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Autumnal Equinox

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Autumnal Equinox

 

The 2006 autumnal equinox will occur

at precisely 0:03 EST (05:03 Universal Time),

on 23 September 2006,

and at 06:03 Western European time.

when fall begins in the Northern Hemisphere

and spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere

as the Sun crosses directly over the Earth's equator at that moment.

 

 

The Fall Equinox

 

The Fall Equinox is usually held around September 21st.

Equinox means "equal"

which means that it is a time when the days and nights

become equal in length.

It also means balanced light, which also refers

to the balance of light and darkness as being equal

at this time of the year.

This makes the days become steadily shorter

in the Northern Hemisphere which cools down

the northern part of the earth more and more.

It is a time when life goes

into hibernation and the land goes to sleep.

 

This autumnal equinox 

marks the beginning of astronomical fall.

It occurs during the month of September

in the Northern Hemisphere,

and during March in the Southern Hemisphere.

At the same time that the autumnal equinox

occurs in one hemisphere,

it is the period of the vernal equinox

in the other hemisphere.

 

 

The term "Autumnal Equinox"

 

The word 'Autumnal' comes from the Latin word 'autumnus’

meaning the period between summer and winter.

 

Equinox comes from Medieval Latin, aequinoxium,

or from Latin aequinoctium: aequi-, equi- + nox, noct-, night,

or via french équinoxe, translated literally,

means “equal night”.

 

 

Ancient or Pagan Ways

 

Since this equal period of day and night happen twice a year,

the elders of the ancient ways used these equinoxes

as markers to determine when seeds would be planted

in the spring and when the crops would be harvested in the fall.

Naturally this is very regional,

depending on the location of the farmer.

 

 

Pagan Tradition

 

The Autumnal Equinox was once considered a sort of a feast

and is also known as the Wine Harvest,

Witch’s Thanksgiving, Night of the Hunter,

the Second Harvest Festival,

the Harvest Tide, Time of Mabon

(a modern name for the fall equinox),

Alban Elfed, the Fease of Avilon, Cornucopia,

the Festival of Dionysus,

the first day of autumn as well as the Harvest Tide.

 

 

The Pagan Wheel

 

 

It is also the season of the Crone.

Kore goes to the Underworld to learn the secrets

of the Crone and the earth is bare as Her mother,

Dementer, mourns her loss.

Although we know that the wheel will turn again

and that life will be reborn again.

 

The Fall Equinox is celebrated

as the final harvest period of this season.

This is most important as an excellent harvest

ensures the survival of the community

for the long cold months of winter.

During this period we reap what we have sown and

it is also a preparation period for the long dark winter ahead.

The Earth has sacrificed the last of herself

to provide the people with a final harvest before the next season.

It is a time of feasting with family

and friends, and of giving thanks.

 

 

Many Cultures Celebrate

 

The equinox observance comes from many cultures

and has its roots in the pagan tradition

long before Christianity made

its entrance in Europe.

Among those observing the equinox were the

Chinese, Iranians, Japanese,

and many diverse European cultures.

It seems that the Egyptians also built the Great Sphinx

so that it points directly toward

the rising Sun

on the day of the autumnal equinox.

Babylonians and Assyrians placed a greater amount

of importance on the

Equinoxes than on the solstices.

The most important festival

in ancient Babylonia

was the New Year, which occurred

at the Spring equinox.

 

 

Relationship to Thanksgiving

 

Early European Christian officials decided

that they could not do away with these

olde celebrations

and rituals, so they decided to place

other holidays in its place

hoping that the new religion would replace the "Olde".

Celebration of the Autumnal Equinox was so old

and ingrained in the culture

that the new Christian religion decided

to also give time to the giving of thanks.

 

 

Survival and Food

 

The Autumnal Equinox was a very important period of passage

 as it included rituals and invocations

for prosperity for the new crops which were being harvested.

These peoples celebrated for the basic reason

that they knew that their food supplies were being restored.

These festivities were held during the new moon

which was closest to the Equinox.

This was very important as harvesting crops

was akin to the survival of the family, clan or community.

 

The Autumnal Equinox is a significant time

for people who live in certain regions on our planet.

It is the time when the Sun disappears at the northern pole

after it has been visable for about six months.

And, of course, this is the opposite for the southern pole.

It is also the time when the Sun crosses

the zenith for people living at the equator.

 

 

The Autumnal Equinox - Why it happens.

 

These equinoxes happen because the axis of rotation

of the Earth is not aligned with

the plane of its orbit around the Sun,

it, in fact, tilts by about 23½°.

At those moments the direction of the poles

are at a right angle to the Sun.

It is also significant because the Sun

crosses directly over the Earth's equator.

 

The Autumnal Equinox is a time of transition,

a time when light and warmth lessen

and when darkness and coldness lengthen in the northern hemisphere.

(In the southern hemisphere the opposite occurs.)

At this point in time, the amount of dark and light is balanced,

 twelve hours of each, day and night.

 

 

Autumn Clearing and Ordering

 

Each fall many people make a ritual of

bringing order to their dwellings.

It is a time when nature begins

to go into slumber,

therefore many people want to be efficient

and orderly in their homes during this cold period.

This clearing ritual removes

any negative energy

that may have accumulated over the summer

by preparing their home and life

for the start of positive prosperity

since this is the harvesting period and

the time to make sure that all of the food and heating material

is in ready for the colder months.

 

 

Autumn Prosperity and Reflection

 

During the Autumnal Equinox we are gathering up

the fruits of the seeds that we have sown and

we are gathering up the fruits from our hard labour.

We are happy to be alive and happy that we have enough

food to bring us through the cold and dark months to come.

It is also a time to gather wood

to be used to keep us warm for the cold months ahead.

This is also prosperity.

 

 

Special Energy

 

During the Autumnal Equinox we are remembering

a distinctive time when there is

a quality of special energy in our planet.

This is energy to harvest, energy to gather,

energy to store food and wood, and energy to reorder our lives.

What is occurring is that life itself is being made

ready for a period of slumber,

because the sleeping energy is taking over from the ground

where it has been dormant in the earth since the summer solstice.

 

It is a good energy, a positive energy,

Which one we can harness to bring healthful,

 prosperous and beneficial experiences into our lives. 

It is a time of reflection, a time to ponder

on our mistakes and our successes, and also to count our blessings.

This is what the new spirituality is all about.

We can use this time to improve the quality

of our lives and raise the good loving vibrations

to help heal ourselves, our human family and our planet!

 

 

Renewal

 

The Autumnal Equinox time is one of renewal

for ourselves in terms

of our thoughts, our aspirations, and our attitudes.

It is a good occasion to review

how we approach specific situations in our lives,

and life in general.

Our attitudes determine the path of our lives.

In order to contribute to creating

a better world.

We must be Aware-full and care-full and expect the best.

Let us be the best that we can by doing our best.

If we want to be the honoured guest,

we have to treat others as the honoured guest.

When we walk into the other’s house

do we compliment our hostess or do we ask for compliments.

May we be honourable by doing honourable.[SV1] 

 

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Blessed Be!

 

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 [SV1]Engels Canadian