George Mason – The Harvest Moon Exhibited 1872. Tate Gallery

The Autumnal Equinox is one of the four Ingress charts at the core of Mundane astrological consideration. Using the Tropical zodiac, they line up to the four Cardinal points that mark the beginning of each season. The Autumn begins in the element of Air.

At this time, the night and day are of equal length in the Northern hemisphere, with the nights beginning to grow longer until they reach the Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.

Traditionally in the Celtic world, this is the beginning of the ascendancy of the Holly King and the temporary displacement of the Oak King. Today, the association with the Autumnal Equinox has been largely forgotten, but not the association of the Holly King as he revels at the Winter Solstice. The division of the year in this manner is ancient, finding precedence in the Sumerian record.

Wheel of the Year

The theme of balance, reflected in the equal night and day force presage the better-known Feast of Samhain – the Pagan New Year and the time when the veil between the worlds is said to be at its thinnest. The Autumnal Equinox is also known as Mabon: the celebration of the second of three harvests, preceded by Lammas/Lughnasadh and followed by Samhain. The cycles of this quarter are devoted to harvest and remind us that what we reap is what has been sown. This is the beginning of the time for turning inwards and evaluating on balance what matters most when all is said and done. It is also about fairness in the distribution of the harvest – literally and figuratively.

Autumnal Equinox GMT

This chart as all others leading up to the Great Conjunction is of particular interest insofar as it is part of the greater cycle. Mars is extraordinarily active in this chart, in his own domicile, but retrograde. He is the Lord of the Hour, Day and in the Decan of Venus and the Term of Saturn. Jupiter is the Almuten, Falling in Capricorn. Yet Mercury in Libra is the Lord of the Ingress. Think of him as a Venusian emissary!

There is a strong reception between Venus in Leo and the Sun in Libra placing Mercury in an admirable position to act on behalf of Venusian interests. At the same time, Libra is the Fall of the Sun and the Exaltation of Saturn. Mercury is a friend os Saturn and in a fine position as mediator. Although the chart is strongly choleric, the element of Air is also strong and this places it in an agreeable relationship to the upcoming Great Conjunction in Aquarius. If cooler heads prevail, the outcome could be a positive, innovative and creative one.

However, the potential for more antagonism and chaos will need to be tempered and ultimately overcome. I believe we should all be mindful of how we react to the often overwhelming conditions as we enter the last quarter of 2020. Better to light a candle than curse the darkness.

Moon in 20th Lunar Mansion

The Moon is in the 20th Lunar Mansion is with Antares, the Heart of the Scorpion and Watcher of the West. This reminds us that the stellar constellation is in fact Scorpio. She is in the Term of Jupiter and the Decan of Luna. This powerful presence on the Ascendant sets the tone for the chart as calculated for Greenwich.  The fallen Jupiter is the Lord if the Ascendant in the Decan of Mars but the Term of Venus. It is a demanding chart and one that brings the call for justice and balance in an otherwise very hostile field. This Mansion is intense, but not without promise.

This Mansion starts from 04 SG 17′ 09″ and ends at 17 SG 08′ 34″ The Arabic name is Al Na’am and considering Antares, the Angel is Uriel. According to Ibn ‘Arabi (1200 AD) the meaning: is The Ostriches. Attribution: Water and the Divine Attribute is The Life-Giver.

I leave you with this gorgeous image of “October” from Très Riches Heures du Berry’, illustrating the season of the second harvest and the simultaneous preparing of the soil for a harvest to come.

October – From Très Riches Heures du Berry’ 1416. Tilling of land and sowing seed in front of the Joli Louvre –originally a fortress it became a royal residence under Charles V.