The autumn equinox is asking you to find balance as we move into the dark

Happy fall to one and all! Today marks the official beginning of the season, and our bodies are ready. Grab your sweaters, grab your Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and grab your favorite scarf because it’s about to get real. Today is the autumn equinox, a day that ushers in balance as we continue to move through the waning season of the year. This means that it’s really, truly, and officially the dark season.

As we continue on through until the winter solstice in December, the nights will continue to get longer, and the days shorter. Today’s equinox is an invitation into our own darkness by way of our light.

A day of balance and abundance.

On the equinox, day and night are equal length. Today is the midpoint between the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and the winter solstice, the longest night of the year. The equinox is an invitation for us to find stillness and balance in our internal world. As the nights continue to grow, our own energetic system follows. Naturally, during this time of year, we turn in; we feel less of a pull to go out and show up. Instead, we feel all the effects of cuffing season in full swing — we want stillness, to snuggle up with a loved one and a book, and to go inward, whether that’s through meditation, magick, reading, art, or something else entirely.

The equinox also marks the midpoint in the harvest; it asks us what we have left to sow. What is it that we’ve been waiting to harvest or manifest? We must go there before the darkness takes over.

On the flip side, today is also a time to recognize the gifts we’ve been given. It’s a reminder to see what we’ve manifested since the beginning of summer. It’s a time to say thank you, to be grateful, to honor our own hard work alongside the gifts we’ve received. Abundance is a mindset, and today we have the opportunity to create that for ourselves

And the veil still thins…

The veil between this world and the next is thin. When there’s such a stillness, like at an equinox, the door opens a little bit more. And the veil will continue to get thinner as we approach Halloween, the day when the veil is actually the thinnest. This is a time of heightened psychic awareness, so take notes of any random thoughts, feelings, or downloads that are happening right now.

Pay attention to anything that you see multiple times, look out for omens like random animals, and ask for signs. Leave an offering of wine, juice, or honey for any loved ones who have passed, and put a reminder of them on your altar if you have one.

Libra season is here.

It makes sense that, today, with a day of such intense stillness and balance, we’d enter Libra season. Represented by the scales, Libra is a sign of balance. Ruled by Venus, the planet of love, beauty, and sex, the air sign of Libra is all about honoring your needs and looking for the right balance between work and play. Libra season reminds us to continue to find balance, even after the equinox. It reminds us that for every day of darkness, there’s also light, and that to be of service to others, our own needs must be met first.

Spend time outside and cleanse your space.

If you’re looking to celebrate today, spend time outside. Sit under a tree with your back on its trunk. Go on a walk through the park, picking up any beautiful leaves and relishing in the sound of any crunchy ones. Smell the roses, leave an offering of honey, chocolate, or fruit at a tree or bush, tell the trees you love them, and take some time to connect with nature.

Can you feel the sun on your cheek? How about the wind in your hair? Does it smell different outside? Bring a journal and see if you can capture the energy of the day.

It’s also the perfect time to cleanse your space with the smoke of palo santo or sage. You can also use a cinnamon broom to sweep out all the energy that may have accumulated over the past few months. Use a huevo to cleanse, burn some incense, open the windows, and invite in the energy of the new season.

Light a black and white candle, and call in balance.

If you can, try lighting a white and black candle, for balance and clarity through the winter. Take a moment beforehand to ground by imagining the base of your spine as a golden cord connecting to the earth. Feel this energy and how it protects you before opening your eyes. Light a black and white candle, and as you do, ask for balance. Ask whatever or whoever you believe in to help you move through the coming winter with safety and clarity. Ask for whatever you need, and then take a second to visualize a bubble of white light around you, protecting you as you move into the darkness. Let the candles burn down all the way.

If you have to put out your candles, use a candle snuffer or fan — just don’t blow them out. When you’re done, press your forehead into the floor and imagine any excess energy moving back into the earth. If you can’t burn the candles all in one day, light the candles each night until they’re finished, repeating this visualization. You can dispose of the wax by throwing it out at an intersection or burying it at a crossroads.

Work with the tarot.

If you’re inclined to work with the tarot, then two cards that you can work with for the equinox are The Hermit and the Ace of Swords. While the Hermit represents going inward, learning about our own needs and quieting the mind, the Ace of Swords represents our intellect, our ideas and our mind carrying us through and lighting up the way. Together, the two remind us that even as we slow down to listen to ourselves, our inner voice of knowing is still there, guiding us through the winter and lighting up the darkness.

You can place The Hermit and the Ace of Swords on your altar, or somewhere you can see them. You can also print out photos or drawings out of the cards if you don’t have a deck. You can meditate with these cards, read about them, or create art inspired by them to get in touch with their energy. And if you have a tarot deck, you can try pulling a card to symbolize what this equinox is meant to teach you.

A crystal Rx for balance.

If you’re looking to work with crystals on the equinox, then you can work with the following. Try holding them in your left hand as you sit outside and take five deep breaths. You also can meditate with them, or carry them around like talismans.

Carnelian: A bright red stone that encourages vitality and helps you connect to your passions and goals. This energy-boosting stone helps you clarify your vision while stimulating your action and drive.

Moonstone and Sunstone: Represented by the celestial bodies in their names, working with these two is like channeling the energy of the sun and moon. Together, they represent the balance of the equinox. Sunstone encourages independence while bringing clarity and warmth, and Moonstone stabilizes our inner world and brings peace, inner growth, and connection to our intuition and subconscious.

Fluorite: By connecting the energetic and physical bodies, fluorite helps us integrate our energies. It’s also a protective stone, and helps keep out negative influences while helping you tap into your intuition.

Drink some cider, watch a scary movie, and celebrate!

More than anything, celebrating the natural cycles of the earth helps us honor our own energetic cycles. Today is the first day of a new season! Celebrate. Watch your favorite scary movie, drink apple cider, decorate with Halloween decorations, and enjoy autumn however you see fit.