Turning the Fall Equinox Into Your Personal Check-In
The fall equinox is one of those quiet thresholds in the year that often passes without much fanfare. Unlike the firework sparkle of New Year’s Eve or the blossom-laden arrival of spring, the equinox slips in almost unnoticed—just a subtle moment when day and night balance equally before the scales tip toward the dark half of the year.
And yet, the fall equinox is one of the most profound invitations we receive to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. In agricultural terms, this is the second harvest, a time when fields once green are now golden, fruits have ripened, and the bounty of summer is gathered in. But harvest is not only about food or farming. Each of us carries our own “fields” of effort, growth, and energy. The equinox asks: What have you been cultivating? What are you ready to gather? And what needs to be cleared away so the soil of your life can rest and renew?
Why the Equinox Matters as a Personal Check-In
Modern life rarely gives us space to pause. We push through seasons with calendars that rarely bend to the rhythms of nature. The equinox offers us a natural checkpoint—a moment when the earth itself says: stop, breathe, and look around.
At this midpoint between summer’s fullness and winter’s stillness, we are reminded of the cycles that govern not just plants and planets, but our inner lives as well. We too have periods of planting, tending, harvesting, and letting go. To ignore these cycles is to live out of alignment with ourselves. To honor them is to move through the year with more presence, more clarity, and more meaning.
The Symbolism of Harvest
Harvest is both literal and metaphorical. Traditionally, it’s the time when the fruits of labor are brought in from the fields. On a personal level, harvest is about acknowledging what has grown in your life since the year began.
Relationships: Have certain connections deepened? Which ones may have run their course?
Work and Creativity: What projects have come to fruition? Which ones no longer hold energy for you?
Personal Growth: What inner shifts, lessons, or insights have you gained?
Harvest isn’t only about celebrating what’s working. It’s also about recognizing what isn’t. Farmers don’t cling to withered crops; they clear them out to prepare for the next season. In the same way, we can use the equinox as a chance to notice where we may be holding on too tightly, and where release would create space for renewal.
The Equinox as a “Second New Year”
Many people think of January 1st as the start of the year, but in agrarian and spiritual traditions, the fall equinox has long been considered another kind of “new year.” It’s the beginning of the descent into the darker months, where seeds of intention are sown not outwardly, but inwardly.
Unlike the resolutions of January, which are often about striving and doing, equinox intentions are gentler, more reflective. They ask us to consider:
What am I ready to integrate from the lessons of this year so far?
What unfinished business do I want to bring to completion before year’s end?
Where do I need to restore balance in my life?
Think of it as a recalibration point. Rather than rushing forward, the equinox gives us permission to slow down, reassess, and set the tone for how we want to move into the final quarter of the year.
A Seasonal Self-Reflection Practice
You don’t need elaborate rituals to honor the equinox. What matters most is intentionality. Here’s a simple practice you can do this week:
Find Your Quiet Space
Light a candle, make a warm drink, or simply sit somewhere you feel at ease. The equinox is about balance, so let your space reflect a sense of calm.Reflect on the Year So Far
Ask yourself:What have I accomplished or experienced that I’m grateful for?
Where have I grown?
What feels unfinished or heavy?
Name Your Harvest
Write down three things you are “harvesting” from this season—lessons learned, goals achieved, relationships nurtured. Acknowledge them fully.Name Your Release
Write down three things you are ready to let go of. These may be habits, projects, or mindsets that no longer serve you.Set Your Equinox Intention
Choose one word or phrase that will guide you into the months ahead. Think of it as a lantern to carry into the darker half of the year.
Living the Equinox in Everyday Life
The equinox isn’t just a date on the calendar; it’s an energy we can weave into daily living. Here are some practical ways to embody the season:
In the Kitchen
Cook with seasonal produce like squash, apples, pears, and root vegetables. These foods ground and nourish, preparing the body for cooler months.
Try making a “harvest meal” where each dish represents something you’re grateful for this year.
In the Home
Shift your space toward coziness—bring out blankets, candles, and warmer textures.
Consider decluttering one small area to symbolically make space for new energy.
In the Body
Adjust your routines to match shorter days: earlier dinners, more rest, gentler movement.
Incorporate practices that balance energy, like yin yoga or mindful walks at sunset.
In the Soul
Keep a journal through autumn. Harvest is as much about appreciation as it is about letting go.
Spend time in nature, noticing how the earth models balance and transition.
The Power of Balance
At its core, the equinox is about balance. Equal light and dark, equal day and night. It reminds us that balance is not a static state but a dynamic dance. Just as the earth tilts toward darkness after equinox, so too do we shift and change. Balance is something we return to, again and again, in new ways.
When we align with these cycles, we learn that nothing lasts forever—not the bright days of summer, nor the dark nights of winter. Both have their place. Both are necessary. The equinox teaches us to welcome the turning.
Closing Thought
As the fall equinox arrives, give yourself permission to pause. Reflect on your personal harvest, honor what you’ve accomplished, and gently release what no longer serves you. Then step into the season ahead not with fear of the dark, but with gratitude for the balance and wisdom it brings.
The equinox may be fleeting, but its lessons are timeless: life is a cycle, not a straight line, and every season has something to teach us if we are willing to listen.
