Great Balancing!
This is the page of the Equinox. These lyrics were written years ago when my daughters were studying the seasons at our Home School. You might recognize the melody, that classic tune by John Coltrane.
Day equals night
Night equals day
The World turns with a tilt
Spring or Fall it’s the Equinox.
Night equals day
Day equals night
The Sphinx’s gaze is truly East
When there’s no shadow it’s the Equinox.
The Spring point moves
Opposite the Sun
Aquarius has just begun.
It’s the Precession of the Equinox.
Spring or Fall it’s the Equinox
When there’s no shadow it’s the Equinox.
It’s the Precession of the Equinox!
Tonight (Saturday September 22, 2012), the Equinox Quarter Moon is soooo lovely: perfectly symbolizing the Balamce of Lightness and Darkness….
WHAT IS THE EQUINOX?????
Oh, you mean Maat? Balance, Truth, Order, Harmony, Justice, Reciprocity, and Righteousness
John Coltrane was born on September 23, 1926 in Hamlet, North Carolina. As a child he played clarinet as well as alto saxophone. During his early years he played orchestral and march music rather than jazz. In 1943 he moved to Philadelphia and was in a Navy Band by 1945. He recorded and privately issued four songs in 1946. He began his jazz career with King Kolax but left in 1947 to play with Eddie “Cleanhead Vinson.” His first big gig was with Dizzy Gillespie’s Big Band in 1949. They broke up in 1950 but for the next year he worked with Gillespie’s quintet before returning to Philadelphia…..
The equinoxes. As the sun progresses eastward along the ecliptic, it crosses the celestial equator moving northward at the vernal equinox (spring [nothern hemisphere]) and again six months later moving southward at the autumnal equinox (fall[nothern hemisphere]). By definition, the right ascension – declination of the vernal equinox is (0h, 0º).
– Zeilik, M. & E. v. P. Smith. (1987). Introductory Astronomy & Astrophysics.
Saunders College Publishing, PA, US. p. 483
Everything You Need to Know about the Equinox of 2012
“The Sun is at its lowest path in the sky on the Winter Solstice. After that day the Sun follows a higher and higher path through the sky each day until it is in the sky for exactly 12 hours. On the Spring Equinox the Sun rises exactly in the east travels through the sky for 12 hours and sets exactly in the west. On the Equinox this is the motion of the Sun through the sky for everyone on earth. Every place on earth experiences a 12 hours day twice a year on the Spring and Fall Equinox.
After the Spring Equinox, the Sun still continues to follow a higher and higher path through the sky, with the days growing longer and longer, until it reaches it highest point in the sky on the Summer Solstice.” From solar physics
Autumn Equinox News
And while the Sun is lying directly above the Equator today, it has risen at the South Pole for the first time in six months!
LEAVES CHANGE COLOR
The official start of fall is the autumnal equinox, which occurs on September 23, 2007 at 5:51 am EST. This is when the sun crosses the celestial equator, making day and night essentially the same length.
When leaves appear green, it is because they contain an abundance of chlorophyll. There is so much chlorophyll in an active leaf that the green masks other pigment colors. Light regulates chlorophyll production, so as autumn days grow shorter, less chlorophyll is produced. The decomposition rate of chlorophyll remains constant, so the green color starts to fade from leaves. At the same time, surging sugar concentrations cause increased production of anthocyanin pigments.
Temperature affects the rate of chemical reactions, including those in leaves, so it plays a part in leaf color. However, it’s mainly light levels that are responsible for fall foliage colors. Sunny autumn days are needed for the brightest color displays, since anthocyanins require light. Overcast days will lead to more yellows and browns.
from topix.com: why leaves change color in the fall
more here…
fall leaf color: chemistry.about.com
North
Mabon Autumnal Equinox / Mabon
The beginning of the autumn season officially commences in September with the Autumn Equinox. As the sun enters the astrological sign of Libra, the hours of dayand darkness are equal to one another, just like the balanced scales of Libra itself. From this point of the year, with each passing day, the daylight hours become noticeably shorter and the weather starts to cool. Autumn is a season of shadows and a time of wanlight, but it is also a season of abundance, thanksgiving, and harvest.
