Ahh, the beautiful Autumn colors of the Pacific Northwest. My favorite season is the transition between summer and winter and it’s when my daughters call me Humpty Dumpty.
September 22, 2022 marks the end of astronomical summer and the beginning of astronomical autumn (autumnal equinox) in the Northern Hemisphere, while marking the end of astronomical winter and the start of astronomical spring (vernal equinox) in the Southern Hemisphere.
The word equinox is Latin and means “equal night.” Thus, on each equinox, the sun passes over the equator, and the length of day and night are more or less the same. It’s a theme of balance and restoring equality. According to the Cosmos, on the day of the Autumnal Equinox, the sun enters the constellation of Libra – the constellation of balance.
The full moon that falls closest to the Autumnal Equinox is sometimes called the Harvest Moon and is celebrated in many cultures with a Fall Harvest Festival to honor their abundance. Ancient Chinese celebrated the successful harvest of rice and wheat and made offerings to the moon.
Also, magically, the Autumnal Equinox signals peak viewing of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights. The celestial display of brilliantly colored lights happens when charged particles from the sun strike atoms in Earth’s atmosphere, causing them to light up and put on the Heavenly display.
Oh, and why did my kids call me Humpty Dumpty? When asked, they simply replied, ”silly, it’s because you both will have a great fall.”