The Autumn Equinox

By Robin DuMolin

The Autumn Equinox is the counterpoint to the Spring Equinox. Whereas the Spring season is the time when life seems to be renewing itself and coming to the surface, Autumn is when things begin to shed, and the growth which was young in spring is now matured. Springtime energy speeds up, in the fall it slows down. The energy of Spring is upward, plants pushing upwards towards the bright sun, in Fall the energy moves downward, leaves falling away from the trees.

The Equinoxes are the two days out of the whole year when the northern and southern hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight, and the days and nights are the same length. The tilt of the Earth's axis is not toward the Sun, but lies at a right angle to an imaginary Earth-Sun line. At the equator, the sun is directly overhead. These days are the Equinoxes (Equinox means "equal night").

The Equinoxes are times of balance, and also times of intense change; the solar rising and setting points are moving quickly from day to day - southward during Autumn, northward during Spring. The Autumn Equinox was the time of the harvest festival.

Why in Autumn do we want to match the animals in nature and hibernate? The energy on the planet changes. This energy is called life-force energy, Christ-force energy, Universal energy, Supreme Being's energy.

In the Autumn this energy is drawn down into the Earth. Outwardly, the leaves are drawn off the trees. Inwardly, we experience feeling drained. But the good news is that the energy that is draining is most likely not our own anyway. We took on someone's energy (thoughts, emotions) and obligingly, or in most cases, ignorantly carried it around, until the fall season draws our attention back to ourselves where we experience a change in energy within and around us. That is one of the purposes of the seasons, to be different from all the others so that we notice changes we might not have if everything stayed the same. Each season prompts us to reflect (go inward). It makes us pause to review our lives.

With Autumn equating to the harvest time of year, what have we harvested in our lives? Well, it depends what type of seeds we have planted. It tomato seeds were planted, we would expect tomatoes. If we planted negative thoughts, guess what will be reaped during harvest time? Positive thoughts and ideas? Guess again! We are farmers with our thoughts, ideas and emotions as much as a farmer who uses soil as his medium. That is why it is so important to put our attention on what we truly want to experience, and then create the correct atmosphere (attitude or medium) for that to manifest (your mock-ups). How successful would a farmer be if he planted tomato seeds but then never watered, fed, or weeded that area? It isn't enough to want to experience something. We must create the receptive environment for it to show up so that our harvest is a successful one! The Autumn Equinox symbolizes harvest time outwardly and inwardly.

Because the Autumn Equinox happens during the time of year when people generally slow down, it is a great time to get rid of all the excess baggage before New Years so we can start anew with a clean slate. Why have there always been festivals and celebrations during the turning points, the four seasons of the year? To communally and outwardly energize the blessings of our lives.

Autumn is the season between Summer (the season with lots of activity) and Winter (hibernating, slowing down time). We can see why it is called an Equinox, a balancing time, equal time. In Winter we plant our seeds (do our mock-ups or New Years resolutions). In Spring they sprout, in Summer they mature, and at Autumn, they are harvested. So like seeds in the ground, our ideas are also nurtured and grow, through the combination of cosmic and earth energies. Not only is it harvest time, but it is also time to prepare for the next season of crops (mock-ups).

The Autumn Equinox associated with harvest time is also closely associated with the dead. In many cultures around the world human sacrifices have been offered. The sacrifices were offered with the belief they would insure a good crop, a future plentiful harvest. Corn also associated with Autumn and the harvest, comes from under the Earth where the dead reside. But corn really had more to do with fertility and new life. In Germany, peasants used to break the first straws of hay brought into the barns, saying, "This food is for the dead." Many people throughout the world hold festivals at this time of year honoring the departed.

In Japan at the Spring and Autumn Equinox is the Higan-e. It is observed for three days before and after the Equinox. Six days was chosen because it is based on the six perfections, giving, observance of the precepts, perservence, effort, meditation and wisdom - needed before one goes from this shore of samsára to the further shore or nirvana. The literal meaning of higan is "other shore." The ritual includes repentance of past sins and prayers for enlightenment in the next life. It also includes remembrance of the dead and visits to the family graves. It is thought that the Spring and Autumn Equinoxes, being the most temperate times of the year, are ideal moments to reflect on the meaning of life.

Enjoy the paper!