Ancient people realized the importance of the sun to life on earth. In the time after the equinox, the sun appears to be growing weaker, losing its battle against the darkness. To help the sun regain its former strength, people held harvest festivals of light featuring torches and bonfires as an act of sympathetic magick to encourage the sun to return.
Autumn has always been our colorful season of reward. As the sun began to decline and its yearly job was finished, the people gratefully gathered in the field crops. The grains from the fields, the fruit from the orchards, and the vegetables from the garden were harto be safely stored away for winter. Everyone in the community was involved in the harvest, as folks needed to make sure they could gather in their crops before they spoiled or were ruined by inclement weather.
At the end of the harvesting, the people were worn-out but happy and looked forward to a celebration. No matter where on earth the harvest is celebrated, from mid-August throughout the month of September, there is a basic and profound magick in the hearts of all people as they gather around with friends and family to feast and to celebrate the abundance of the earth.
Autumn Equinox or Mabon?
A Harvest Festival No Matter How You Look At It
The word equinox actually comes from the Latin word aequinoctium, which means “equal night.” September, the seventh month of the Roman calendar, is taken from the Latin word “seven,” septem. In Gaelic the month is identified as An Sultuine, the month of plenty. In Welsh it’s called Medi, the month of reaping. The Anglo-Saxons called this month Gerst moanth, the barley month. Barley was thought to be the first grain grown in Britain.
The majority of magickal traditions do celebrate this second harvest festival of the year as one of the fruits and the late grains. All around us signs are everywhere in nature, hintof the shortening days and cooler nights to come. The leaves are beginning to turn and the birds are beginning to migrate south. Apples and many varieties of squash are ripe and ready to be harvested, and the grapes that were harvested just a few weeks before, in late August-early September, begin to be processed into wine.
Various Harvest Goddess Mythologies
Throughout the world, in many mythologies, a goddess of the grain, the harvest, and the good earth was venerated at the Autumn Equinox. This is not surprising, as the Earth itself is seen as a fertile mother, or Gaia. From this matriarch all life was born. She is a great mother goddess who was known by many names throughout time and in numerous cultures. Some of these names include Astarte and Ishtar (to the Sumerians), Isis in Egypt, Demeter in Greece, and Ceres in Rome. To the indigenous people of the Americas she was known as Old Woman Who Never Dies and the Mother of Maize.
The harvest mother, Demeter, was a Greek goddess of grain and the fertile earth. Her characteristic of being the “spirit of the grain” is well-known in many cultures as Mother Earth’s child. This child was represented by the seeds that fell from the mother plant, which would then be planted for the following year. Demeter would be visualized as the ripe crop of this year while her daughter, Persephone, would be the seed taken from it to be sown the following spring.
The spirit of these future crops could be seen as a daughter, a maiden (such as Perseor as a divine child. In Russia the child was simply called the Corn Baby. In Egypt the spirit of the grain was the goddess’s son, Horus. The Aztecs called the harvest goddess Chicomecoatl, while a goddess named Xilonen was Goddess of the New Corn. Her son was symbolized by the seeds and called the Spirit of the Corn. The Cherokees called the harvest child the Green Corn Girl.
N
ow is the time to prepare for the darker half of the year. A good time to finish our projects before Winter arrives. It is the half time where night and days are equal. Time for balance! Preparation time of new direction.
Blessed be this season of Mabon, time of the second harvest, the harvest of fruit and wine.
Tonight all things are in balance: Goddess and God, Life and Death, Light and Dark.
Tonight the darkness will conquer the light, leading us deeper into the waning year. [
Blessed Mabon
East
i
n Japan, September 23 is a national holiday, marked as Autumnal Equinox Day or Shubun-no-hi. Today the Japanese not just mark the changing of seasons, but also pay their respects to their ancestors.
