TWH – Happy Equinox! This year, the September Equinox arrived today, Wednesday, September 22, 2021, at 3:21 PM EDT. In the Southern Hemisphere, it marks the vernal equinox and the autumnal equinox in the Northern hemisphere.
Earth daylight distribution on the September Equinox (Northern Autumn; Southern Spring) – Image credit: Wikihelp7586 – CC BY-SA 4.0
The equinoxes occur when the Earth’s axis is perpendicular to the Sun’s rays. The Sun’s rays enter along the “celestial equator” which is the equatorial circle of the imaginary celestial sphere that occurs on the same plane as Earth’s equator.
Because of the Earth’s tilt at about 23.44 degrees, the planet will experience equal hours of day and night. From today, the Northern Hemisphere will experience shorter days and the Southern Hemisphere will experience longer days.
The equinoxes mark more the wane of the previous season than the beginning of the coming one. The North will soon see longer nights. As an Irish proverb reportedly says, “Autumn days come quickly, like the running of a hound on the moor.”
But the Southern Hemisphere will see longer days, more flowers, and the growing light and warmth of summer. Our friends and family living in the Southern Hemisphere begin the journey toward summer. For them, the days will begin to lengthen and become warmer as light triumphs over dark, and the Earth reawakens from its winter slumber.
Beginning tomorrow, the Sun will enter Libra in the traditional Zodiac (the sidereal zodiac, the sun’s transit to Libra occurs much later, usually after October 31). Libra is the only zodiac sign represented by an object, the scales. They represent justice and are held by the Greek Titaness, Themis, the personification of divine order, fairness, custom, and law. Libra is also the cardinal sign of air, sharing that element with Aquarius and Gemini.
Image credit: AnotherGypsy – CC BY-SA 4.0
In the Northern Hemisphere, the full moon closest to the September Equinox is called the Harvest Moon. The rose two nights ago in the constellation of Pisces, on the evening of September 20 at 7:13 EDT. It was accompanied by the planets, Venus and Jupiter. Saturn made a brief appearance also.
Outside of religious life, the Fall of the North season is well celebrated. It is punctuated by harvest celebrations, craft and arts festivals, outdoor sports, pumpkin picking, scarecrow contests, corn mazes, and the aromas of spice and apple cider.
Pumpkin spice has already been unleashed on an unsuspecting world a few weeks ago. Pictures of early colored leaves sailed through Facebook posts accompanied by anticipation and trepidation.
Famed French author Albert Camus said, “Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
Many Asian cultures and overseas Chinese communities celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival beginning on the full moon falling on the 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese lunisolar calendar. The festival is based on the legend of Chang’e (嫦娥), the moon goddess. Open-air altars are built for her and delicious mooncake pastries are made as part of her veneration.
From ancient to modern cultures, the harvest period was a time of both work and celebration. Many of these celebrations are marked by thanksgiving, whether religious or secular in nature. Gratitude is given to deities, ancestors, family, friends, community, self, and nature.
In some modern Pagan traditions, the autumnal equinox is the second of three harvest festivals, with the first being Lughnasadh and the third being Samhain.
The Pagan holiday, or Sabbat in some traditions, occurring at the September Equinox in the Northern Hemisphere is known by a variety of names. For Wiccans and Witches, it is often called “Harvest Home” or “Mabon.” In Druidic and Celtic-oriented Pagan groups, it can be called “Mid-Harvest,” “Foghar,” or “Alban Elfed.” In modern Asatru, it is sometimes called “Winter Finding.” The Greek term for it (using Latin letters) is “Phthinopohriní Isimæría.” In Old English, it was called “efnniht.”
Some just call it “Fall.”
Image credit: Sergio Cerrato – Italia from Pixabay
We reached out to some Pagans about what they are thankful for.
Raven, a Witch who lives on the Atlantic Coast in Florida, shared, “In spite of a difficult year, I find much for which to be thankful. The birth of my grandson in August, and that my daughter and he came through a difficult birth safely. That I have not lost any family or friends (knock on wood) to this horrible Covid-19. For family and friends that keep in touch, and help keep my spirits up in a difficult time. For all of the great people involved in animal rescue and fostering. And for my chosen Path, the Gods, Elementals, and all that that entails, to keep me steady and balanced. ”
Janine Nelson, Public Information Office of the Covenant of the Goddess shared, “I am thankful for my Pagan Community and the amazing gifts they share. Through The Covenant of the Goddess, I have met strong, creative Wiccans and Witches, a diverse group of individuals, who strive to make their personal, professional, and spiritual lives better through Magick.”
Sheri Barker, a columnist at TWH, said, “I am grateful for this body that is still willing to work with me on healing and improved health and fitness, no matter how many times I have let it down. I am grateful for the challenges presented by sharing my home with my elderly father-in-law because they provide a sometimes too-consistent opportunity for lessons in communication, boundaries, and compassion. I am grateful for an ever-evolving cast of companions as I continue to journey through this time and space.”
Marla, a Witch near the Florida-Georgia line said, “Thinking about thankfulness today and it occurs to me, that even in this time of pandemic and social media unrest, I personally have much to be thankful for. Primarily I am thankful for my spouse and the life we are developing on our farm in North Florida. Even when the free-ranging chickens poop on the front porch, I know that I will benefit from the eggs they leave all over the farm. I am thankful for the ease of communication with my relatives that do not live in the same state as I do so that we can text and video call multiple times a week.
“Finally, I am thankful for my Pagan community. I’m a board member of Mystic South, an annual conference held in Atlanta, and a member of Everglades Moon Local Council, which is part of Covenant of the Goddess. I’m also an Elder in the Georgian Tradition and a Faery Seer apprentice. All these affiliations have given me the opportunity to develop friendships and life bonds. This Mabon harvest, I am thankful. ”
Chrismar, a “not too dedicated” Pagan in South Florida, said when asked about Mabon, “Given everything going on in the world, I’m grateful to live in a safe and loving environment.”
Others were thankful for more pragmatic and immediate events.
Sable, a Pagan in Northeast Ohio, after taking a moment to consider various options, shared, “I am thankful that my familiar, FloofyCat, jumped down from the table to vomit a hairball rather than use the obviously more convenient but dry clean only altar cloth.”
Tiber in Miami looked outside and just said, “air conditioning.”
Whether you are celebrating the Ostara, Mabon, spring, or fall, may your blessings be abundant this equinox.
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