A Gentle Pause: Marking the Autumn Equinox
From the Old French word, equinoxe, and the Latin, aequinoctium, comes our familiar word, equinox, equal night. On the day of the equinox, whether it be in spring or autumn, day and night throughout the world are roughly equal. The sun appears to rise directly in the east, and set directly in the west. The actual moment of the equinox is that at which the sun appears directly above the equator, neither to the north, nor to the south.
The autumn equinox, much like the spring equinox, offers a gentle moment of balance, but more than that, a natural point in the year which invites us to slow down and reflect. As summer fades further into the background, autumn begins to take hold, that once again, the seasons gently shift, and with them, us, our bodies, minds and souls. Whilst there are many ritualistic celebrations associated with the autumn equinox, not least, the neopagan festival of Mabon, this moment in time, and the days which follow invite us to find our own gentle ways to notice and mark this shift in time.
What the Equinox Represents
At the autumn equinox, we find ourselves standing at a seasonal threshold. As we gently close the door on summer, we peep behind the gateway which leads to autumn. Autumn rarely arrives in a blaze of glory, but rather, a gentle, shifting pattern in which we notice the tiny things which, when combined, herald its arrival.
At the moment of the equinox, when light and dark find themselves in equal balance, we look back in grateful appreciation of the season past, and look ahead with hopeful expectation for all the seasons to come will bring. At the autumn equinox, we leave behind the long days of summer, acutely aware of the darker days which will soon be here. At midsummer, I explored some gentle practices with which we could embrace that gentle shift which brought with it the inevitable fading of summer. Three months on, we stand once again at the threshold. Nature is full of reminders that at the autumn equinox, we are encouraged to seek balance: leaves begin to gently descend, birds fly to far off lands, and seedheads begin to form.
In this post, I’d love you to join me on a journey to embrace the autumn equinox, not as a time of impending darkness, but one of hope, expectation and continuity. As much as we might lament summer’s departure, we put our hope in spring’s arrival.
Gentle Practices to Mark the Equinox
Take a seasonal walk
Clementine and I walk almost every evening, come rain or shine…well, almost. It’s such a beautiful, grounding way to gently observe the changing seasons. One day we might notice a leaf softly fall from a tree, whilst another, suddenly we can kick our way enthusiastically through the multitude of leaves which have blown into welcoming piles. All the tiny things we notice, maybe even half notice, soon come together. At the autumn equinox, spend time outside, and notice those, often tiny changes, which remind us that as in our own lives, nature finds her own way to balance.
Cook a harvest meal
As I wrote in this journal entry a few months ago, cooking and eating seasonally has been an important part of my journey towards seeking a slower and simpler life. Whilst in theory, we can adorn our tables with multicoloured produce flown in from all corners of the globe at any time of year, there is something deeply rooted about enjoying those things, local to our own time and place, which are harvested and enjoyed at this time of year.
Our ancestors almost certainly celebrated with harvest festivals, and whilst this might seem outdated now, as we edge ever further into autumn, we too can celebrate by enjoying all those delicious fruits and vegetables which remind us so much of this season - apples, pears, squashes, pumpkins and root vegetables. It doesn’t need to be big and fancy, but perhaps at the autumn equinox more than at any other time, we find nourishment in the most humble and wholesome soups and crumbles.
Light a candle at dusk
None of us can change the fact that from the time of the autumn equinox, the days will inevitably become shorter. Perhaps you, like us, have already noticed the darkness of evening descends just a little earlier each day, calling us to slow down, and to store up our energy for the weeks and months to come. We, of course, have electric light ‘on tap’ 24/7, 365 days of the year, but there is still something special about natural light from fires and candles. For those who have a real fire, a woodburner or a stove, I know how much you look forward to lighting your first fire of the season. For those of us without, we can still enjoy that moment by lighting candles. Lighting a candle each evening acknowledges the balance of light and dark, and helps us to welcome the darker evenings with warmth and comfort.
Reflect in a journal
I know how many of you enjoy journaling as part of your own quest in seeking a slower and simpler way of life. Whether you write and reflect in a notebook, or create beautiful nature journals full of gorgeous finds from the woods, they are a lovely way to mark the passing of time, as one season gives way generously to the next. Perhaps you might also consider starting a commonplace book to record the seasonal thoughts, ideas and reflections of others. I recently reviewed Miranda Mills’ The Country Commonplace Book which is not only a stunningly beautiful book to treasure in itself, but also an endless source of inspiration for your own journals. At the autumn equinox, we might reflect especially on those things we have harvested in our own lives this year. Perhaps at this seasonal threshold, it’s the perfect moment to ask ourselves: what can we let go of?
Bring autumn indoors
It’s a bit of a cliche really, but we can celebrate the gentle rhythms of the changing seasons by bringing something of the outside in. Whether it’s a wreath made of beautiful autumn leaves, or a bowl of mahogany-coloured conkers, the colours of autumn especially, seem to invite a sense of warmth and reflection. This isn’t about creating a display or nature table, but about noticing those tiny things when you’re out and about which you might treasure as a reminder of the changing season. Many of these will endure beyond midwinter, a lovely reminder that we cherish things in the hope of their return.
Why Pausing Matters
In a fast-paced world, these seasonal pauses offer us a beautiful, and often much-needed reminder that we’re part of something greater, of nature’s rhythms and the seasonal shifts which offer us a sense of grounding and continuity. The autumn equinox offers an opportunity to reset with gentle intention, as we seek balance in a busy world. In many respects, these gentle shifts in time are merely waypoints on the journey, that in their passing, we might acknowledge them with grateful acceptance. The autumn equinox demands no great celebration, yet small actions, and tiny moments can offer us a deeper sense of connection.
Autumn isn’t about rushing into busyness, but about settling into a gentle rhythm, one of balance and simplicity.
How will you choose to pause and mark this soft, seasonal shift?
How will you be embracing this gentle, seasonal shift? I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.
If this Journal entry resonated with you, I’d love to invite you to join our Rediscover · Reconnect · Re-Emerge community for weekly reflections and more inspiration.