SHUBUN NO HI/ HIGAN NO CHU-NICHI
The Japanese have traditionally called the period around the autumnal and vernal (springtime) equinoxes higan. Higan lasts for seven days – beginning three days prior to the equinox and ending three days after it. It occurs twice a year, once when the blustery winter temperatures give way to spring and again when the heat subsides and the cool, crisp air of autumn arrives.
The Japanese have a saying “Atsusa samusa mo Higan made” (“Heat and cold last until Higan”)
Higan has Buddhist origins. It means the “other side of the river of death.” This side of the river is the world where we live, and the other side is the realm where the souls of those who have passed away dwell. To pray for the repose of deceased ancestors, visits are made to the family grave.
Kati Bihu / Kangali Bihu
Tulsi PujaKati Bihu is also called Kangali Bihu (Poor Bihu). It is held on the last day of Aswin coinciding with the autumnal equinox. The Kati Bihu marks the completion of sowing and transplanting of paddies. At this time, paddy seedlings begin to grow. There is not much to eat at this time of the year. Accordingly the day is named Kahttp://www.indianetzone.com/1/bihu.htmngali Bihu. In the evenings, offerings are made to the `Tulsi` (Basil) plant in the courtyard. Little earthen lamps (`Diyas`) are lighted at the base of the Tulsi plant, for a whole month. Puja`s are offered to God for improved yield of crops.
The significance of this Bihu is more in the villages, where farmers go to their respective fields and light “Akash-Banti” or `sky-lamp` hanging from a tall bamboo, to ward off pests and other insects. Although, Bihu is observed in all parts of Assam, in Goalpara and Kamrup districts of lower Assam and in Darrang district of centt is also called Domahi here), it is not attended with dancing as in upper Assam.
The Kati or Kangali bihu is known as ‘poor’ bihu and held in the month coinciding with the autumnal equinox. The main function associated with this bihu is the worship of the sacred tulsi (basil) plant at the root of which earthen oil lamps are placed. For a whole month lamps are lighted at the foot of the tulsi plant. People pray for a better harvest for the coming year.
http://www.explorenortheastindia.com/assam.htm
During this time of the year, the paddy in the fields are in the growing stage and the granaries of the farmers are almost empty. Thus it can be also referred as the empty bihu. The people fast during the day and in the evening offer prayers to the Tulsi plant and also in the paddy fields by lighting a diya (earthen lamp), with the hope that there is a good harvest and also to ward off any evil eyes. There is also exchange of sweets and greetings at this time.
http://www.pongalfestival.org/bihu-bohaggiyo-bhishu.html
South
Beginning of the Egyptian Solar or Sidereal Year.
DEIR EL BAHAI CELESTIAL COORDINATES
VERNAL AND AUTUMNAL EQUINOXES 4200 B.C.
Luxor Egypt coordinates. Deir el Bahai not used for star charts.
Hatshepsut’s Temple
The following chart is critical, (Tauret img)
it is the Autumn Equinox Zenith/Galactic Crossing.
This is the location of the earth in 4200 BC,
and is clearly a rebirth at the Gateway of Gods.
Crocodile’s mouth opening. This is the grin in Tauret’s mouth.
Out of the mouth is coming the Uadjet serpent,
with Horus on the wings of the Nekhebet vulture.
This is the boundary between death and rebirth, south and north.
Uadjet’s head is toward the future representing the Eye of Re.
Ophiuchus, who was Re on the Denderah Zodiac, stands on the two
horizons of the Milky Way and the Ecliptic, i.e. Tefnut and Shu.
Autumn Equinox Nadir/Galactic Crossing (chart 1)
The bow of the barque with Canis Major and Sirius (Isis) crossing the nadir. (chart 2)
From these charts, it is fairly clear why the Luxor area was of such great importance.
