The Autumn Equinox returns to the Northern hemisphere and the coming of the Vernal or Spring Equinox in southern realms. Equal day and night are celebrated at 18.19 UTC on September 22, when just for an eye blink, past and future fuse in the present, war and peace, poverty and plenty, sickness and health, love and loneliness sharing for that second the promise that there is light at the end of the tunnel even as the world turns.
The Autumn Equinox, Alban Elued or Mabon in the Northern hemisphere and the Spring Equinox Alban Eiler, Ostara in the Southern hemisphere, are mirror festivals and you can wherever you live in the world take from the energies of either hemisphere’s festival.
The Autumn Equinox, often called Mabon or Alban Elued means in Gaelic, light on the Water and so the sun is moving away over the water in the old Celtic myths, to shine on the Isles of the Blest, leaving the world to accept what did not work while rejoicing in achievements, persevering with what still may come to fruition and giving up on what you know in your heart will never happen as you hoped.
A time for the completion of tasks, the achievement of long-term goals, for mending quarrels and forgiving yourself for past mistakes, for recovering money owed and overcoming debt problems, for family relationships and friendships, for material security for the months ahead, for abundance in all aspects of your life,, issues of job security or the need to consolidate finances; all matters concerning retirement, redundancy and older people and the resolution or management of chronic health problems.
Its candle colours are blue and green and its crystals blue lace agate, chalcedony, Aqua aura, also rose quartz and all calcites.
Its fragrances are apple, myrrh, pine and sandalwood.
The Angel of the Autumn Equinox is Rismuch, angel of agriculture and cultivated land, wearing every imaginable shade of brown, carrying a scythe and a hoe as symbol that he is conserver of the land and the crops. His symbols are sheaves of wheat and ears of corn, also dishes of seeds and nuts.
The Spring Equinox Alban Eiler, Ostara in the Southern hemisphere, means in Gaelic the Light of the Earth that returns after the winter and the time of sowing, actual and spiritual begins in earnest.
This is the time for fertility and positive life changes, new beginnings and opportunities, new flowering love, for initiating creative ventures, travel, house moves, clearing what is no longer needed in your life; anything to do with conception and pregnancy, children and young people, mothers and healing. Time too for spring cleaning your life, welcoming the winds of change, for rituals and empowerments to cleanse the seas and air of pollution, for new peace-making initiatives of all kinds, also to encourage major changes in attitude towards international, national, local and family issues.
Its candle colours are yellow and green.
Its crystals include sparkling yellow crystals, such as citrine, golden beryl and rutilated quartz, also lemon and apple green chrysoprase and green aventurine for good luck.
Its fragrances are honeysuckle, hyacinth, lemon, sage, thyme and violets.
The Angel of the festival is Raphael, Archangel of the Dawn, the East, the spring and of healing. He carries a golden vial of medicine, with a traveller’s staff, food to nourish travellers and is dressed in the colours of early morning sunlight, with a beautiful green healing ray emanating from his halo.
Light a white candle at the Equinox, Autumn, Fall or Spring reaching out for that seemingly unattainable unity, undivided by the need to reserve your place and space in the cosmos before someone else takes it, just in case we might need it later.
Leave your candle to burn through or relight it when you can sit and absorb that sense of equilibrium of everything becoming as it should.
More than 150 Equinoxes, Spring and autumn, have passed, leaf rise and leaf fall since I was the sturdy little girl in grey socks jumping up and down in the pile of fallen leaves in the sooty urban park. I scattered the leaves carelessly through years that seemed forever Yet too soon the leaves are swirling from the trees once more and each equinox granted must be more precious than the last.
May your Equinox, Spring or Autumn spread harmony, tranquility and peace for which we can strive in small but significant ways throughout the seasons and the world.