The autumn equinox and genuine balance
Gaining momentum again on the Wheel of the Year, we approach autumn and its opposite: the moment of genuine balance, called Mabon in modern pagan practice, but which is only very recently named as such — this is in fact a twentieth-century innovation. I will try to consider what makes this point on the cycle special and why it is invested with meaning.
A moment of genuine, measurable balance
Unlike all the other points on the Wheel, the equinoxes are the only ones marking a genuine moment of balance — the amount of light and darkness are equal, theoretically if not practically — hence the name. And this is the only point on the cycle where this balance occurs immediately before one of them, the darkness, grows immeasurably stronger for the entire year.
I think that this is the reason why the traditions of this day, and this point on the cycle, are loaded with symbolism of assessment, of taking stock — because this is the only point where such a genuine, physically measurable balance occurs, thus giving us the opportunity to calculate and measure other imbalances. It is not a coincidence that the second harvest, the one that is truly plentiful in produce, is associated with the equinox in most traditions; the majority of European harvest and thanksgiving holidays fall around this time of year, and this is when most of the produce is gathered in.
Why the "turn toward dark" matters, without the dread
I do not, personally, think that the equinox should be associated with dread, because such a concept is entirely unwarranted. The only reason why the autumn equinox falls at the point immediately before the year's longest night is because of the way Earth's orbit works — it is a scientifically measurable phenomenon, just like the solstices.
I would, personally, associate the equinox with gratitude and even detachment, since this is truly the point when all the hard work of the year is done, the harvest is in, and it is safe to sit back and enjoy the fruits of labour. If one wants to invest this time of year with symbolism, I think the honest ledger described above can be a good exercise for that.
A practice worth borrowing: the honest ledger
So, the practice I am suggesting is the honest ledger: a two-column list of expenditures and desired expenditures of your own personal energy for the given period, with the opportunity to assess whether you are truly satisfied with your energy budget.
A simple way to observe it
The second harvest, represented by the produce still available at the end of autumn, is the simplest ritual to observe the equinox with. A simple meal using the products of the second harvest is an adequate ritual for this time of year, as well as observing the honest ledger practices elaborated on in the previous point. Either of these two, or a combination of those, I think, would be perfect for observing the equinox without letting it pass unnoticed the way we usually do with most modern holidays.
And now it is time to turn toward the darkness and observe Samhain, which marks the end of the harvest and the true beginning of the year's dark half.
See you soon,
Lorena