The foundation of the city of Teotihuacan has nearly identical correspondences.
In Teotihuacan the Pale Prophet was the symbol of most reverence.
The Pale Prophet is Ophiuchus and Re and Abraham and the Father of Jesus.
I rarely hear people speak of Ophiuchus. This was quite a find…
http://www.siloam.net/bahai/bahai.htm
both in Egypt and India, the Festival of Dewali is observed: Festival of Lamps
West
Equinox at Chitzen Itza
“Here’s How It Works:
Fall Equinox Shadows
At the precise time of the spring and fall equinox, the sun casts its rays on the balustrade, in turn highlighting a feathered serpent that seems to be moving or slithering its way down the steps. How the Maya managed to concentrate its energies in building a monument of incomprehensible scale to highlight the time of year when the hours of daylight and darkness are equal is extraordinary.
El Castillo stands as testimony to the Maya’s superiority as builders and mathematicians. The surfaces are massive, detailed, and sharp. The sophisticated Mayan calendar is incorporated in the architecture of this structure. For example, the number of steps on each of the four sides is 91, adding up to 364, which together with the top platform equals the number of days in a year. On the days of spring and fall equinox, the edge of the shadow from the sun, falls exactly on the corner of the pyramid, leaving one side in total sunlight and the other in total shadow. This always provides the shadow on the balustrade which takes on the appearance of slithering snake.
From mexicolesstravelled.com
On September 22 you can witness the incredible accuracy of Mayan astronomy as it was integrated into architecture.
The Mayans planned their lives around the sun; their daily lives centered on the sowing and harvesting of their crops, especially corn. At the fall equinox they harvested the crops while the spring equinox (March 21) was their signal to plant the crops. The Mayan built complex structures using advanced geometry and astronomy to map the cycles of the sun.
http://www.yucatantoday.com/events/eng-fall-equinox.htm
The equinox phenomenon can actually be viewed in Chichen Itza on the El Castillo pyramid for up to four days, so if it is raining or cloudy or you just can’t get there, it is visible from the 20th – 24th. During the equinox the sun casts its rays on the pyramid, forming seven isosceles triangles that resemble the body of a serpent 37 yards long slithering downwards until it joins the huge serpent’s head carved in stone at the bottom of the stairway. It is said this snake is trying to make its way to the Sacred Cenote well of sacrifice which is in a straight line from the pyramid.
At the Mayan site of Dzibilchaltun, September 22 at 5 AM is the official day and exact time of the fall equinox when the sun sends its beams through the two windows of the Temple of the Seven Dolls providing a lovely spectacle of Mayan exactitude.
Dzibilchaltun is located 20 km north of Merida and while it doesn’t have the giant pyramids of Chichen Itza and Uxmal, it does have its own special claims to fame such as its museum of the village, Museo del Pueblo, the refreshing cenote where you can take a swim and the Franciscan chapel that blends in with the ruins.
During the fall equinox, you must get there early if you want to see the Equinox at Dzibilchaltun – it is at 5 AM. In Chichen Itza the equinox is at sunset, so you can actually see both in one day. In Dzibilchaltun, it can only be seen on the exact day – September 22 at sunrise.
21st Coxquihui, Veracruz – Fiesta de San Mateo
Voladores, dances and fireworks.
http://www.glocaltravel.net/events/eventsset.asp
During sunrise and sunset on the Autumn equinox in Mexico (22 September), the Mayan pyramid at Chicen Itza casts a large shadow in the shape of feathered serpent god Kukulkan onto the North staircase, as rays from the sun play upon the edges of the pyramid’s elaborate terraces.
The greatest standing monument of the Mayan civilisation, Chichen Itza also displays the advanced intelligence of the Mayans, who built the Temple of Kukulkan to mark the solstices and equinoxes in a truly unique way that must be seen to be truly appreciated.
Beyond the light and shadow works, the 90 foot high pyramid at Chichen Itza is also a repository of information on one of the most interesting civilizations in South America.
