The September Equinox, also called the Autumnal Equinox, occurs on the 23rd. This has always been viewed symbolically as a period of change and the numerous festivals and feasts celebrated around the world at this time bear testimony to that. While it is spring in the summer hemisphere it is the essence that is important, not the accident, and the September Equinox denotes autumn symbolism. Those of us in the southern hemisphere stand poised to welcome spring however, and South Africa’s planetary movement depicts the potential for change in many significant quarters; assessed against the backdrop of the symbolism of the Autumnal Equinox, this adds spicy undertones to the floral top notes.

The mythology associated with the Autumnal Equinox

Royal fixed stars are originally the markers of the seasons and Antares marks the Autumnal Equinox. Antares is situated in the Heart of the Scorpion in the constellation of Scorpio. The scorpion is the beast that killed the great hunter Orion who was fashioned out of an ox-hide by the gods. The essence of the story of Orion and the scorpion is that due to his boastful nature, thus pride, Orion underestimated the power of the little creature and was killed by the scorpion’s venom. The star has martial and confrontational connotations with which death is associated. It is fitting that this royal fixed star would be called the Watcher of the West by the ancients, where the essence is that of entering the autumnal period - in Greek mythology autumn begins as the goddess Persephone returns to the underworld to live with her husband Hades.

Planetary movement for South Africa

September has an extremely “marsy” feel with Mars on the Ascendant in the Lunar Return chart. Mars in Cancer is in detriment and is posited on the fixed star Castor, the mortal one of the Gemini twins. The theme portrayed by Castor and Pollux (the Lunar Return Ascendant is posited on Pollux) is that that of death and immortality, the material and the spiritual. Mars in the cardinal water sign of Cancer depicts conflict between the emotional desire nature of man and his higher spiritual aspirations which Mars, as the sword which can be used against adversity, depicts.

Mars is the natural ruler of war and strife and if this planetary movement is to manifest in an aggressive manner, it will be swift and harsh, accompanied by a tidal wave of emotion. Mars is the accidental ruler of the 5th and 12th houses in the nativity and of the 4th and 9th houses in the Lunar Return chart. Based on the house rulerships in so far as I can see the property sector will have an impact on some level in South Africa this month, as well as possibly the mining industry. Combine this with the potential for self-inflicted folly (we have seen this regularly over the past few months) and we have a stage set for drama.

The Estate Agency Affairs Board is in disarray and if it collapses the repercussions on the property market will be severe. The property market makes up 15 percent of South Africa’s GDP and earns South Africa ZAR2 trillion. The issue of nationalising the mines is far from being resolved and focus may well fall on this area again from September.

The Lunar Return Midheaven is posited on the malefic fixed star Hamal with its Lord, Venus, combust and square the nodal axis thus attracting additional attention to her. South Africa’s government, its public persona, its rural areas and its work force are strongly highlighted; more strikes of a violent nature are possibly looming and in some way South Africa will attract intense international media attention.

The second house cusp in the Lunar Return chart, South Africa’s finances and moveable assets/resources, is posited on the royal fixed star Regulus and the North Node of the Lunar Return chart is conjunct the natal Ascendant. There is the potential for a positive outcome and for good tidings overall, but this will depend on how the Castor/Pollux conflict is resolved. Will greed and the desire for earthly pleasures triumph over the greater good or will any harsh lessons manifested by the debilitated Mars result in lessons learned?

Jupiter, South Africa’s main significator, turned retrograde on 31 August so is obviously retrograde in the Lunar Return chart: a general backsliding is depicted which could also manifest as returning to something that has gone before. Full Moon is on the 12th and New Moon on the 27th: these are always sensitive times during a month as often matters reach a crescendo during these periods (Full Moon) or attempts are made to bury sensitive issues (New Moon). Overall it will be a month of swift change, if change is to manifest, and with the lesser malefic Mars controlling the theme of the month, some (metaphorical) blood could be spilt.

