Greetings, dear Sunny Optimists,
This year, our Autumn Equinox in Scotland is on Saturday, September 23rd, at 7:49 in the morning.
As you know, at this time, the day and night are of equal length; they are in balance. I wondered how this happens every six months. I found out today it is because the Earth's axis tilts at an angle of 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. As a result, on the Equinox, this tilt is perpendicular to the Sun's rays. Woo Hoo!
In the back of my mind, I knew that this tilt created the seasons. However, today, I now understand that on the Equinox, the Sun's rays shine directly on the Equator. Thus, both hemispheres receive the same amount of sunlight. I love it when I learn more :)
As you can see in the beautiful image above, this is Sacred Geometry in action. It reminds us of the celestial dance between the Sun and Earth and of the steadfast nature of their relationship. It is a metaphor for the steady timing and flow of the cycles in our lives, too. Just delightful.
Honouring this Time of Turning
The Equinox heralds a time of transition that carries subtle signals of changes to come. Light and temperature shift, birds congregate as they get ready to migrate, the trees begin to change colour, and the leaves start to fall to the ground. There is a beautiful sense of anticipation in the air. Perhaps also a little bit of regret that summer is over.
The autumn equinox is a time of celebration for many cultures around the world. In Scotland, this is honoured in the Celtic festival of Mabon. The image below captures the Celtic Wheel of the Year. It details the eight ancient celebrations held throughout the annual seasonal cycle. The Autumn Equinox signals the move from the growing time of summer to harvesting the bounty that will sustain us in winter.Â

My spirits lift as I contemplate the image above. I can feel my optimism rising. There is a predictability to the seasons that is so reassuring. Amid all the uncertainty around us, Mother Earth knows what she is doing. She is not deflected or distracted by what is happening. She rises above it all and settles into her natural rhythms and flow. I appreciate how this encourages us to rise above our concerns and relax into the natural flow of our lives.
Exploration for this Week.
Here are some ideas for celebrating your Autumn Equinox:
Go for a walk in the woods or countryside and enjoy the beautiful autumn imagery,
Gather autumn foliage and decorate your home with it; involve the children:)
Have a fire or barbecue and spend time with friends and family,
Bake a harvest pie or cake using seasonal produce,
Visit a local farm or farmer’s market,
Learn more about autumn traditions like the Celtic Mabon.
No matter how you choose to celebrate, the Autumn Equinox is a lovely time to appreciate and connect with the beauty of nature.
As always, I would love to hear your thoughts on honouring this time of year.Â
Ann
A Wee Addendum
I thought I would share the September guided visualisation from the Dorothea Breitzter-King book Meditation Through the Year. It is called Autumn Equinox: Time of Abundance. I love the beauty and simplicity of Dorothea's words. She invites us to connect with nature's beauty and to look at the bounty surrounding us. She also reminds us of the benevolence of Mother Earth who gives without expecting anything in return. There is great love for us in the natural world if we stop, rest, and renew our innate connection with her.Â

Please click here or on the photo above to listen. I thank my dear friend Tim Uffindell for the music accompanying this guided visualisation. Enjoy!
Thank you for bringing this time of transition alive. Here in Scotland we are certainly feeling the shift from summer to autumn. Thankfully we are gifted with a climate which in the main does not manifest the extremes. I am heading north tomorrow to the Highland region knowing that when we get north of Perth we will experience the autumnal colours, not quite on the scale of New England but very special all the same. Thank You Ann for the Reminders and the Memories
Mmmmm! Thank you Anne.