What Is the Meaning of the Autumn Equinox

Unless you’re really interested in astronomy or in the changing of seasons, you might not know the exact definition of the fall equinox. If you’re not super familiar with astrology, you also might not be aware of how exactly the beginning of the fall season can affect your emotions and your spirit. Here’s a helpful breakdown of everything you need to know to help you prepare for the fall equinox this year.

What is the fall equinox?
The word equinox comes from two Latin words meaning equal and night. An equinox is the point at which the sun is directly above the earth’s equator and day and night are equal lengths all around the world (12 hours of each). This happens twice a year, and the fall one is also known as the autumnal equinox or the September equinox. This occurrence also marks the time when days get shorter and nights get longer.
In 2020, Tuesday, September 22 is the official date of the equinox and is the start of the fall season for everyone living in the Northern Hemisphere. Only 10–12% of the world’s population lives in the Southern Hemisphere – their seasons are flipped, so September actually marks the beginning of spring for them.

When is the fall equinox?
There are differences in the calendar year every year, but the fall equinox typically can occur any day between September 21–24. It lasts for one day or 12 hours.

What happens on the fall equinox around the world?
There are celebrations all around the globe on this day every year, and those celebrations date all the way back to several centuries ago. Ancient civilizations didn’t have clocks but used the sun’s position to give them information about their environment. Archaeologists believe that some prehistoric sites (such as Stonehenge and Newgrange in the United Kingdom) were used to track the position of the sun and help predict when equinoxes would occur each year.
In ancient Greek culture, the fall equinox was marked with festivities to honor the return of Persephone to the underworld, where she was reunited with Hades. The Chinese culture still celebrates with the Harvest Moon Festival that dates back centuries to the Shang dynasty; people spend time with their friends and family, eat mooncakes, and watch the moon to commemorate the holiday. Japanese Buddhists celebrate Higan, where they pay their respects to their ancestors.
Festivals for the fall equinox also play a big part in Great Britain. They’ve honored the day since pagan times, and early English settlers brought the festival with them to the US (and ended up partly inspiring our current Thanksgiving traditions). For modern pagans, the fall equinox is called Mabon and is still celebrated to honor the natural gifts of the earth. Many other countries, including Iran, Korea, and others, commemorate the autumnal equinox with their own unique traditions.

How can the fall equinox affect you spiritually?
If you’re wondering what happens during the fall equinox to your spirit, there are some changes you can look out for. For the most part, you’ll probably experience more balance and harmony in your life because the fall equinox marks when the sun enters Libra – so some inner peace might be on the cards for you.
The autumnal equinox also marks a time of great change, which can leave you feeling more excited than usual. It’s an ideal time to embrace the present and savor what’s going well in your life. There’s also a chance that you'll feel more of a desire for romantic relationships or close partnerships; you might notice yourself becoming a little more flirtatious than usual. If you’re already in a relationship, you might feel the bond between the two of you becoming stronger.
Along with a possible love connection, it’s often easier for people to see the beauty in any given situation during this time of year (partly because of the gorgeous fall colors). This means it’s the perfect time to devote more of your finances to luxury, like a new car or some new clothes. Paying more attention to the beauty in the world allows you to feel even more content. Everyone can use a more positive outlook on life, right? And while you’re feeling more hopeful, it’s a good time to reconnect with yourself as you begin a more hibernation-like season (and don’t forget to take comfort in the coziness that becomes more present during autumn.)
You can use the fall equinox as a time to celebrate the wonders of nature, and as an opportunity to spend time reflecting on your own emotional experience to see how the change in season might be affecting you. If you’re not sure what changes to anticipate during the switch to a new season, contact a psychic so that they can offer you guidance on how to have the best fall season ever.

You also have the option of getting a reading from an astrologist, who can help you understand how your zodiac sign might be affected by the autumnal equinox. No matter what type of psychic you consult, you’re sure to get a clearer picture of how to rock the rest of the year!