It is best to understand the essence of the Autumnal Equinox by referring to the variety of commemorations below, in order to gain additional insight into the monthly planetary movement; the essence of this period and its symbolism may of course be applied on a personal level as well.

Autumnal Equinox commemorations

The month of September also marks the 'Wine Moon,' the lunar cycle when grapes are harvested from the arbours, pressed and put away to become wine. The Full Moon closest to the Autumn Equinox is known as the 'Harvest Moon,' since farmers would also harvest their crops during the night with the light of the Full Moon to aid them. Symbols celebrating the season include various types of gourd and melons. Stalk can be tied together symbolizing the Harvest Lord and then set in a circle of gourds. A besom can be constructed to symbolize the polarity of male and female. The Harvest Lord is often symbolized by a straw man, whose sacrificial body is burned and its ashes scattered upon the earth. The Harvest Queen, or Kern Baby, is made from the last sheaf of the harvest and bundled by the reapers. The sheaf is dressed in a white frock decorated with colourful ribbons depicting spring, and then hung upon a pole (a phallic fertility symbol). In Scotland, the last sheaf of harvest is called the Maiden, and must be cut by the youngest female in attendance.

Near East: The first day of Mehr or Libra in the Iranian calendar; in Korea, Chuseok is a major harvest festival and a three-day holiday celebrated around the Autumn Equinox; the Mid-Autumn Festival is celebrated on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, oftentimes near the autumnal equinox day, and is an official holiday in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan.

Ancient Britain: Stonehenge and other stone structures were aligned so that the solstices and equinoxes could be determined; the traditional harvest festival in the United Kingdom was celebrated on the Sunday of the Full Moon closest to the September equinox.

Ancient Ireland: A cluster of megalithic cairns are scattered through the hills at Loughcrew, about 55 miles North West of Dublin in Ireland. Longhcrew Carin T was designed so that the light from the rising sun on the spring and summer equinoxes penetrates a long corridor and illuminates a back stone, which is decorated with astronomical symbols.   

Christianity: Replacing the fall equinox is Michaelmas, the feast of the Archangel Michael, on 29 September. By Michaelmas the harvest had to be completed and the new cycle of farming would begin. It was a time for beginning new leases, rendering accounts and paying the annual dues.   

Druids: At this time of the year, the ancient Celts conducted a mock sacrifice of a large wicker-work figure which represented the vegetation spirit.

France: A new calendar was adopted at the time of the French Revolution in the late 18th century. The first day of the year, the 1st of Vendemiaire (the grape-harvest month), was the date of the fall equinox in the Northern Hemisphere.

Mayan: The ancient Mayans constructed a pyramid at Cihick©n Itz© which displayed different patterns of triangles of light at the time of the solstices and equinoxes. The dates signalled the start of a harvest, planting, or a religious ceremony. On the fall equinox, seven triangles become visible on the pyramid's staircase.  

Native Americans: There are countless stone structures still standing in North America. One was called Calendar One by its modern-day finder, a natural amphitheatre of about 20 acres in size in Vermont; "America's Stonehenge" is a 4000 year old megalithic site located on Mystery Hill in Salem NH. Carbon dating has estimated the age of some charcoal remnants at 4000 years ago. Researchers have concluded that the site was erected either by Native Americans or an unknown migrant European population. The site contains five standing stones and one fallen stone in a linear alignment which point to both the sunrise and sunset at the fall equinoxes; the Chumash, a Native American tribe from Southern California, celebrate their fall equinox Sun ceremony during their month of Hutash (September) after the harvest is picked, processed and stored.   

Japan: The Spring and Autumn Equinoxes are observed as the six-day celebration: the Higan-e. The ritual includes repentance of past sins and prayers for enlightenment in the next life. It also includes remembrance of the dead and visits to the family graves.

References: http://www.religioustolerance.org/fall_equinox.htm and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Equinox