Equinox Energy & Spiritual Meaning
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The Equinox and Solstice (read separate article on the Solstice) are naturally occurring seasonal cycles whose energies you can tune into as you deepen your spiritual consciousness. It's about connecting your soul in sacred ceremony with Mother Nature, the cosmos and the greater universe as you go through your own life transitions.
This article written by Natalia Kuna was published in the magazine: "Alive, So Make it Count.
What and When is the Equinox?The Equinox happens every year in March and September (for one day around the 19th - 23rd) - check the exact date each year.
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The earth cycles around the sun, and so the equinox represents the exact moment in this annual cycle where it crosses the equator and our day and night is of equal length.
There is both the autumn and spring equinox, depending of whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere at the time of each one, in March and September.
Spring Equinox signifies that days are getting longer (after the darkness of winter), while Autumn Equinox represents the days getting shorter (as we prepare for winter ahead).
There is both the autumn and spring equinox, depending of whether you are in the northern or southern hemisphere at the time of each one, in March and September.
Spring Equinox signifies that days are getting longer (after the darkness of winter), while Autumn Equinox represents the days getting shorter (as we prepare for winter ahead).
Equinox Energy & Spiritual Significance
This cycle of the earth around the sun spiritually symbolises light and darkness, life and death. So with the summer solstice we have the beginnings of new creation, and with the winter solstice the endings and death (metaphorical, of course, but also related to nature's cycle.
This whole cycle of the seasons also brings into mind the sense of life as being continual and never-ending, the eternal notion of rebirth (reincarnation). There is deep spiritual metaphor and resonance. Read about Solstice energy and spiritual meaning here.
The astronomical event of the bi-annual equinox has been celebrated for eons of time. Ancient cultures were very in touch with these cycles and made very accurate circular calendars to record it. They even built sacred structures that aligned with these sun cycles.
Let's look at the spiritual meaning of both the Spiring and Autumn Equinox:
This whole cycle of the seasons also brings into mind the sense of life as being continual and never-ending, the eternal notion of rebirth (reincarnation). There is deep spiritual metaphor and resonance. Read about Solstice energy and spiritual meaning here.
The astronomical event of the bi-annual equinox has been celebrated for eons of time. Ancient cultures were very in touch with these cycles and made very accurate circular calendars to record it. They even built sacred structures that aligned with these sun cycles.
Let's look at the spiritual meaning of both the Spiring and Autumn Equinox:
The Spring Equinox
The significance for Spring, is that daylight starts to increase, so the earth is about to tip over to more LIGHT, like an illuminating, sublime reminder that light is returning and always does, to earth.
Therefore, the Spring equinox represents new light and life, new beginnings, seeds and paths.
In fact the spring equinox used to be considered the new year in many parts of Europe until the middle of the 18th century. There was also a connection to Eostre, the Goddess of Dawn / East.
Easter as a holiday also has that sense of fertility, with the depiction often of hares and eggs as a symbol of birth and fertility, new life, babies, creation and so on (hence Easter eggs) .
Therefore, the Spring equinox represents new light and life, new beginnings, seeds and paths.
In fact the spring equinox used to be considered the new year in many parts of Europe until the middle of the 18th century. There was also a connection to Eostre, the Goddess of Dawn / East.
Easter as a holiday also has that sense of fertility, with the depiction often of hares and eggs as a symbol of birth and fertility, new life, babies, creation and so on (hence Easter eggs) .
Equinox is a time of renewal, new beginnings of life and growth blooming gloriously and ushering in a renewed sense of energy brought in to help you focus and move forward in new, fresh, positive ways.
In ancient times rituals were performed at the moment of alignment and people would cleanse old energy out as well as in their homes, temples etc. Interestingly, this is where our tradition / habit of ‘spring cleaning’ came from!
So you see how reclaiming the sacred ways and mindset past brings us closer to both the Great Spirit as well as a closer truth.
Just as the length of day and night is equal, this time represents our own need for balance of the yin/yang and male/female energies. Balanced equilibrium as the ideal state for our lives.
In ancient times rituals were performed at the moment of alignment and people would cleanse old energy out as well as in their homes, temples etc. Interestingly, this is where our tradition / habit of ‘spring cleaning’ came from!
So you see how reclaiming the sacred ways and mindset past brings us closer to both the Great Spirit as well as a closer truth.
Just as the length of day and night is equal, this time represents our own need for balance of the yin/yang and male/female energies. Balanced equilibrium as the ideal state for our lives.
The Autumn Equinox
The Autumn Equinox is when we now head into Autumn, preparing for the long period of darkness that winter brings, when nights get longer than the days, due to the symbolically diminishing sun. Autumn also is a time of harvest (after summer fruits) where we are guided to be grateful for the seeds that have already sewn. This is about us facing our own darkness, as we head towards the death (endings, blankness, spirituality) represented by winter. So this is the perfectly manifested time to take a look at our own inner darkness hiding within us, the shadows. It is a symbolic period of journeying. It is a time of inner reflection and preparation (before the colder months arrive). It's about inner work, going within and taking stock and inventory of our lives. Honour your journey thus far as you reflect, rebalance and recalibrate. |
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"Whichever Equinox you are experiencing, set your intention to shift with the shift in powerful, sacred ways. Feel the inner wise woman or man rise from within you and claim its name, place and space. Now is the rising. Embrace the change." - Natalia Kuna
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