
Autumnal equinox is a very powerful time for rituals where the focus was unfinished business and burying the hatchet. This is the perfect time to look back on what we accomplished, and see if the results are satisfying.
Some of the herbs and incense that are commonly associated with the fall equinox are ferns, geranium, myrrh, pine and Solomon’s seal. On the day of the autumnal equinox people used to light blue and green candles. The blue color symbolizes fall rain, and green was a symbol of Mother Earth and wild harvest. This was to illustrate the merging of the disparate aspects of life and balanced thinking.
By celebrating this day, the ancient Druids, who lived in harmony with nature, paid homage to the sun and the deities which blessed them with fruitful harvest. To them, Autumnal Equinox was the time to harvest the fruits of their labor; not only materially but also spiritually, as well.
Even today, many people, admirers of the ancient druids, mark this day with commemorative celebrations and offering harvested fruits to the gods in order to thank them for their gifts and protection.
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