Today, Chichen Itza is a historical site of great importance, and the Mexican pyramid was recently voted by people around the globe as one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.
http://news.opodo.co.uk/articles/2007-08-06/18235530-Autumn-equinox.php
Mike Nelson’s Colorado– Cave Markings Seen Only On Spring, Fall Equinox
Cave Lights Up To Reveal Rare Markings On Spring, Fall Equinox
Deb Stanley, 7NEWS Producer, Avid Hiker and Colorado Junkie
POSTED: 7:46 pm MDT March 20, 2007
UPDATED: 12:01 pm MDT August 8, 2007
The spring Equinox was marked by something unique in far Southeastern Colorado on a foggy March morning.
Markings inside a cave lit up at sunrise for a short time. It is believed the markings were carved into the rock face more than 1,000 years ago. They were discovered in 1976.
There are three panels and they only light up for eight to 12 minutes two days a year — the spring and fall equinoxes.
The cave is in Picture Canyon on the Colorado/Oklahoma border in the Comanche National Grasslands. There is a natural separation in the sandstone that formed a cave known as Crack Cave.
Although it’s a mystery exactly how these markings were placed here, it is certain that these inscriptions, in conjunction with the rays of the sun striking them, precisely mark the equinox.
The cave is locked to prevent vandalism. It is only opened on the equinox in the spring and fall. For more information on when the cave will be open, contact the Springfield office of the Commache National Grassland at 719-523-6591. For more information on Crack Cave, Picture Canyon, and the area, click here.
http://www.thedenverchannel.com/weather/11310993/detail.html
LAKOTA STAR KNOWLEDGE
Fall equinox occurs around September 21. The sunpath is crossing the celestial equator (as it does at both equinoxes), about to enter the constellation Virgo, the Virgin, having left its late summer constellation Leo. Day and night are (as in spring) once more equal in length. From now until winter solstice, days will shorten and nights lengthen.
http://www.kstrom.net/isk/stars/starkno4.html
Ancient and modern sun-in-zodiac. For those curious about the effects of time on the ancient science of astrology, which (thousands of years ago) was also astronomy. As usual, the heavy dashed line represents the plane of the ecliptic.
I have previously shown how the precession of the equinoxes, the 26,000-year cycle through which the earth’s polar axis sweeps a double-cone in the sky, changes the sun’s apparent path through the stars as the earth’s rotational axis changes orientations over long periods of time. The astrological constellations of the zodiac, and their relation to the sun’s path over a year were known more than 2,000 years ago (about the time the Lakota star-determined ceremonial times must have been established). This chart shows the time relationship of the old constellation-positions (which are still used as astrological birth-signs) to the present-day ones. My “sign”(according to those newspaper horoscopes) is Taurus. But in reality, on my birthdate, the sun was just entering the Pleides (not an astrological constellation).
So all those birth-date horoscopes are a month off. If you’re a fan of those little newspaper horoscopes, maybe you should try reading the one given for the month after your birth! But . . . it’s not exactly even months. Because star time differs slightly from sun time, the sun is “fast” for most of April, May, and about half of June; and again most of September, October, November, and most of December; the other months (and parts) it’s slow.
THIS JUST CAME TO MY AWARENESS:
EQUINOX, EQUILUX, AND TWILIGHT
…..Equilux
Because of this effect, the days on which the length of day and night are exactly equal, called the equilux, occur a few days before the spring equinox and a few days after the autumn equinox. This date will vary depending on where on Earth you are, and indeed equiluxes do not occur at all close to the equator, whereas the equinox is a fixed instant in time.
Twilight
But the story doesn’t end there. Even on the days of equilux, the sky will have been bright for some time before the first rays of the Sun hit you, and will remain bright for some time after the last rays disappear from view. This time of day is called twilight, starting at dawn and ending at dusk.
AHO! AXE!
Light Being Wellness Center 