How About Two Personal New Years!

 On an unusually cool September day in Alabama, while in a drab mood, I was on my way back from walking my dogs when I looked across my yard, thinking about how the plants and atmosphere had changed. Just then, a crisp breeze signaled the arrival of fall. In that quiet moment, I pondered autumn routines without realizing I was sensing the equinox. Thinking to myself, I love the feel of fall. But then I think, 'Nah, this has to be Alabama’s false fall.' Oh well, I still love it and wish every day felt that way.

🌏This realization prompted deeper reflection. Although I had often heard of the fall equinox, I had never fully understood it. When I read about the equinox on the 22nd this year, my curiosity was sparked—I wanted to learn what it is, how it shapes the seasons, and how it might affect us. I began researching on my laptop, using Microsoft and Google, taking notes as I went. I was surprised to read the suggestion that we treat the equinox like a personal New Year. Keeping things simple, write down goals, affirmations, or habits you want to apply to your life. If you think about it, that allows you to reset twice a year.

🔎Through my research, I learned that an equinox is a cosmic reset for Earth’s seasons, occurring twice a year when day and night are equal—around March 20 and September 22 in the Northern Hemisphere. ("Autumnal Equinox", 2025) It marks the start of spring in the Southern Hemisphere. ("Autumnal Equinox | Definition, Dates, & Facts", 2025) During an equinox, the sun sits over the equator, balancing day and night. (Clark, 2024) Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt, like a tilted lamp, causes this shift. ("The Effect of the Earth's Tilt on the Occurrence of Equinoxes", n.d.)

📆This led me to another interesting point: when the equinox actually begins depends on whom you ask. I learned that equinox timing varies: meteorologists mark it on March 20, while astronomers note it on March 21 at 2:19 Eastern Standard Time. ("Embracing the Equinox", 2025) This illustrates the various ways the autumn equinox is defined, depending on the purpose—whether for forecasting or celestial tracking.

🪞Reflecting on all of this, I realized that equinoxes can provide a mental and emotional reset. As daylight and darkness balance, it’s an ideal time to embrace change. Journaling through this period—writing what to release and welcome until Spring—can help you find balance. Ritual suggestions include lighting candles and incense, as well as reciting a mantra to help you relax and unwind. Reconnecting socially can be achieved by going for a walk in the park and greeting others as you pass.

 Additionally, clearing your space through spring or fall cleaning, such as organizing your seasonal attire, can also be beneficial. Decluttering your space declutters your mind. Begin with something simple, such as updating your makeup collection for the new season or decluttering it. 

AWH 9/10/2025

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* Resources:

Autumnal Equinox. (2025). Encyclopaedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/science/autumnal-equinox

Autumnal Equinox | Definition, Dates, & Facts. (2025). www.britannica.com/science/autumnal-equinox. https://www.britannica.com/science/autumnal-equinox

Clark, Stuart (2024). Starwatch: Night and day reach the same length after the autumnal equinox. Unknown Journal.

The Effect of the Earth's Tilt on the Occurrence of Equinoxes. (n.d.). equinoxworld.org. https://equinoxworld.org/the-effect-of-the-earths-tilt-on-the-occurrence-of-equinoxes/

Embracing the Equinox. (2025). NASA Science. https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/night-sky-network/embracing-the-equinox/