Autumn Equinox

“Autumn” comes from the Latin “autumnus,” meaning “the passing of the year.”

Each year, as the earth completes its annual journey around the sun, the balance between night and day shifts.

It is the time of the Autumn Equinox, a time for taking a few moments to honour the changing seasons and celebrate the Second Harvest. The first - Lughnasadh - is of grain, and Samhain, the Third, is of nuts.

We enjoy beautiful sunny days which will bring bright memories in the dark of winter.

The weather is noticeably getting colder and although not severe it is a firm reminder to prepare, that winter is on its way.

In 2016 half of the celebration was before sunset while the other half played out in the darkness after sunset. And the elements conspired to acknowledge the time as well:

As we ceremoniously shared the harvest and shared Open Heart contributions from each person present, the first hour had passed, the hour before sunset and the last light of the day. For his contribution, John got us to scan the skies for 360°. Everywhere on the horizon there were clouds visible but above us, above Tara, there was a beautiful clear blue sky.

For the last part of this active hour we started drumming... Drumming the sun down. Many thanks to those present who drummed - it really added to the occasion. The rest of us stood silently, watching and reflecting. The fact that we were watching a massive cloud in the distance behind which was the sun was neither here nor there.

While we harvest and store for the coming winter there is also the seasonal food celebration after the toil of the harvest, known as the Churn.

A Harvest Meal (the churn) in Toome, Co Antrim. early 1900s. Northern Ireland Historical Photographical Society comment:

Notice the "Calacht" over the table. The Calacht was the last sheaf of wheat standing in the field and was ritually cut by the harvesters and hung over the table to celebrate the gathering of the harvest.

Calacht in Irish signifies a witch, old woman or hag who is considered responsible for all the misfortunes the peasantry suffered, she was represented by the upstanding sheaf in the field. In former times it was customary for the reaper to cut the sheaf and bear it in triumph to the farmers wife telling her he has cut down the old witch who has caused her any ill- luck she has suffered and henceforth there is nothing but good luck for her and her household. The Calacht was then hung from the ceiling over the table.

Northern Ireland Historical Photographical Society Facebook page link

"When the moon is new potatoes are taken out of the ground in Autumn." Duchas.ie - Lore of the Moon - Limerick

The Autumn sun ripens the corn & turns it from green to gold. Every hedgerow in the vicinity takes on a dark colour as the blackberries slowly ripen. The rattle of the reaper may be heard from dawn to dusk in the corn fields. The squirrel gather nuts for his Winter store & the bees have stored away as much honey as will put them over the winter. The farmers bring all the crops to the garden & prepare for the long Winter. Towards the end of Autumn the leaves of the trees turn brown, gold, dark red & copper & every gust of wind carries a handful away. Duchas.ie - The Year Round - Mayo

Autumnal Feast A chattering bird sings in the wild thistle bed, seeking seeds in each white, downy head. Strong beaked and bright eyed, this little bird, that across the red fuschias I've often heard, enjoys a feast, as it pulls and heaves, at the spiky plants with razor sharp leaves. Harvesting the bounty of autumnal earth, filling its belly, swelling its girth, laying down stores for winter's dearth.

The underlying energy is one of balance; retreating within and building resources, planning ahead and thanks for what has been, actively harvesting in the outer world whilst slowing down to dream a new world on the inner. Balance as understood in Equinox Ceremonies

Consider the spirit level - the fluids are level and all is calm. The air bubble can move freely and floats at the centre.

2021 - Labyrinth

"I am the source and destination of all directions" That triggered the thought stream of..... I am north meets south, east meets west, up meets down, inner meets outer, spirit meets matter. 2022 - Fulfilled Mission - Global Spiritual Wheel

In 2018 Bernadette Mac led a gathering at the Labyrinth at An Tobar, Ardbraccan... She reported:

What a funny thing happened at the Ceremony! I asked them all to bring the rays of the evening sun as a grounding - to see the rays come over their body, down the top of the head, all around and down to the souls/soles of their feet - feel mother earth grounding you. You will not believe what happened! Tara Mines let off dynamite just as I said 'feel the earth beneath your feet'. Well, talk about laughing. So you could say the Autumn Equinox went off with a bang.

Visualisation Meditation for Equinox

Feel a soft breeze on your cheek, hear the rustle of the breeze, see the light clouds overhead moved by the breeze, smell the air as your breathe.

Be aware that you are standing at the centre, next to the stone, the horizon all around you as if it is the rim of a wheel. full meditation here - Balance - Loughcrew