I’ve always felt a special connection to the equinox. I was born on it, so twice a year I’m reminded of this exact point when day and night balance perfectly. In Ireland this year, the autumn equinox falls on Monday 22 September at 19:18. After that moment, our days begin to shorten, tilting us toward winter.
If you pause and look closely right now, you can already see the change. The greens are dulling. A few leaves have started to turn. There’s still life everywhere, but it’s beginning to draw in. This isn’t just a loss; it’s a shift of energy.
Nature uses autumn to prepare. Trees drop their leaves not only to protect themselves but to feed the soil for what’s next. Those fallen leaves make the fertile layer where spring’s wildflowers: bluebells, celandines, wild garlic, take root before the trees grow their canopy again. Even in loss, there’s planning for new life.
This rhythm can teach us something about ourselves. After a bright, outward summer, autumn invites us to pull back a little. To conserve, reflect, tidy, let go of what’s no longer needed, and nourish our roots for whatever will emerge next.
It’s not always easy. I still feel a pang when the first oak leaves fall in my garden. But I also see it as a small ritual of trust: if we allow the letting go, growth will come again.
As we cross this equinox, maybe take a moment to notice the signs of change where you live. Notice what you’re ready to release, and what you’re quietly preparing for. This season is not just an ending; it’s an investment in what’s to come.